Cretian Escape

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Chapter 17 – Guest Who?

An hour later, just before Spike and Buffy heard Xander’s voice, there was a knock on the door. “Sorry to interrupt…really, really sorry, but, Spike, we need you downstairs.”

“Give me a sec, whelp.” Before he started putting on his clothes. , Spike kissed Buffy on the nose. “Sorry, pet, but I will be back ASAP or sooner.” With that, Spike was out the door, leaving a sleepy slayer, who was feeling very left out. Being a smart vampire, Spike rushed out of the room before the slayer could get all worked up about being left behind.

Spike followed the sound of Xander’s voice. “… are already there because…”

At the top of the stairs leading to the street laid a beaten and tortured vampire. To be precise, it was Argonia’s second in command, Vassilious.

Spike froze at the sight, but Xander kept talking, “…because you three had direct contact with him.”

Cordy walked up behind them. “Hey, that’s the vampire at the viewing that was the red-headed bitch’s bitch.”

Shaking his head as if shedding water, Xander asked, “Can I get a translation of that Cordy speak?”

Spike stared hard at Vassilious, wishing he could catch the vampire’s eye in order to read him better. “The bloke appeared to be second in command of that lot of gits.”

Vassilious couldn’t even manage a sitting position but mustered the energy to positively acknowledge Spike’s statement with a small nod. Hell, he had barely made it to their villa, and he still didn’t know if they were going to stake him or not. If this wasn’t a good test of their group’s compassion and belief in change that Buffy told him about, then he didn’t know what was.

Giles shut the book in which he had been looking for notes on Vassilious’ history and joined the conversation. “Yes, Spike, you were correct. And as Xander was explaining, you, Angel, and Willow are the most qualified to say what we do with this…er… vampire, who could be…uh…valuable. Excluding Buffy from the list, of course, until she is feeling better. Now let us begin to sort out all the facts and pertinent observations.”

Not surprisingly, Cordy spoke up before any of the trio could. “At the viewing, he seemed to be in charge of Buffy, and then at the auction, he let her go? Choc full of contradictions.”

“He knew.” Everyone turned to see Willow, who was standing farthest away. She moved closer as she spoke. “He knew who we were.” Xander, Giles, Dawn, and Cordy, none of whom been at the auction, looked at Willow like she was stepping closer to the loony bin.

Spike held up a hand, adding his support to the witch. “Red is right. Somehow he did know we were there to save Buffy, and he pitched in with the distractions.”

Willow was now standing just a few feet away from Vassilious, looking down at him. “When Angel and Buffy were gone, he came to let Spike and me know that Buffy made it out. And to raise the creep factor up a few notches, he knew exactly who Spike was.”

Moving so that he could catch Vassilious’ eye, Angel asked in his straightforward style, “How?”

Looking at Spike for a moment longer, Vassilious pulled the two bloodied sketches out of his pocket. Everyone could tell that a talented hand had done the sketches, and they assumed it was this vampire’s hand that wielded that talent. One was of Buffy, and one was of Spike. Still not strong enough to speak, Vassilious pointed once at Spike’s likeness.

Willow watched closely as Vassilious moved. Something about him just touched a place in her heart, made her want to be his advocate. “He knew Spike was Spike and didn’t put the guards on us. Giles, he even vouched for us so we could leave the auction with no problems. He actually made sure we made that last step through the portal.”

Xander broke the silence. “Ok, facts out there for all. So?...? Do we dust him or cage him?”

Shaking his head, Angel spoke up. “The question right now is not whether to kill him, but what the hell is he doing here and in such bad condition? What does this mean and can it help us in some way?”

“Let’s at least give him a chance to tell his side,” Willow tried to keep any pleading from her voice, “and maybe when Buffy wakes up, she can have a say, too.”

“Vassilious, Willow has bought you some….” When Angel looked down, the bloodied vampire had passed out.

Spike tilted his head speculatively as he looked at their new dilemma. “Looks like it will be a race to see who wakes up first, Buffy or this pitiful chum. Well, Peaches, grab an end.”

“Cordy, start rounding up anything strong to tie him with.” As Angel went to pick Vassilious up by the arms, he asked in general, “And where are we carrying him?”

