Dark Evil Fairy Tale

(A/N: Characters are Joss' - we're just playing with them)


They'd hung on to each other in the shower, neither one wanting Xander to go in to work. But construction was at a critical point and calling in sick was not an option, so Spike had kissed him goodbye and smiled. It was only a few hours after all, ten tops. He'd keep himself busy and not think about yesterday.

He did keep busy—it was hard work deciding which channel to watch. Xander had every one available on the planet. His telly even showed four channels at once! Spike was still flipping channels when there was a knock on the door. He turned toward it, but this time... he didn't make a move toward it. Xander would use his key, he'd learned that much the hard way.

"Come on, little Spikey, open the door," Kurn said, as soon as it became apparent that Spike was not about to let him in. "You don't want your human to meet with an accident on his way back from work do you? It would be so easy," he continued, allowing the malice he felt to show in his voice, "all I'd have to do is make one of those car things ram him into a wall. Can you imagine the blood, Spike? The pain as your boy dies."

Spike's grip on the remote tightened as dread, pure and dark, inched through his veins and came out his pores. He closed his eyes hoping that Kurn would leave. But the silence was worse…more threatening somehow.

Cold fingers of ice invaded his stomach, with them bringing fear. He couldn't leave Xander to the overlord's mercy. He couldn't. Spike got up and opened the door, a wild look in his eyes. "You have no right. Fairies can't kill humans, except warriors," he shoved Kurn back. "You're not a warrior, and Xander isn't in violation of any of our laws." That was when he saw them... two tall figures watching from afar.

"Handy, aren't they?" Kurn asked, a smirk distorting his face. "Now, let's talk about how you violated the terms of your contract, shall we?" He sauntered inside, making sure to brush his body against Spike's as he did so. The bastard had been a thorn in Kurn's side since the first day he'd come to the mines and now...well, now Kurn could have what he wanted and get his revenge on Spike too.

One last look at the warrior fairies, and Spike followed him inside, keeping his distance. This time he'd fight... this time. He stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed protectively over his chest. "What do you bloody want, Kurn? I served my time, you sodding know I did. You wouldn't have let me leave otherwise, yeah?"

"Well, see, here's the thing. It seems that little Spikey was in such a rush to see his human boy, he didn't stay long enough to make sure he mined the right amount of diamonds." Kurn grinned, ecstatically happy to deliver the news, "It seems that little Spikey was just under the freedom limit. It seems that little Spikey still has a few days to go before he fulfills his contract." Seeing the shock and distress in those blue eyes was possibly the best thing that had happened to Kurn since the day Spike had left. He leaned back against a wall, crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his head to better enjoy the view.

"Fuck... you're lying!" Spike paced away, if only to give himself a chance to think without those coal black eyes drilling a hole through him. Fuck... Fuck ... Fuck... if it was true, that was what the warrior fairies were doing out there... enforcing the contract with the trolls.

Xander.... Xander would come home and find him gone. Xander would curl up into a ball and remember the last time. The scar on his knee was gone, but the scar Spike would leave on his heart would never heal. As he turned, he accidentally knocked some picture frames down. Collecting them, he put them back, hands shaking slightly. He pressed the memo button on the answering machine and turned again to Kurn.

"The treasure weigher said I brought enough. You were there when he pronounced the total amount of my hauls." A few days... a few days in fairyland, he didn't know how much that was in human time. Last time he'd gone, it had taken ten human years. He'd left a boy, and found a bitter man. Next time... what would he find?

"The treasure weigher was wrong, and I was also there when the ledgers were updated and you were found wanting. You owe them, Spike, and you're coming back to pay." Kurn's smile was distinctly unpleasant as he stepped closer to speak right into Spike's ear, "To be more specific, you owe me, as I bought your debt from them." He leaned back again to better enjoy the stricken look on Spike's face. He would look so beautiful when he was broken.

*

Xander went through his daily ritual of hesitation, stupid self-recriminations and turning the key…except this time, when he walked into the apartment, Spike wasn't sitting within view nor was his voice heard telling Xander hello. Instead the room was a mess, there were splotches of blood on the couch, and Spike was gone. Xander stumbled over the couch, landing heavily on the floor right in front of the overturned table that previously held the phone.


