Never Come Back

Chapter Eighteen


L.A

Angelus let the body of his victim fall to the ground without a thought, using his thumb to capture a stray droplet of blood that had pooled in the corner of his mouth. He had managed to pile up a high body count and smirked as he recalled the screams from each of his victims. It had been too long since he had heard anything that sweet. Police sirens whaled all around him and he chuckled, he knew they were because of him.

"Maybe that uptight Kate Lockley was investigating them? Being the gallant guy that I am... who am I to refuse her my assistance" he said aloud and to himself. He walked off in search of the blond cop.


Sunnydale

Spike stood on the back porch smoking a cigarette. Deep in thought, he didn't hear or feel Buffys approach. He jerked away as she touched his shoulder before sitting down. He smiled sadly and hung his head as he watched his cigarette burn away.

"One of these days, those will kill you" Buffy said in an effort to break the tension surrounding him.

Again he smiled sadly.

They both sat in silence for a while and enjoyed the cool night air. Buffy heard the muffled sound of the phone ringing and looked over her shoulder to see Willow answer it for her. She turned her attention to Spike.

"I kind of know how you're feeling but well, how you feeling?"

Spike pulled her onto his lap and into his arms.He kissed her gently.

"Better. Sort of. I feel almost whole, complete yeah? I have you and now my soul. I feel the guilt, don't get me wrong but it's like my soul and demon are harmonized, content at last"

"Wow!"

"Wow indeed. God the souls already affecting me... sound like that bleeding ponce, William"
"Well I think it's sweet" she replied, kissing him deeper than before.

Willow opened the screen to the back door and waited until Buffy had come up for air to speak.

"What's wrong Will...." she really didn't like her facial expression .

"That was Cordelia. it's Angel"

Spike turned his head towards Willow now that his sire had been mentioned "What about him Red, spit it out"

"Cordy said that he fell down the stairs in the hotel last night"

"And?" Spike narrowed his eyes "Did his thick neck break his fall and now he's in a wheelchair cos that would be worth going to see.That would be bloody karma....."

"No... he's ... he's Angelus again. He's lost his soul.They want me to go there and perform the ritual again "

Buffy got up off of Spikes lap "When did you say we would be there?"

"I said I would leave right away and be there as soon as I could. I'll have to get supplies but I think I have an orb"

Buffy took charge "Right, go get everything you need and be careful. The commando's are still around, take Xander. We'll get ourselves sorted here and will be ready for when you get back. "

Willow nodded and left Spike and Buffy on the porch. Giles over heard and cringed. He went back over the conversation again and knew something wasn't sitting right. The coincidence of Angel losing his soul and Spike gaining his was too much.

Buffy took her place back on Spikes lap and played with the hair at the base of his neck.

"Penny for them?"

Spike looked her in the eyes "Somethings not right pet, don't you think it's funny, I get my soul as he loses his?"

Buffy looked shocked as she came to the same conclusion as he had.

"Who would do that and why?"
"No idea love but you have to admire their sense of bloody humor "

"It's not funny Spike, Angelus is a monster. How many people are going to die because somebody has done this"

"Sorry , your right.Just bloody ironic is what it is"

"Come on, let's get ready to go"


The being materialized at the foot of the porch steps and coughed. Buffy turned and narrowed her eyes ."Great , just what we need" she sighed.

Spike morphed and growled, pulling Buffy protectively into his arms.Great now his inner William was being gallant.

"I assure you my Queen, I mean you no harm.I have come to aide you and to explain."

Buffy laughed nervously "Queen? Right, now I know this is some kind of joke. Who sent you?"

"I have been sent by the Elder beings ,Acacius and his Queen , Sarah, a sister slayer"

"Um... kay... so , ...."

Spike smirked at his girl and turned "What she's trying to put so eloquently is, spill"

The being stepped forward and watched warily as Giles stepped out onto the porch. Again he had heard the beings speech and on hearing the names, had let his curiosity lead him out onto the porch.

"Maybe it would be better for ...."

"I do not have a name... i belong to a tribe beyond this realm .We do not need names, we are beyond labels. We just are"

"Giles is right, let's go inside" Buffy said as she walked into the kitchen.

Giles followed her in and Spike gestured for the demon to go in before him. Buffy led them into the lounge.

"So, your here to explain why Spike and I are together and why he now has his soul? Also, why Angelus has lost his?"

"Yes."
A brief pause
" Long ago, Sarah, the slayer and Acacius fell in love and when she was mortally wounded and on the cusp of death, Acacius gave her the gift of his blood. Sarah recovered and became half demon, half slayer. Acacius underwent several changes, the first of which was to regain his soul. That leads me to how and what it had to do with Angelus. Angelus' history is know and therefore, I do not have to repeat it. Suffice to say that he was one of the most vicious beings and was tamed by the soul that he was cursed with. "

The being turned specifically to Spike.

