The Witch, The Warrior, and the Vampire

For the people who haven’t given up on this story an explanation of sorts. In my summary it states that the main pairings are S/B, X/A, and W/T. And that’s true. Those are the three romantic pairings. Regardless of the vampire sex happening right now between S/X it’s not a romance. If you had paid attention to what the text was telling you, you’d realize its all about Domination/Submission, and vampire shit.

I’m sorry if my giving Spike and Buffy a relationship based on something other than sex bothers you. Wait a minute, no I’m not.

I’d like to thank Cassy, Lauren, lemonychocolate, Nightmelody, and Neonix among others for your support. I understand (not really just being patronizing) that some of you can’t take it. So don’t read it. There’s plenty of Buffy fucking Spike stories out there. Go read them.

FYI: I’m going on vacation and I won’t have web access. So it will probably be a week before the next chapter comes out. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

Chapter 12
Grand-Sire

Dawn and Tara were sitting in the living room floor discussing magick. Giles was in the kitchen making a pot of tea. Buffy was mindlessly flipping through the channels on the television lost in her own thoughts. ‘Bastard, who does he think he is? Keeping me away from Xander because of Slayer Scent. Eww that was just gross and stupid! I mean really, Xander’s my best friend. He’d never hurt me. Ever.’

“Buffy, you want me to get the door?” Dawn asked.

“Huh? What?” Buffy looked at her sister in confusion until the relentless pounding on the front door pierced her senses. “No, I’ll get it.”

Buffy opened the door and came face to face with Angel. She had never seen him angrier in her life, not even when he’d been Angelus.

“Where’s Spike?” Angel yelled at her and pushed his way into the house. He went straight to the kitchen and opened the basement door. “SPIKE, you irresponsible bastard come out of there!” Angel roared in fury, sliding into game face. Slowly Buffy’s voice penetrated the fog of rage clouding his brain.

“He’s not here Angel. Calm down, what’s wrong?”

Angel grabbed Buffy by the shoulders and started shaking her. “Tell me where he is right now!”

“Get your hands off me.” Buffy whispered through clenched teeth, eyes narrowed into slits.

Ignoring the threat in her tone, Angel continued shaking her. “Where is Spike?” He hissed. Giles did not look up from the stove. He was confident in his Slayer’s ability to take care of herself, but his posture had taken on a decidedly cautious air.

Buffy’s temper snapped. She pushed Angel off of her and he flew backwards against the refrigerator. For just a second he allowed himself to sink towards the floor. An image of Connor’s small nine-year-old body unconscious in his bed renewed his fury. He leapt at Buffy screaming. “Where is he? Once I’ve drained every drop of blood from his worthless hide, I’m going to set him on fire. Then I’m going to dance on his ashes.”

“Not that I haven’t imagined doing that very thing to Spike myself Angel, but do you think you can tell us what he’s done?” Giles cautiously and quietly questioned Angel, keeping an eye on his teakettle as he assessed the obvious agitated vampire before him.

The melodic sound of Giles’ voice calmed Angel down. A little. “He hasn’t sent any blood in days. Something’s wrong with Connor. It’s like he’s in a coma. He won’t eat any food and my blood isn’t helping.” Angel took a deep breath. He was seeing red, again. “Spike is killing my son. He swore if we left he’d send blood every day. It’s been three and it’s making Connor sick.”

“Oh, Angel. I’m so sorry, he must have forgotten with everything that’s happened.” Buffy laid a hand gently on Angel’s shoulder and forced him to look her in the eye. “Come on, I’ll take you to Spike.” She didn’t know where to begin in the explanation of everything that had taken place in Angel’s absence.

Angel wordlessly followed Buffy out of the house and into the night. Giles re-entered the living room with a tray full of tea supplies. He poured himself a cup and took a small sip. ‘Perfect,’ he thought. “I really wish I could be there when Angel and Xander meet. A first hand account of multi-generational vampire clan interactions…” His voice trailed off wistfully. ‘Damn, what I’d give to be able to study and record every second of Xander’s new life. Especially his reactions to his grand-sire.’ A Ripper smile flashed across his face at the thought of the meeting of the two vampires, especially given their mutual loathing, who were now family.

The Messenger stood under Spike’s tree in the Summer’s yard. He waited until Angel and Buffy were out of sight before he knocked on the front door.

*

Buffy had opted to walk instead of drive to Xander’s. She hoped the time that it would take to get there on foot would give Angel a chance to calm down. They were halfway there before Angel spoke. “What happened here that Spike would forget about my son? And not just Spike, Buffy, how could you? I counted on you making sure he wouldn’t renege on his promise.”