He lay there, staring at the answering machine's blinking light, trying to understand how his life had been turned upside down again. The last time it had happened he had also found himself lying in a room that showed signs of a struggle, pain tearing his body apart. This time...this time the pain was tearing his heart into pieces. Spike was gone. Spike was gone. Spike was gone.


Xander stayed on the floor for a long time. All he could think was that Spike was gone, he was finally gone and Xander was dying just thinking the words. He breathed in and felt the edge of the overturned table dig into his back. A small frown appeared on his face. Spike was gone, but...why would he trash the place? Why would there be blood on Xander's couch? Spike, in his fairy form, never had to fight for blood, and he was always a neat eater. He sat up a bit…surveyed the ruins of his living room. The blinking red light caught his attention again and he reached out to press it, the action nearly automatic now.

"The treasure weigher said I brought enough. You were there when he pronounced the total amount of my hauls."

Xander sat straight up, his full attention on the answering machine and Spike's voice. What the hell was going on?

* * *

Willy was wiping down the bar and preparing for the rougher night crowd when the lone human came in. Not too many of them dared venture into the demon bar. Then again, this one’s fey partner had made it clear that no one was to touch him.

Xander wasted no time looking at the other patrons of the place, heading straight to the bar and reaching over to grab Willy and drag him close.

"Who is Kurn, and where did he take Spike?"

"Hey!" Willy struggled, then relaxed. "Look, if you have boyfriend troubles, this is the wrong bar to complain in."

"Willy, I don't have the patience for this. I know he did something to Spike, now tell me where they are." Xander shook Willy and tried to look as menacing as possible. "Tell. Me."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Now let me go, and let's talk." Once the boy's hold loosened, Willy poured two long drinks and listened to Xander's tale of what he'd heard on his answering machine. "I don't know anyone named Kurn, but if Spike called him an overlord, it means he worked for the trolls. And by the way... do you know the penalty for having knowledge of the fey world? For humans? I'm sure Spike would kill me for..."

"Spike would kill you, I would just make your life hell." Xander fixed Willy with his most steady gaze. "I may be only a human, but I can make sure you get licenses revoked, inspectors coming in every day and night, a fucking demolition crew getting confused and knocking down the wrong building. Tell me what the fuck is going on, Willy, and tell me how to get to Spike. Do it. Now."

"I don't have a crystal ball... I don't know," the bar owner sputtered, now afraid of threats to tear down his place. He'd started over too many times in his life. "I'm just putting things together like, from what you said and all. If Kurn is an overlord and there was a contract violation, the fairies would have helped take Spike back. They're big on contracts, the fairies... it keeps the peace." Willy rubbed his neck. "Unless he committed a crime, he should be out.... when he fulfills his contract. Have a drink or two... he'll be back." What he didn't mention was that time passed at a different rate in the land of the fey. It could be days, or centuries...

Xander sat back, frowning in thought. He considered Spike's words from the answering machine, that Kurn guy's threats, and Spike's nightmares...it was like having pieces of a jigsaw and trying to make the whole picture without knowing what it was or where each piece was supposed to go. Willy quietly brought him a drink, and Xander sipped as he thought, slowly fitting the pieces together to make a rather horrifying image. He called Willy over, waited until the barman was close enough for him to hear without Xander yelling.

"I need to get to Spike. Tell me how."

Willy rubbed his palms together. "It's risky. It could cost you your life. It WILL cost you a shit load of money." When Xander didn't blink an eye, he told him how to find a mixed breed witch. Half fey and greedy to boot, she just might be the one to help the determined human.

*

Xander was shocked at how easy it was to persuade the girl to help him. All she cared about was the cash he handed over to her. He held the bottle in his hand, his fingers restless against it, twirling it this way and that. The witch had told him not to drink the potion until he reached the oak at the center of Hamsleigh Park. After he'd drunk it, she said he would know what to do. He reached the tree and sat in its’ shade, still playing with the little, green bottle. Xander wasn't sure if he could trust the witch, or Willy even, but he could think of no other way to get to Spike. Still, the words of the witch kept playing in his head...

