The Witch, The Warrior, and the Vampire

**This chapter contains explicit m/m slash, this is your last warning.**

Chapter 11
Scent of Willow

In his lair, the Master roared in rage. In his fury he dusted a dozen of the vampires closest to him. His eyes searched the unholy mass gathered before him.averaverick has failed me and the boy was taken.” Peering at the vampiric faces in front of him, his eyes settled on Trinity. “Come here Grandchilde, Childe of Darla, my most delightful wicked progeny. You will be my right hand.”

Trinity bowed before him. “Your wish is my command, Master.”

“There are humans who believe themselves responsible for my resurrection. They think that I will follow their orders. Destroy them.” He snarled.

“Who are they, Master? Where are they? Tell me so I can annihilate them.” A feral smile spread across her face in anticipation of slaughter and mayhem.

“Barristers; in Los Angeles you will find them here.” With a wave of his hand, an image of a sky scraper in downtown LA was shone to the room. “Go!”

*

Willow dropped the phone and turned around to face her friends. The smile on her face let everyone know Xander was ok.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, we’ve got to see Xander.” Dawn squealed bouncing up and down in her excitement.

“I’ll go get some more blood.” Buffy offered and strode towards the door.

“NO!” Willow yelled, then clearing her throat started again quieter, “I mean, no, you guys can’t come with me.”

“What?” Tara, Buffy, Dawn, and Giles said in synchronicity.

“Why not?” Buffy demanded hands on her hips.

“Spike said I’m the only one who can come right now.” The redhead stared at the floor, unwilling to meet all the questioning gazes being directed at her.

“I’m going to kill that peroxide pest. Who the hell does he think he is? Xander needs to see all of us.” Buffy’s temper was flaring and she didn’t bother to hide it as she headed towards the door.

In an uncharacteristically bold move, Tara grabbed Buffy by the arm to stop her from leaving. “He’s Xander’s sire, Buffy. If Spike says only Willow, then it’s only going to be Willow. Yy-y-you’ve got to t-trust him.”

“Xander didn’t really understand either. He said it had to do with heart beats, feeding, and Slayer scent.” Willow offered helpfully.

Giles was nodding his head in understanding. “It really does. Xander probably came through just this minute, and Spike’s testing his control slowly. I imagine our combined presence would overwhelm Xander and bring his demon to the fore, particularly, um, Slayer scent. With Willow being his oldest friend, it would stand to reason she’d be the first he’d want to see.” Giles couldn’t quite hide his disappointment from the others. They grumbled but finally accepted his reasoning.

“Didn’t you already drop some blood off today?” Dawn asked Buffy.

“Yeah, I can’t believe they’re finished with it already.” Buffy tried to remember how many packets had been in the cooler she’d left.

“Fledglings need more blood than masters.” Giles offered and watched enviously as Willow left. The remaining Scoobies could do nothing else but wait. Again.

*

“Shower’s free,” Xander yelled from the bedroom.

“Go ahead kitten; I need to talk to Xander some more ‘fore Red gets here.” Spike motioned Anya toward the vacated bathroom.

She padded into the bedroom and watched as Xander pulled a white sleeveless undershirt on. She was stunned at the changes in his body. He was leaner, his muscles slightly more defined, and his skin was much paler than it had been only hours before. She pulled him into an embrace and was shocked again at the coolness of his body. Xander nuzzled into her throat and drank her scent in. “Spike wants to talk to you some more before Willow gets here, so I’m gonna shower, ok?” Xander nodded and went to face Spike.

He found him smoking on the balcony. As soon as Xander stepped into the night air he felt alive. His awareness spread infinitely into the night. He could smell the McDonald’s more than four miles away and hear the heartbeats of the people walking in the parking lot. He realized that with his new vision it seemed almost light as day. Suddenly he felt a wrenching pull tugging at his awareness, beckoning him, calling him. Without realizing it he slipped into game face. Immediately his awareness spread even farther into the endless night and the pull grew stronger than before. A low growl escaped his throat as he tried to regain control over the demon within him. “Why do I feel like this?”

“Like what?” Spike knew exactly what Xander was referring to, but he wanted his childe to suss it out on his own.

“There’s something out there. It’s like it’s calling to me but I don’t know what it is.” Xander’s eyes briefly flashed yellow, completely unbidden by him.

“It’s the Master. Master of our line, commanding us and any vampire within the rangethe the call to come to him.” Spike took a long drag from his cigarette, letting the smoke curl slowly up from his lips as Xander processed the information.