“Follow me.” Willow led the way to her room. “It was my idea to give him a chance, so I will be the one to look after him.”

After setting the vampire on the bed, Spike pulled Willow back to a safer distance. “Red, I don’t think the jailor can do much in his condition but keep a stake handy.”

Xander stepped up. “I’ll be with her and hold a stake above his heart when he wakes up.”

Spike shook his head. “Now hold on, Van Helsing. We need any information the bloke knows, which should be a barrel full. Just stab him in one of his wounds and call for the poof. He knows how to torture.”

Before Angel could respond to Spike’s jab, Xander responded. “Someone already beat us to the bamboo shoots under the fingernails part, so it should be easy to get intel.”

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Despite Xander’s diligence with a stake over Vassilious’s unconscious form, neither Spike nor Angel ever left the room. Much to Cordy and Dawn’s anger, the vampires kicked them out of the room altogether. In the face of their fury but with their safety in mind, it was decided that all humans would stay out in the hall, except for Willow, over whom they had no worries about her ability to defend herself.

When Vassilious finally woke up, Willow had several glasses of blood ready for him. For some odd reason, she had such sympathy for him. She hurt just looking at the vampire. Before they began the questioning, she helped him to drink two glasses.

Giles began. “We can tell that you have been tortured good and proper. Who did this to you?”

Vassilious didn’t answer at first. After looking at everybody in the room and in the hall, Vassilious focused on Willow closely for two reasons. Not only because she was providing him with some precious blood, but also that she was beautiful. When she looked him in the eyes, he was struck with a sense of familiarity. Eyes narrowing, he looked between Willow and Cordelia, who was standing out in the hall. Tilting his head, he continued to ignore Giles’ question and spoke to Willow. Even with the blood, speaking was difficult. “You are the witch. I…was very impressed….by your abilities.” He was amused when she blushed with pleasure. Next he addressed Giles. “…Who did this to me?...My mistress. I was tortured all day then…staked out for the sun…but escaped. It has taken me…all night to get to you.”

So this vampire had brains. Spike was impressed that he so easily saw Willow through the Cordelia disguise. But impressive wasn’t enough; they needed many more questions answered. “How did you know where to find us?”

Vassilious shut his eyes before answering that one. This was a dicey one. They had to think that they were safe, which they were, but they might not believe it yet. “I had a fledgling follow you…after the auction…Found out the information and then staked him…Your secret is safe…That is…if you deem me safe…and let me stay…Sanctuary of sorts.”

Spike wasn’t too convinced about the safety issue, but they could always come back to that. “Ok. For the next big question that’ll get you closer to sanctuary, mate, why were you tortured?”

Before Vassilious could answer, Angel added, “And we want more than ‘for helping us save Buffy.’”

After first drinking another glass of blood that Willow provided and faintly feeling its healing effects throughout his body, Vassilious explained. “At first she beat and…burned me for letting the slayer…escape. As was said before, I was in charge…of the slayer…and therefore was the one…to take the fall when she escaped…but then Argonia decided to not just torture me but to kill me…But no, she didn’t…find out about me helping…Buffy escape. That wasn’t the reason for my condition.” Vass drank another glass of blood and could feel the effects more strongly this time.

Suspicious, Angel wasn’t satisfied with his answers. “If you deceived your mistress, why should we trust you?”

“I’m sorry…” Vassilious shook his head. “…I know you don’t want this answer…but the only proof you have that I am trustworthy is…that I helped you free Buffy.” No one in the room missed his use of Buffy instead of slayer, a tell tale sign that she might not be an enemy to him any longer, but a person, --- a definite plus. With the last glass of blood he drank, his speech came more easily. “All I can do is tell you what has happened to me over the last two weeks through conversations with Buffy.”

Vassilious talked of their conversations about change, redemption, and choices. Then he spoke of their conversations about Angel and Spike, the choices they had made and the model they had set for Vassilious about his ability to make his own choices. “I still don’t understand Spike’s choices when he was without a soul. Let me just say I am impressed at your ability to make such choices.”