Time passes differently there, a day in the land of the fey is much longer here. You could stay there for only a short while but find you have been missing for years in this world. Your family could die of old age before you return. Be warned, human, you could lose everything you love.

The words translated easily into Xander's life. He could lose Willow. If he went after Spike, he could lose the only family he ever had. Xander picked up his cell phone and dialed Willow's number. He couldn't tell her everything, but he could at least tell her he would be gone for a while. He would not have his Willow worry about him.

As soon as he hung up the phone, he opened the little, green bottle and drank deeply.

Xander felt the ground fall away and soon he was looking up at the tree he'd been sitting under. It was a hell of a lot of 'up'. He didn't take the time to marvel at his new circumstances, much as he would have liked to play around with his wings. No, time to play later. First he had to find Spike. He turned slowly round, looking carefully around him until he spotted a slight disturbance, like a rippling effect, on the base of the tree. He moved toward it, and, with a quick prayer to God, he jumped through.

* * *

He'd never been cold before. Now he shivered non-stop. Even now, with the rough blanket pulled up to his chin, as he sat on the ground, arms draped around his knees and leaning the right side of his body against the wall, as if it would protect him. As if anything could.

Another violent shudder broke through him. His teeth chattered, and he closed his eyes against the constant burn coming from the wounds at his sides. His blood had congealed now and no longer oozed, but it would again. Every movement twisted the poles that impaled him, reopened the wounds... so he tried not to move. Not to think. Not to shake.

There was no comfort in this place. Hardly any light. No friend. Just cold, hard fear. And the only thing that staved if off ... sometimes ... was the small, square piece of paper he hand in his hand. There had been a picture on it once, but he'd rubbed his thumb over it so much, most of the picture had rubbed away. He swallowed hard, trying to remember the picture... how it made him feel. Safe.

There were footsteps and the sound of a wheel turning... chains pulling. "No." The single word broke out of his throat, as he tucked the picture under the blanket just in time. The chains were attached to the thin rods that Kurn had inserted through his body. They dragged him up to his feet, then higher, until he was suspended in the air, fighting the nausea and pain. The rods went through him, front to back, and when the chains did their lifting job, the rods rested on a set of parallel bars... holding him like an animal on a spit.

Kurn pushed the heavy door open and stalked in. His eyes glazed over the instant he saw the pale, suspended figure just waiting to be mastered by him. He stood still a moment, enjoying the sight, reveling in the control he had over Spike, at the flashes of pain he could see in the blond's face. He'd been waiting for this moment since he'd first laid eyes on Spike, since the blond had snarled at him and moved to help some fairy child working in the mines. Kurn had punished Spike severely, hoping to break him, but that had yet to happen. Maybe he'd break today. His cock twitched.

Spike didn't turn his head, but when Kurn put his hand on Spike's back, its’ weight dragged his body down and the rods tore him. Won’t scream... won't won’t won’t. But a whimper did break from him.
"How long do you think you can keep this up?" Kurn kissed Spike's cheek, then bit it.

Don't talk... talking doesn't help... don't talk.

"You thought you wouldn't scream... you've screamed. You say you won't drink my blood, but yours..." he touched the sticky liquid now running from the wounds around the rods, "is almost all gone. You're not healing anymore. I'm your only choice. You're going to fucking drink me or die before your time is up." Oh yeah, there had been so little time owed by the vampire fairy, Kurn had easily paid his debt and bought that time. Now he had him in these abandoned underground troll chambers, and no one could hear him scream.

Leaning forward, he kissed him ... hard on the mouth. His frustration was building every day. This particular fairy had dominated his dreams for too long, all because he wouldn't break. He was going to break for him now—he had to. "Now drink." He put his throat against Spike's mouth. "I said drink."

His mouth hurt. His jaw ached. And, as the overlord got angrier, he tugged on Spike's body, making him burn and bleed. And still, Spike wouldn't bite... wouldn't take one drink. He didn't care if he was dying, if his cells were screaming for it. He can't win.