“It’s awful. Does it ever stop?”

“Hasn’t stopped since he returned. Bloody damn near impossible to refuse, even for me.” Spike admitted affecting a casual shrug. “I almost went the moment it started.”

“What stopped you?” The young brunette looked at his sire inquisitively.

“Dawn screamed. Nibblet’s more important than anythin’; she’s mine to protect for as long as she lives.” Spike studied a ragged hangnail on his thumb while speaking.

“Can you block it out?”

Spike shook his head and flicked his cigarette over the balcony. Xander watched, entranced, at as the trail of light until it landed on the ground. “No way to block it, no way to stop it. You just ‘ave to fight it, Harris. Binding you to ywifewife will eliminate most of it, but until he’s destroyed its gonna be there.”

“What is this binding the two of you keep talking about?” Xander’s head was swimming with all the new information he was trying to process.

“Look inside. The demon in you knows the answer.”

Xander filed that away for later. “You wanted to talk to me before Willow came?”
ke nke nodded and lit yet another cigarette. “Can you feel the bloodlust?”

“Not really, not like I did earlier.” Xander trailed off, the memory of sinking his fangs into Anya’s neck was painful but erotic; he couldn’t quite figure that out.

“As soon as you feel the slightest inkling of it, feed immediately. If you put it off too long--”

Xander finished the statement. “Vamp out, no control, got it.”

“And the more you drink, the sooner you gain control.” Spike stood smoking in silence for a few seconds. “When Red gets here, be careful when you touch her, super strong now, don’t forget that.” Xander unconsciously moved closer to Spike until they were leaning on the balcony rail with their shoulders brushing. Upon physical contact with Spike, something inside him relaxed. “Why do I feel like this with you? Why do I need to touch you? The closer we are to each other the more relaxed I feel, why?”

“Sire-childe bond. The demon in you was born from the demon in me. Not much different from a new born and ‘is mum. The demons need each other. Family or clan is critical to survival. You physically need my blood, and will for a long time. Kind of like mother’s milk, helps you get strong. But each drink you ‘ave strengthens the bond between us.”

“Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of becoming independent?”

A sneer crossed Spike’s face, “That it does. It’s a double-edged sword Xander. If you want the strength and power of my blood you have to submit to me to receive it.”

“What if I don’t drink from you again?” Xander was still a bit queasy over the idea of ingesting blood even though the demon in him clamored for it.

“Demon’ll demand physical satisfaction. Blood and sex are virtually inseparable in vampires. If you don’t get my blood you’ll need my body. Angelus was a right bastard, almost never gave me the blood.”

“God damn it! I hate this, there’s absolutely nothing I can do is there?” Xander pounded his fists into the railing, bending it. Frustration was rolling off him in waves.

Remembering his dependence on Angelus and Drusilla, Spike empathized with his childe. “Time is all there is. A few years down the road--”

“YEARS?” Xander squeaked like a girl.

“Years. Immortal now, remember? In time your dependence on me will lessen, as will my compulsion control and dominate you. Mostly it’s unconscious, like teen-age rebellion and growing into adult hood, lettin’ you leave the nest an’ all that rot. Takes about the same amount of time too.”

Both vampires heard the water quit running in the apartment and knew Anya had finished showering. “I’m gonna go clean up, if Willow gets here before I’m finished, I want you to come into the bedroom and wait for me before you see her.” Spike pitched the second cigarette over the balcony.

“I’m not gonna feed from Willow.” Xander protested vehemently, unconsciously bending the railing even more.

“Dinnit say you would.” Spike very pointedly stared at Xander’s hands. He didn’t mean to bend the railing either, but he was. Xander of course, was oblivious to the gibe.

“So why can’t I.”

“Damn it you gonna obey or not? I told you I dinnit want to control you, but I will. Its way too soon for you to have human contact unsupervised. YOU don’t want to feed from Red, I know that and so does everyone else. That demon inside you may ‘ave different ideas, and neither of the girls is gonna stake you to defenemseemselves.” Spike yelled, wanting to thrash Xander into submission, holding himself in check by a thread. It went against every instinct he had not to beat his childe for his insolence and take him to reassert his dominance.

“But…”

Xander didn’t even get a warning growl; Spike bitch slapped him. “That’s it; you’re not leaving my sight again until I give you permission.” Grabbing him by the back of the neck Spike pulled him inside and dragged him into the bathroom, ignoring Anya. Xander watched uncomprehendingly as Spike quickly stripped off his jeans and started the shower. “Strip.”