“It was all Buffy.” Spike gave him a ghost of a smile.

“I can understand that.” Vassilious nodded his , ag, agreeing with his point. “After my contact with Buffy, I made the choice to go against my mistress, whom I have been loyal to and loved for over a decade, and help you save Buffy. By the night of the auction, I was ready for a different path than my mistress’.” Next, no matter how uncomfortable Vassilious was with the subject, he talked about his own personal thoughts. “Buffy also challenged me to make choices that go against vampiric instinct. First, to go without human blood. Second, to go without killing any living thing. I took her up on her challenges and stuck to them. I’m not going to say that it is easy, but I’ve become a regular at the butcher’s shop. Buffy also challenged me to use my powers for good instead of bad, to help people. She didn’t know it at the time, but I had already done that before the challenge. In Athens, I saved a girl from a werewolf, and then took her to safety. I found it to be as…satisfying as Buffy said I would. Satisfying just as helping you save Buffy was. Satisfying enough to want to do it again.”

Dawn was fascinated. This vampire reminded her so much of Spike. She knew quite a bit about Spike’s choices before he won his soul and how hard they were for him. “A challenge is not enough. So what was your reason to switch sides? It has to be a strong one.”

Angel nodded his approval of Dawn’s question. “You weren’t cursed with a soul.”

Spike was also proud of his Bit. “It wasn’t for love.” He tilted his head as he stared at the vampire. Spike could tell that Angel was just as skeptical as he was of the quick change Vassilious claimed to have undergone. It had taken Angel decades of guilt and then meeting Buffy. And for himself, it had taken a chip shoved in his head and love for Buffy for him to change. And now, this bloke did it in two weeks?

Vassilious could tell that no one fully believed him. He was not surprised. All showed varying degrees of disbelief, but he had to continue to try. “No, neither of your reasons, but mine is equally simple and strong. I no longer see humans as food.”

In the room, it was like an anvil had been dropped. Silence prevailed. No one spoke. Giles, in particular, was astounded into silence. He had always found Spike and Angel to be unique among vampires. Two vampires crossing to the side of good was unheard of. Many of the watchers had never believed it, which didn’t surprise Giles. He himself had doubted Spike on more occasions that he cared to count, including the doubt that lead to his attempt to kill him those last months in Sunnydale. However, Spike had proved himself true to the cause. But now…another vampire? Of course, Vassilious had said about fighting for the side of good. He had only implied that he wasn’t going to kill anymore.

Willow was starting to believe the black-haired vampire, but could tell many of the others still did not. ‘I no longer see humans as food’ was a good start, but they all needed to hear more. “So, what are you trying to tell us?”

Startling everyone, Buffy moved into the room straight into the circle of Spike’s arms. “What he is trying to tell all of you is that he wants to be and is on the road to redemption.”

Well, that was a little much for Cordelia. “Another?!”

“Amazing!” Giles, trusting his Slayer, was now starting to believe.

Xander snorted. “That road is getting pretty crowded.”

“That’s my girl. She makes one hell of an influence, right, Peaches?” Spike tightened his arms around Buffy and looked at Angel, who rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Me, me. Call on me.” With her hand up, Cordy was jumping up and down in the hall. Angel motioned her in so that he could put his arm around her wa “Y “You’ve got to be kidding me. Are we really considering letting this vampire loose with us just because he changed over two weeks?”

“Good question.” Angel looked over at Buffy. “You know best. It is your call.”

Buffy looked at all the faces of her family and friends, knowing that her decision could not only effect everyone, but also cause one or more of their deaths. “Look guys, I realize that this is a mega important decision, and I so hate to tell you that my decision will probably not be one hundred percent exact-o. However, Vass and I spent a lot of time together and, during that time, I came to believe he was as honest with me as I was with him. He didn’t just wake up this morning and say, ‘Hey, why don’t I be a white hat now.’ No, this had to have been coming for awhile.” Buffy looked down at Vassilious. “I’m gonna have to say yes that he has changed, and not over just two weeks.”