Buffy stopped in her tracks stunned at Angel’s accusation. Had he always been so self-centered? Had he forgotten that she lived on the Hellmouth? She felt bad Connor was ill, but really, Angel’s son was not her first priority. Her family was. Angel hadn’t been a part of Buffy’s family since he left her. And how dare he lay his hands on her and demand answers, in her own home no less? “Why. Should. I. Have?” Venom and sarcasm dripped from her voice. She punched Angel then. A right hook to the cheekbone, with every bit of emotion she’d bottled up inside her. Much to her satisfaction, the punch sent Angeling ing about ten yards before he landed on his butt. The stunned expression on his face was priceless.

Buffy stomped towards him and stood over him hands on her hips. “Not everything in the world centers around you, Angel. Some terrible things have happened here and I’m sorry if we forgot about Connor.” Buffy stalked past Angel and continued on her way to Xander’s.

‘Oh shit,’ Angel thought. ‘Why do I always accuse first? Why can’t I ask before I lose control?’ He scrambled to his feet and ran to catch up with Buffy. “What happened? Is everyone ok?” He felt the pain that washed over Buffy and he knew that whatever it was, it was bad. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop. Taking her chin, he turned her to face him. “What is it?”

Buffy jerked away from his touch; she was still too angry to make up with Angel right now. “You’ll see for yourself in a minute.”

*

The knock on the door startled Giles. He glanced quickly over to Tara and Dawn, but they were so engrossed in their discussion they didn’t seem to have noticed the knock. Giles opened the door and found himself staring at what could only be The Messenger. He was slightly bigger than Angel, black eyes, and his hair was definitely white.

“Watcher, just the man I wanted to see. May I come in?” The demon’s voice was deep and cultured. Not a trace of accent peppered his words. Giles stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind him. “I see we’ll have to have an uncivilized discussion then. I was hoping for a cup of that tea.” He met Giles’ eyes and spoke in soft, reassuring tones, “I’m not here to hurt anyone, only to deliver a message. I am unarmed.”

“You may be unarmed, but I don’t trust you.” Giles remained steadfast against the closed door.

“Watcher, I do not need an invitation to enter the house. You may join me or not.” The Messenger majestically swept past Giles and entered the housHe wHe walked into the living room and took a seat in the armchair; Giles followed quickly behind him. “Ah, the Key and the Sorceress, I am very pleased to meet you both at long last.”

“Who are you?” Dawn asked as she scrambled to her feet and towards the weapons chest.

“I am The Messenger. Do you think I could have a cup of tea?” The whole statement was so casual that Giles felt the out-of-place urge to laugh.

Tara quickly poured the demon a cup of tea, handed it to him and boldly asked, “What do you want?”

“I want to talk to the Watcher.” The witch backed away from the demon, brashness gone, and looked toward Giles.

“Well, talk then.” Giles said and pointed a crossbow at him.

A deep laugh escaped the demon’s throat, “You foolish man, you can’t hurt me with that. I’m not here to hurt anyone only to talk.”

Reluctantly Giles lowered the crossbow and sat down on the couch. Perhaps it would be best to listen. He didn’t let go of the weapon however. “Talk.”

“The rules of the game have been changed. My kind were allied against you. The Master changed that when he sent assassins against the very ones that brought him back. I’m here to offer you an alliance.” The demon sipped the tea delicately, obviously enjoying the Earl Grey.

“Your kind?” Giles looked at the demon blankly.

“Yes. This tea is excellent. May I have another cup?”

“Help yourself.” Despite the demon’s politeness, now was not the time for manners in the Watcher’s opinion.

The Messenger poured another cup and added lemon to it this time. He toosmalsmall sip and groaned in pleasure. “It’s been centuries since I’ve had a civilized cup of tea. Thank you.”

“Centuries?” Giles raised an eyebrow, awaiting an explanation.

“Yes. I’ve waited patiently for your Slayer to leave so I could meet with you in private.”

“Oh, Dawn and I can go upstairs.” Tara had been so intent on the demon that she hadn’t realized that he had only been addressing Giles; she blushed and backed away.

“That isn’t necessary, my dear Sorceress. But it was necessary for the Slayer to leave. Parts of my story will be painful for her to hear. She has enough on her plate right now, I simply didn’t want to add to her problems.” He set the empty cup on the coffee table and sat back in the chair comfortably.

“I think you’d better tell us your story, Messenger.” Giles was beyond aggravated with all the pleasantries.