"The soul that inhabited Angelus was in fact your soul. The Kalderash knew that his own soul was already tainted . Angelus as a man was no different from the demon, and so it would not of served as a punishment.The Kalderash sought out Williams soul and used that as he was a kind and gentle man.Now that you have started to ascend , you have been granted your soul back and so, Angelus was freed from his curse. "

The demon had affirmed everyones thoughts and fears.

"Angelus can be cursed with a new soul, but it will have to be done soon. I will accompany you on your journey and will aide you as much as I can"

Spike sat down , shocked.As much as he had suspected that his soul was used as the curse for Angel, it was a lot to take in.
Buffy frowned "So if Angels soul is too tainted to use, who's soul will they choose ? Is it fair to use another soul in this way? Will it not damage it?"

The demon studied Buffy before answering.

"No. It will remain with Angelus and will not be touched by his darkness. It will fill him with light to counteract his darkness and allow him to feel remorse.Should Angelus die and the soul should be released back into the ether, then it will be cleansed as Williams was"

Giles took off his glasses and remained quiet. Spike swallowed hard and thought over everything he had heard. He wanted to know more about the changes that he would go through and also wanted to know what the being meant when he said that he would 'ascend'. Buffy was in slayer mode. She was cutting off her feelings and her opinions regarding the whole Spike ascending thing. Her focus was on capturing Angel again so that Willow could perform the curse. As if on que, Willow walked in with Xander trailing behind her, his arms full of various items that she needed.

"Have you got everything you need?" Buffy asked, anxious to be on their way and to not have any delays.

"Yep, we're good to go.Err Buffy? Who's the newby?"

"Come on, let's get on our way, I'll fill you both in once we're in the car."

Spike stood and retrieved his car keys from his pocket and headed out the door. Giles followed him out and left the three friends to gather the items and lock up the house.

It wasn't long before Spike had pulled out and was heading towards the freeway.

L.A.

Cordelia stood at the window to Wesleys apartment looking out onto the dark street below.

"I told you, Angel has never been to my apartment and has never received an invitation to enter my home.You are quite safe I assure you"

Cordy looked over her shoulder "I know, thanks for putting me up. It's just, we have no idea how this happened and I'm thinking, can it happen again like this, he wakes and poof, no more soul"

Wesley rubbed her shoulders "I doubt that it just happened, there must be a reason or catalyst that lead to it . We'll get to the bottom of it Cordelia and in the meantime, Buffy and her group will be here before daybreak. Willow has said that she can curse Angelus again"

"That's good news at least, who is coming besides Buffy and Willow?"

"As far as I am aware, Giles ,Xander and Spike"
"Spike?!" she yelled "Bleached idiot that tried to kill us all ? What the hell is he coming for, and why is he with Buffy? Don't tell me.... Little miss higher calling has a thing for vamps and not just the ensouled variety?"

"Cordy, Spikes changed.Buffy's changed.A lot has happened since we left Sunnydale and yes, Spike and Buffy are involved.Regardless, they are coming to help us and who are we to judge them?"

"Fine!" she snapped "I'm sorry it's just I'm so tense and I still remember the last time he reverted to type."

"I remember too , we were just lucky the effects of the drug wore off and that was all it was"

Cordelia laughed as she recalled Wesley charging at Angelus , sending him to the bottom of the elevator shaft.Wesley joined her .
"So we wait?"

"What else can we do Cordy?"

Cordelia smiled broadly "Oh I can think of a few things that will not only pass the time but will take our minds off of Angel"

Kate arrived on scene and ducked under the crime scene tape. A male officer greeted her with the crime details. Kate bent down and turned the womans head to the side and sighed deeply at the sight of the puncture wounds.

"Did you find any witnesses?" she asked bluntly

"One, this girls friend. She's on her way to the hospital as we speak. The man attacked her in the same way and then raped her. When he was done he told her to pass a message on to you."

Kate frowned "Me? Okay, what did he say?"

The officer took out his notebook and flipped until he reached the required page, then read it "He said, I'm only keeping you alive so you can tell that uptight bitch Lockley that I'll be seeing her soon. She thinks she's an expert on me, let's see how long it takes her to find me.Catch me if you can ,Katie"

Kate hardened. She scanned the crowd and caught sight of a tall dark figure. She drew her gun and eased through the crowd, looking for Angel. She felt the air move behind her and spun into his arms.

"Katie, Katie , Katie.... did you learn nothing from those books? Bullets can't kill me, they sting and itch... "

"They can if they're wood tipped " she growled out.

Kate shoved the muzzle of her gun into his chest and pulled the trigger.....

A/N :- So am I good to you or what? Two updates in one day! Thanks for the reviews , let me know wha you think of my l'il twist x