“What? I just took a shower.” Spike stood there naked, head tilted to the left, waiting for Xander.

“I told you, you’re not leaving my sight without permission. Strip and get in the shower.”

“No, this is ridiculous…” Spike slid into game face and snarled at him. Before Xander knew it he was naked, standing in the shower waiting for his sire. He tried with all his might to get out of the bathroom but his body refused to obey his brain. Quickly Spike stepped in the shower stall ahead of him and closed the sliding glass door behind him.

“Spike I’m not--” Another growl and Xander was cowering at his feet again, whimpering.

Spike found the shampoo and started washing his hair. When he rinsed, he spoke again. “I told you I don’t want it to be this way and neither do you. Stop forcing me.” He turned his back to Xander and found the conditioner. He squirted a small amount into his palm and nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a lathered bath puff rubbing his back. He ran the conditioner through his short bleach blonde locks and turned around to rinse again.

Xander was kneeling in front of him, sponge in hand, demon to the fore, body quaking. Cautiously he started to wash Spike’s feet; when he wasn’t rebuffed he continued up his legs. He cautiously ran the sponge over Spike’s groin and gasped when he felt himself harden. The sponge slowly moved over Spike’s abdomen, chest, and then he trailed it down each of his arms. Spike turned around slowly and let the water sluice over his skin until the lather washed away, as Xander washed the back of his legs, buttocks, and back again. Turning once more to face Xander Spike gruffly growled and grabbed Xander by the hair. He pulled him up into a savage kiss. His tongue caressed the inside of his childe’s mouth and he quickly cut his tongue on the boy’s fangs. Xander abandoned the kiss and desperately sucked the blood seeping from his sire’s tongue.

Spike pushed Xander away and turned him around, pulling him to his wet chest. He ground his pelvis against Xander’s ass and the the boy shake in his arms. Spike squirted a handful of shower gel into his hand and grabbed Xander’s cock. Xander hissed at the contact and sensuously rubbed against Spike. He gasped when he felt his sire harden beneath him. Spike set a deliberately slow pace designed to torment his childe. Using both hands, he stroked Xander and gathered some of the slick lather into his other hand. He stroked himself with the same rhythm he was using on the vampire trembling against him. Without warning he plunged into Xander. Matching his thrusts with his hand, he worked Xander into a frenzy. Then Spike stopped all motion; his cock was buried to the hilt in Xander’s tight passage and his fist gripped the base of the boy’s cock. “Fuck me,” Spike whispered into Xander’s ear and nipped at his earlobe.

That was all the encouragement Xander needed. He pulled himself forward until just the tip of Spike was remained in him, then with a roll of hips he impaled himself. His movement controlled the fist that was gripping his cock, finding a rhythm he liked he bucked, writhed, and rolled his hips, stimulating his prostate and his cock. He felt his balls tighten and knew it wouldn’t be long before this ecstasy ended. He realized that as soon as it did he’d be disgusted with himself and angry at Spike again. Deliberately he stopped moving, to prolong the moment as long he could.

*

“Hi Willow.” Anya greeted Willow with a chipper smile. “Come in, oh, you brought more blood, thanks.”

“So, where’s Xander?” Willow asked, eyes searching the apartment for him.

“He’s with Spike, they should be out soon.” Anya sunk down onto the couch, then gestured for Willow to join her.

“Oh, how is he?”

“He’s fine. A little shaken up. If he’d quit fighting Spike so much it’d go easier for him.” Anya said knowingly. Willow really didn’t know what to say in response, so she sat down and waited for Xander and Spike to come out.

*

“What’s the matter?” Spike asked and began tracing his fangs in an intricate pattern of Xander’s jugular.

“Right now, being here with you is all I want or need in the world.” Xander’s head lolled to the side and rested on Spike’s shoulder giving his sire better access. “But a minute after it’s over…I know I’ll hate you all over again. Part of me relishes this control you have and the rest of me wants to kill you.”

“ ‘S’normal.” Spike ran his hand over Xander smooth, slippery back, trying to soothe him.

“Really?”

“Yeah, s’easier if your sire is one of the opposite sex. You don’t get as much conflict with your old value system.” Suddenly Spike shoved Xander against the shower wall and brutally took control again. He could tell Xander was close to the edge, just like he was. He held his wrist against Xander’s mouth and sank his fangs into the boy’s throat. When he felt Xander tear into his wrist both demons climaxed with a roar.