“Think about it. You don’t just up and stop killing one day. He had to have been thinking about it for some time. Ya know, he reminds me of Spike before he got his soul. He was evil because he was a vampire and supposed to be, but then Spike helped me save the world. And then later he switched sides altogether.” She glanced up at her lover. “Spike, you can’t tell me that was overnight or even a one time shot. Before the chip, I bet there were other times you chose to not hurt someone, weren’t there?”

Spike paused, but Angel nodded his head to answer for him. “My grandchilde was always disappointing Angelus.”

Buffy smiled, but then she looked down at Vassilious. “But Spike isn’t the one on the grill. Vass is, and I don’t know all of his history, but I am willing to bet that he has some more instances like the girl in Athens in his past. So do I trust my jailor? Yes. And…if he makes even the smallest false move, I will stake him myself.”

Giles still couldn’t believe there was now a third vampire on their side, but he was willing to go with Buffy’s decision, especially with both Spike and Angel around. “Then that is that, but I do believe we still need to maintain some security measures. I suggest that we are always armed and that we always stay in pairs.”

Waving a hand at Vassilious, Spike moved the questioning on. “Sounds good, watcher. But what we need now is information. Lots of information.”

“What he needs now,” Willow interrupted in a firm voice, “is to have his wounds tended. If he is to fight with us, he needs to be able to fight with us.” With that, Willow shooed all but Xander from the room.

*****

Spike approached Willow’s room and was immediately disturbed by two things. First, Willow was alone with Vassilious. Where the hell was Xander? The second was a little strange. Willow was giggling. Giggling? Giggling like a high school student. No, that wasn’t right. He had been there in Sunnydale during her high school years, but she hadn’t been gigglinen hen he had been attacking her. No, her speech and laugh now sounded more like when she had been with Tara. Surely Willow wasn’t falling for this guy? Tall, dark and handsome. Oh, bullocks. It was already bad enough that Buffy thought so highly of him, and now Willow?

Spike knocked on the door frame to get their attention. “Red, may I have a word with your patient?”

Startled by Spike’s sudden presence, Willow answered quickly, “Yes…I’ll…I’ll just go and get…something.”

Once she was out of the room, Spike shut the door and got right to the point. “Are you in love with her?”

Vassilious knew that the ‘her’ wasn’t Willow, but Buffy. He wasn’t surprised by the question. In fact, he was surprised that Spike hadn’t asked before. “If I was, it would be a waste of my time. She’s deeply in love with you. Even when she still thought you were dead, she couldn’t have loved you more.” Vassilious shook his head, a far away look in his eyes. “No, my heart was crushed by another and is still bleeding.”

“I know how that feels – was done to me by the same lady that loves me now.” Spike sat down in a chair. What he ’t a’t add was how much Vassilious’ words had meant to him. ‘Even when she still thought you were dead, she couldn’t have loved you more.’ That was immediately memorized.

Unlike Spike, Vassilious was not thinking of Buffy, but of Argonia, the hell bitch. “No, we are going to kill the one that crushed my heart.”

“So that is your reason for turning traitor.”

“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a part of my reason, but what I told you earlier was true. Humans are no longer food to me, and I have found that helping is more satisfying than hurting. Just thinking of what Argonia does to humans makes me sick. I’ve been nauseated for awhile now.”

“Time will tell just who and what you are.” Spike tilted his head, assessing the vampire in the bed. “Have you given us all the information that you know?”

“Yes.”

“If not, Peaches will be glad to show you his skill,” Spike flicked his wrist, indicating Vassilious’ wounds, “which will make this look like a jaunt down the yellow brick road. Legends of Angelus’ skills in torture aren’t exaggerated. Believe me.”

Vassilious looked him in the eye and shook his head. “I’ve told you everything. I want to crush Argonia as much as you do.”

“In that, I do think that I believe you, jailor.” Spike looked Vassilious up and down. “Heal up. We go in one night. Twenty-four hours. See if you can get Willow to whip you up a little something to help you out. Oh, and about Red. Don’t toy with her affections, or you will have all of us after you. She has had a rough few years, and we all look out for her.”


TBC

A/N: Let me thank Evilawyer for beta-ing this chapter
And thanks for all of your support of Vassilious. He has really grown on his own.