Kurn went wild. It was this one's stubbornness and rebellion that drove him to the edge, and here was history repeating itself. "You will drink... fucking do it... do it ... do it!" Each time he yelled, he punched his prisoner, knocked his body back and forth, rubbed his hands in Spike's blood and licked it himself. And yet he got nowhere…

"Fuck you." He dragged the only article of clothing Spike had on - his boxers - down his hips, then lined his cock up to him. "Fuck you, fuck you... fuck fuck fuck..." he growled, roughly taking Spike, "say yes... god damn you... say you'll do it... say it...

Spike struggled. It hurt so much, it didn't matter if the rods dug deeper, his instincts wouldn't allow him to stay still. Kurn's orders, his yells... they became unintelligible, as the vampire's mind grew hazy and slowly shattered. No.... No…. No more.... no..... make it stop.... please...

*

The moment Xander burst through the effect, into the land of the fey, he dropped to the ground screaming in pain. She tricked me, fucking witch tricked me. That was poison. Gradually, he became aware that the pain was fierce in certain places, like a sharp blade pushing into his flesh. He looked down at his body, half expecting to see blood marring his clothes, but there was nothing.

No.... No.… No more.... no..... make it stop.... please...

"Spike!"

Xander looked around, frantically trying to find Spike, but no one was there. The glade was silent but for the sound of birds chirping away, and nothing moved but for some leaves swaying in the breeze.

Won't scream... won't give him the pleasure. Fuck.....

A fresh slash of pain, at the back of his neck this time.

"Spike, please tell me where you are."

Something brushed Spikes mind…something that soothed and dulled the pain of the moment. A voice that made him want to break down and cry. But he wouldn't... not until Kurn left him. I won't take his blood... I won't ... I won't ... die first, but I won't.... he told the strangely familiar voice. Anything to keep his mind off the torture and the feel of the overlord lapping hungrily at his throat... taking what little blood he had left in his system. Death was close, and he would welcome it... fuck the craving for blood. Talk... talk to me, please.


Spike? Oh God, Spike, you can really hear me? Xander fought the pain and got up, trying to focus on the voice in his head. I need to find you, sweetheart, how do I find you? He automatically started moving, not sure where he was going or what he was doing, hoping against hope that he was going the right way. Do anything you can to survive, Spike, I'm coming for you, just...wait for me, okay?"

Spike had been concentrating so hard on the voice in his head... not even the words so much, but the feel of the presence of someone inside his mind... someone kind, and soft, and warm, that he didn't know it was over until the bars holding him up retracted, and he fell to his knees. Careful not to tilt forward so that the lances in him wouldn't be pushed through his body, he crawled and walked on his knees, back to the pallet near the wall and rested against the wall. Blood oozed from all over him, his neck, the wounds in his back and stomach... everywhere. He didn't stop the blood, couldn't. Nor did he wish himself clean anymore. Just want to sleep. Just want to close my eyes and never wake.

Xander practically felt the resignation Spike felt and lurched as he ran. Oh God, Spike, hang on. Please hang on, I can't live without you. I swear, Spike, I'll kill myself if you die, hold on please don't leave me please don't leave me pleasepleaseplease... He kept up a litany of begging and encouraging in his head running as fast as his legs could carry him.

*

Time passed.

Xander ran like a man possessed, stopping only to rest, eat and drink. Even that, he did less and less, as the feel of Spike's pull increased telling him he was closer.

Fairyland, in all its’ pastoral beauty, disappeared as he entered troll territory. These lands were dark, the mountains all sharp edges into the sky. The people were more suspicious—they stared at him.

And there was more torture and pain. Spike wanted to slip away, but that voice wouldn't let him. He was in turn grateful and angry at the voice. Why wouldn't it let him go?

Time passed.

*

Abandoned mine entrances dotted the mountainous landscape. In here... somewhere in one of these underground places, Spike lay dying, one cell at a time.

(A/N: So... any interest in this one, or is fairy spike passe'? Please comment!)