In the living room, Willow jumped at the noise; she looked curiously at Anya, but when no explanation --or for that matter, any reaction at all-- was forthcoming, she sighed and sank further into the couch.

Spike felt Willow’s presence in the apartment and quickly dried off and dressed. Xander followed suit, tears streaming down his face. “What happened in there?” He quietly asked Spike.

“You were fighting me even though the demon inside you wanted to obey. It took control of you, to supplicate itself to me.” Spike sighed and grasped Xander by his shoulders. “If you would quit fighting with me, that wouldn’t keep happening. You’d be happy with only my blood.”

“OK, no fighting with my sire if I don’t want it up the ass, lesson learned.” Suddenly Xander’s head cocked to the side, his eyelids drooped sensually as he took a long, slow, deep breath. “What is that smell?”

“Willow. You ready?” Spike grinned cruelly at Xander’s audible gulp. ‘Teach ‘im to listen to me if it kills me.’

“I, I, I think I need to feed. Can you…” He looked nervous and unsure, almost an imitation of how he’d been before he met Buffy and his life changed.

Spike nodded, “Be right back, STAY in here.” Spike shut the door behind him and walked to the kitchen, ignoring the girls.

“Not a problem.” ‘Not a problem,’ Xander chanted to himself. His hearing was picking up two heartbeats and he struggled with all his might not to vamp out. By the time Spike returned to the bedroom Xander was curled up in fetal position on the bed whispering “not a problem” like a mantra.

He snatched the blood out of Spike’s hands and quickly devoured the three bags. “I don’t feel any better.” He looked helplessly at Spike. Spike laid a hand on Xander’s arm. With the physical contact Xander visibly relaxed.

“Do you now?” Spike asked.

“Yeah, um, don’t let go of me, ok?” Xander asked shame etched on his face, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“I told you I’d keep you safe forever. That includes keeping your loved ones safe from you until you can control yourself.” He pulled Xander into an embrace and sucked his mark on his childe’s neck, trying to cale dee demon. “If you’re not ready…”

“No, I’m ready. Just…control me if it looks like I’m slipping.” Xander looked at the door to the living room with both hope and fear.

“Promise.” Both vampires stood, Spike wrapped one arm around Xander’s shoulders and they went to see Willow.

When the door to the bedroom opened, Willow jumped up and ran towards Xander. The last thing she expected was to see him cower closer to Spike. The reaction stopped her in her tracks. “Xander?”

Xander was trembling, “Kitten, heat some more blood. We’re gonna need it.” Xander could hear Willow’s heart pounding. Her fear, and anxiety, tinged the air. He could sense her magickal essence. The sounds, and scents, her essence was overwhelming him. His trembling increased. He whimpered suddenly and shrank against Spike. At the sound of his sire’s almost but not quite subsonic purr he calmed down a little, tried to push the demon back. It wasn’t working.

“Red, you need to calm down. Xander’s in control but barely. Relax.” The microwave dinged and Xander headed straight for the kitchen, pulling Spike with him. He desperately grabbed for the blood and drank it down. He leaned into Spike’s embrace and fed until the demon retreated on its own. Willow’s heartbeat and scent were still crowding his mind, but it was easier now. “Just don’t let go and I’ll be fine.” Spike nodded wordlessly and led Xander back to the living room, proprietarily keeping an arm on his shoulder.

Xander looked at Willow and slowly opened his arms. She flew across the room and flung herself into his embrace. She burrowed herself into his embrace and started crying. Xander leaned into Spike’s strong arms and sighed in relief as Spike ran his fingers through his hair. Xander nestled his nose in her hair and drank down her scent. This scent was the essence of Willow to him; home, security, friendship, and love. Anya’s fragrance was his heart, Spike’s his security, but Willow was home. She always had been. Pulling her closer he felt her heart beat against his chest and all her fears and anxiety melt away. They could do this. He and Willow could get through anything. Xander stepped away from Spike, picked up Willow effortlessly and spun her around in a circle and laughed.

“What’s so funny, Xander?” Willow was both surprised and delighted by his joy.

“Scent of Willow.” He grinned up at her.

“Huh?” Xander turned to see Anya wrap an arm around Spike’s waist. He set Willow down and led her towards the others and pulled them into a group hug.

“You ok?” Spike asked as he ruffled Xander’s hair.

“I will be. I just got to name everything I think. So I can re to to it in non-food type ways.”

“What?” Anya asked.

“Scent of Anya is heart, Spike is security.” Crushing the three of them to him he continued, “Scent of Willow is home.”