“My name is Ashton. Now that the rules have changed my identity no longer needs to be hidden.” He smiled, revealing shiny white teeth, with fangs where the incisors should be.

“Then tell us your story, Ashton.”

*

Angel was more than confused when he followed Buffy into an apartment building. He could sense Spike though and knew that he’d soon know what was going on soon.

*

“Bloody buggerin’ hell! Xander, go to the bedroom and don’t come out till I get you. Anya, go heat up some more blood quick quick-like and take it to him. Then leave the bedroom and shut the door behind you. Red, come with me.” Willow followed Spike out the front door and to the elevat The The elevator door dinged open and she found herself face face-to to-face with Buffy and an infuriated Angel.

Without any warning, Angel vamped out and kicked Spike in the stomach. Spike was unprepared for the attack and landed against the door to Xander’s apartment head first.

“Bloody hell Angel, what’d I do? Buffy, I thought I told you to stay away from here?” Spike shouted accusingly at both of them.

Angel’s nostrils flared and the demon receded. “Spike, what have you done?”

“I dinnit do anything, you great poof. Buffy, please, you need to leave.” He pleaded with her.

“I’m not going anywhere. Damn it Spike I have a right to see him.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped towards the apartment.

The door behind Spike’s back was suddenly wrenched open. Spike lost his balance and crashed his head, again, on floofloor. “Spike, something’s wrong with Xander. He needs you.” Anya looked panicked.

Spike leapt to his feet and rushed into the bedroom, leaving Anya to deal with Angel and the Slayer. He found Xander curled up in a corner of the bedroom, vamped out, and rocking back and forth. He located the blood Anya had heated on the dresser and handed i Xan Xander. Then he picked him up, walked to the bed and sat down with Xander on his lap. Purring deeply and loudly he stroked the ridges on his childe’s face with one hand, holding him tightly to his chest with the other.

Suddenly Xander twisted out of his arms and sprung towards the doorway where Buffy was standing. Roaring in anger, Spike tackled Xander from behind, pinning him to the floor beneath him. “SLAYER!” The demon bucking under Spike hissed and fought valiantly to escape and destroy the threat to him and his sire.

It took every ounce of strength Spike had to immobilize the other vampire. “Buffy, luv, please, just leave us alone for a few minutes.” If Spike had looked up he would have seen the tears coursing down Buffy’s face. Xander wanted to kill her! She softly closed the bedroom door and walked out on the balcony.

“What the hell is going on here?” Angel demanded, ignoring his senses, which were telling him the answer.

“Well, it’s like this.” Willow began.

“KITTEN! More blood, now!” Spike’s voice boomed from the bedroom.

“The power returned? It wasn’t exactly what we thought it was…”

*

“Wow!” Dawn whispered under her breath as Tara echoed the sentiment.

“That really is a remarkable story Ashton, now how do you suggest I verify it?” Giles wanted to know.

“Ask the Powers.” The demon looked unguardedly back at him through deep black eyes.

“And how precisely should I do that?”

Wit With Anya’s help, Willow told Angel everything. She kept waiting for a reaction, an expression on his stoic face, a sound to escape his lips, anything to indicate he’d understood. What she didn’t expect was laughter. Great big, gut-wrenching laughter. Angel had fallen out of his chair and was rolling on the floor with tears streaming down his face. Buffy finally came back inside and was standing over Angel. Her anger was more than evident. She kicked him hard in the ribs. It calmed him down a little.

“Oh I’ve got to see this.” Angel managed to say through his laughter as he made his way to the bedroom.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. His amusement at Xander’s situation was abruptly cut short when he saw the state the boy was in. He was completely vamped out, and greedily feeding from Spike. Agitated growls and whimpers were coming from the youngest vampire. Angel understood the conflict raging inside the boy. The Slayer was in the apartment. The Slayer was a threat to him and his sire. When he had tried to defend his sire from the killer of their kind, he’d been struck down. And was now being forced to fight his instincts to kill the threat.

Angel remembered the first time he’d come face face-to to-face with Buffy. His soul had reached out to the young Slayer, but his demon had demanded her blood. It had taken every ounce of control he’d gained in his more thao ceo centuries of unliving to hide the demon from her, and to stay his hand from killing her. His eyes met Spike’s over Xander’s head and Angel slid seamlessly into game face. He leaned over and nuzzled into his grand-childe’s neck, deeply inhaling the fragrant bouquet of his blood. Family. Clan. Mine. Angelus took over and he sank his fangs into the boy’s neck.

The flavor was exquisite. He rolled the blood on his tongue and lapped the bite marks closed, savoring the last drop. The strongest flavor was Xander. The boy tasted exactly as he had smelled before he was turned, but the undercurrents in the blood were what Angel truly appreciated. He tasted Spike, Drusilla, a mere whiff of Darla, and himself in the boy’s blood. His family was growing. As the patriarch of the clan he was pleased at the addition, but his soul wept for Xander’s lost humanity.

“I’m sorry, Xander. But I need to judge you now.” Angel quietly said as he made Xander stand. As the head of the family it was Angel’s job to destroy any inadequate additions. He circled the boy and let his vampire senses make the decision on the boy’s existence. Finally he reached a decision. “You’ve done well with your first childe William.”

“Well, my ass! That’s the strongest fucking fledgling ever turned and you know it.” He couldn’t hide his pride from Angel.

“Perhaps.” Then the demon in Angel took over. A low rumble came from Angel’s throat and Xander sank to his knees in front of his grand-sire. Angelus kept growling to control Xander and began to unfasten his belt. It was time to reassert himself as the alpha in the Aurelius clan. First he’d take his grand-childe, and then he was going to take his childe. He didn’t expect Spike’s sudden movement.

“Back the fuck off, Angelus. If you want a new plaything, turn one. He’s mine and I swore to him I’d keep him safe you.” Spike, letting his demon take over, placed himself between his sire and his childe.

Amused again, Angelus chuckled and unfastened his tailored slacks. “Why would you make a promise you can’t keep, boy? You’re both mine to do with what I please.”

“You gave up your dominion over me when you abandoned me, Angelus. You have no right to touch me or mine.” Spike’s amber eyes were flashing in anger. He rumbled at Xander to get up off his knees just as Angel snarled out the opposite. The demon on the floor whined in confusion. Spike smoothed Xander’s hair and pushed him toward the bathroom. When he had reached the door, a command from his grand-sire stopped him. He turned around and watched the alpha males circle each other, preparing to fight over him.

“You try to touch him again and I’ll never give you another drop of blood for your son.” Spike glared at Angelus through narrowed golden eyes.

“You won’t have to give it, William. I’ll take it and I’ll take his. You both belong to me.” At Angelus’ arrogant words, Spike snarled aloud, startling both him and Xander.

“What’s the point of this, Peaches? You don’t want him. You don’t want me. Why after all these years are you trying to act like a vampire? Did you go and lose that pesky soul that’s not really yours again?”

The questioned stopped Angel in his tracks. He looked back and forth between his progeny and realized he really didn’t want it. He wanted blood for his son. The image of Connor flashed in front of him again. He slid out of game face and adjusted his clothing. “No, I didn’t lose my soul again…” He looked vaguely confused. “I don’t know why I’m acting this way.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t sent any blood, Angelus. I’ve been a little distracted.” Spike’s blue eyes met Angel’s brown ones. “I won’t forget again, I promise. Now, could you help me with Xander and the Slayer?”

“What do you want me to do?” Now that Angel had resumed control of his demon, his contrition forced his actions; he was both confused and worried by what had just transpired between the three vampires.

“Get whatever blood we have in the apartment ready and bring it in here. And try to calm Buffy down. She’s makin’ him worse.”

Angel headed for the kitchen and motioned for Buffy to follow. Now that he was in control again he could tell she’d been crying. “Buffy,” he began as he started heating up the last of the blood in the apartment. “That wasn’t Xander that tried to attack you, it was his demon.”

“But he has his soul and…” Buffy didn’t know where to go from her point, and trailed off.

“Soul or not, he hasn’t learned to control the demon yet. Your presence is bringing it out. The demon inside him can sense you’re the Slayer. He was trying to defend his sire.” Angel was surprised to find that a small part of him actually pitied the boy; he knew what an uphill battle Xander was fighting.

“You didn’t react to me that way.” Buffy’s lower lip jutted out stubbornly.

“Only because I’d had over two centuries experience in controlling the demon. Not trying to kill you goes against every instinct the demon possesses.” The microwave beeped and Angel took out the hot bags and started heating some cold bags. “Spike’s going to bring him out here in a few minutes. You need to calm down, take some deep breaths, and meditate a little. He can sense your emotions and your fear is intoxicating to his demon. He revels in it.”

“I am not scared.” Angel met her eyes and one side of his mouth twitched up.

“OK, maybe I am scared, but I’m not afraid of Xander.” The other side of Angel’s mouth twitched up and Buffy sulked into the living room, sat down, and started deep breathing to get her emotions under control. Immediately Angel felt the difference and the demon inside him relaxed as well. A few minutes later and every emotion in Buffy was blocked out and only her heartbeat, mixed with the other girls, could be felt.

The bedroom door opened and Spike emerged with Xander cowering at his side. The youngest vampire growled out a warning to the Slayer before his sire pushed him into the kitchen.

Angel tossed Spike a bag of blood and helped himself to one. He was surprised at how well Spike was controlling Xander. The boy didn’t even reach for the blood without permission. When it was granted, he quickly drank it down, never leaving the security of his sire’s side. Angel knew that Spike’s physical contact was keeping Xander in control and decided to help. He stepped in behind them and put his arms around both of them. Xander relaxed just a little bit more.

Spike was hoping that the blood would make the demon recede, but five bags later it was obvious it wasn’t. “Angel, could you take Xander back to the bedroom?” Angel nodded and led Xander towards the bedroom. Spike didn’t really trust Angel to keep his hands to himself. “If you touch him, you’ll not get any blood from either of us.”

Angel didn’t deign to respond and closed the door behind them. He extended his senses and realized that Spike had been telling the truth earlier. Xander was the strongest fledgling he’d ever seen or heard of. He watched as the demon crawled onto the bed and pulled the covers over him. Angel sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for Spike to convince Buffy to leave. Her presence was agitating Xander far more than it should have. He wondered if it was the boy’s soul making it so hard on the demon.

Relieved to be freed of his sire duties momentarily Spike pulled Buffy out onto the balcony. Once there, he closed the door behind them and pulled Buffy into a bone-crushing hug. He breathed in the scent of her and was grateful to hold her.

“How’s he doing, Spike?” Buffy was torn between the comfort of his embrace and the worry for one of her best friends. She buried her face in his chest.

“Better than I ever thought he would. It was touch and go for a while, and Willow didn’t help things too much either. Add you into the mix and he lost control again. I’m sorry luv. He’s not ready to see you yet. I can’t get him calm enough to meet you. I know it hurts you, but its goin’ to take time for him learn how to control himself. Then you can see each other.”

“Is it because I’m the Slayer?” Her words were somewhat muffled against him.

“Mostly, but you don’t realize how loud heartbeats are to us. The three of you were just too much for him to take right now. When he s a s a heartbeat his first instinct is to feed. Add Slayer to the mix and he’s not only ready to feed, he’s ready to die to protect himself and me from you.” Spike stroked her hair, trying to reassure her and himself at the same time

“But I’m not going to hurt either of you!” Tears threatened to break apart Buffy’s words as she tried to find logic in a situation where there was none.

“I know that luv, and sometime real soon he will too, just not tonight.”

Buffy sighed and snuggled closer to Spike. “I guess it would be best if I left, huh?”

“Yeah, and take Willow and Angel with you. We need to draw some blood for Connor first though. Will you stay out here?”

Buffy nodded and watched as Spike went back into the bedroom. Willow and Anya soon came out to join her. “How is he really?”

“It would go a lot better for him if he would quit resisting Spike so much.” Anya offered.

“Don’t feel bad, Buffy, it took a while for him to get used to me. I think he’s going to be ok though. Once we both calmed down, he was Xander. Just a little colder and paler.” Willow’s words brought the ghost of a smile to Buffy’s lips.

“Spike wants me to take you home with me when I go.”

“I figured he would.” A rap on the balcony door from Spike caught their attention. The three came back inside. Angel had several bottles of blood he was putting in a cooler. “You ready to go?”

“Should I say goodbye to Xander, Spike?” Willow looked at the blonde in askance.

“Not tonight Red. I’m goin’ to try and make him go to sleep. Anya, you goin’ to work in the mornin’?”

“Yes, I don’t want to leave Rupert there alone too much. He tends to frighten the customers with his stuffy Britishness.” Spike grinned at her choice of words.

“I’m goin’ to take him to the Magick Shop tomorrow and start his training. Buffy…”

“I’ll stay away from the Magick Box tomorrow.” She looked a little forlorn, and Spike’s heart went out to her.

“Thanks luv.” He quickly kissed her and sent them out the door. “Anya, think you can tire our boy out without me?”

A very wicked feminine smile crossed her face. “I’m sure I could rise to the occasion.”

“Take plenty of blood with you and if he bites you…”

“I’ll scream ‘help’, so you’ll know it isn’t an orgasm and you can save me.” She hastened towards the bedroom, dropping her robe as she went.

“It’s gonna be a long bloody night.” Spike muttered under his breath and decided to take full advantage of Xander’s satellite dish.