Family of Eternity

Chapter 6

Spike grinned to himself, slinking through the shadows towards his prey. His demon at the fore, golden eyes searching the cemetery. He felt tinglies running up his spine and jerked to the left. A moment later a figure clad in black landed in his spot. He spun around, crouched on the ground and met the eyes of his hunter. She smiled ferally back and without word they took off.

Buffy matched him pace for pace, vaulting over headstones, crisscrossing through the cemetery as fast as possible. She heard him chuckle and narrowed her eyes, realizing he was toying with her still. Panting slightly, starting to get just a bit winded, “Stop...holding...back...”

He glanced over his shoulder at her and grinned before turning back, “You’ll never keep up, luv.”

Narrowing her eyes, vaulting over a freshly dug grave, “Try...me...”

Chuckling, Spike narrowed his gaze and took off, a sudden burst of speed in his gate. Buffy’s eyes widened in shock as the gap suddenly widened between them. Within thirty seconds he was more than fifty paces ahead of her and still going strong.

She suddenly felt something within her uncoil. That same primal part of her that was showing up with increasing frequency lately. Grinning, she let her demon loose and felt a sudden burst of not just energy, but focus. The world became a little sharper as she pursued him into the woods, catching up to him stride by stride until she was only four paces behind him.

He chose that moment to glance back, eyes widening in shock even as she gave him a cheeky grin. Which was a big mistake on his part. Glancing off a tree, with a yelp Spike tripped over a tree root and fell head first into the brook. Buffy skidded to a stop before turning back, moving to the edge of the bank and calling out his name. A moment later he sputtered to the surface, clothing sticking to him like a second skin and hair a matted mess.

She felt both of her eyebrows raise as he ran a hand through his hair, which promptly stood up in every direction. Biting her lip, she looked away fast to keep from laughing at him as he started swearing in Italian and hitting the water in agitation. He waded up the creek, glaring at her, “You think that’s funny?” She shook her head, not daring to open her mouth for fear of laughing. A small snicker did escape her control and his eyes narrowed calculatingly, “Come on, then.”

Squealing, she was unable to stop him from picking her up by the waist and throwing her in. She sprang to the surface a moment later, “SPIKE!”

He grinned and splashed her, trying to get away. But not fast enough as she tackled him with a war cry, both of them disappearing below the surface once more.

***

Joyce raised an eyebrow as she handed towels over the thresh hold to her oldest ‘children’. They’d rung the doorbell and waited patiently, not wanted to get yelled at for ruining her rug. Not that she was entirely pleased with being woken up at three in the morning but she still appreciated the gesture.

They continued to give sheepish looks, both to her and to each other, but she could see the happiness that was radiating off both of them. It was nice. For once neither of them was tense or worried. They’d obviously turned a little playful after patrolling and she was thankful. Both of them deserved it, “Now don’t stay out here too long. I’ll not have either of you sick.”

“Uh, vampires don’t get sick, mum.”

Shaking her finger, “Just you wait. You keep dipping into the creek at this ungodly hour and you’ll wake up with a head cold.”

Spike grinned and shook his head, drying off his hair with the towel before wringing out his shirt. There was no use in fighting her when her mind was made up. Buffy winked at her mom, scooting off her soaked tennis shoes and peeling off her icky sock, wrinkling her nose. Sighing with the burden of the world on her shoulders, Joyce walked away and off to bed.

Carefully stepping onto the carpet, “We’d better get to bed before we do catch a cold.”

Sighing, “Vampires don’t get sick.”

Raising an eyebrow, “Are you sure?

“Positive.”

Grinning and fingering one of his curled locks dislodged by the water and towel, “But how do you know?”

He gave her a slight glare and lightly slapped her hand. She just stuck out her tongue, “Got trapped in a blizzard once. Spent the day buried under the ice. Bout near froze stiff but no cold. Just thawed out a bit and all better.”

Pausing halfway up the stairs to stare at him, “Who walks in a blizzard?” She almost waited for an answer before realizing it was obvious, “Drusilla.”

Grinning and following to retrieve the book on vampires he’d let her borrow, “She was convinced she’d
get to meet the abominable snowman or some such. Never did meet him but she found us a right nice spot to hole up for the winter...”

***

Spike thumbed through the book in his hands, leaning on the roof of the tallest point of the house and the waning moon his light. He frowned to himself for a moment before sighing softly and closing the book, “Who are you-...” His voice trailed off, eyes widening in recognition at the vengeance demon before him.

The brunette sat down delicately, wringing her hands in her lap, “Hello...William.”

A stutter threatened to erupt from him but he squashed it viciously. He was not William the Bloody Awful Poet anymore. He never would be that pathetic human again. Deftly plucking a cigarette out of his coat pocket, sliding it between his lips, “I know you?”

Halfrek looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts. She knew without asking that the young man she’d know as a human was long gone, replaced by this curious fusion of man and demon. But she could still see the little signs of him, “You knew me a hundred years ago...I was Cecily.”

Spike felt a quiver run through him but kept his tone bored and his expression hard, “Don’t recall anymore.”

She studied him for a moment before trying a different tactic, “If I’d known then what I know now...turning you away would have been the last thing on my mind.”

She tried for a sultry smile but wilted under the glare he was giving her. He knew her. It was obvious he’d never forgotten her, “Get the bloody hell off my roof!”

Standing up and wringing her hands, “I came to apologize-...”

“Don’t!” She jumped back a little as his demon slipped out while he jumped to his feet to tower over her. He wasn’t consciously going for intimidation, he was just that mad, “What you did...it was the worst and best night of my life. Don’t you fucking say it was an accident or you didn’t mean it. You meant it. I was nothing to you. A hundred years coming but I finally mean something to somebody. Without you I wouldn’t be here so...we’ll call it square.”

Halfrek nodded slowly, seeing the man William had become. He was no longer the shy, lonely young man he had been. He was angrier and harder, surely, but he was a man that knew what he wanted. Standing up slowly, keeping her distance, “I wish that she makes you as happy as you will make her.” And with no light or sound she vanished before his eyes, missing the small smile that settled over his demon features.

“She already does.”

***

Anya and Xander cuddled in their apartment, staring out into the distant lights of Sunnydale. Their little town never seemed to change, even as they did, “There you two are.” They both turned to see Halfrek lounging in their only other chair, watching them intently, “There is love there...and I’m glad for you, dear Anyanka.”

Smiling and nuzzling Xander’s chin, “Thank you.”

Pursing her lips before coming to a decision she’d been digesting for some time, “Before I became Halfrek the demon, I was Cecily the mortal. I was with child, I birthed, and I died. My child lived three years and died of starvation on the streets of London, I want to give him a second chance. But as a vengeance demon I cannot carry him, nor could I take care of him...”

Anya straightened a little, “Hal?”

Pleading, “You could carry my son. He would still be your’s in every sense, yet his body would contain the spirit of the boy I loved so much...and couldn’t save.”

Xander blushed hotly, “We’re not quite ready for marriage or...kids...”

Halfrek shook her head a little, “Not yet. I know you haven’t even begun to be ready. I just wish for
your consent before I weave this spell.”

The two of them glanced at one another. Would they even be together years later? They both hoped so, but the pattern of relationships in this town was rather bleak, “If we’re still together when we’re ready...yes.”

Halfrek sighed softly, nodding, “The future is changing. Parts of it I cannot discuss. I can’t even warn you about them. However, there will be a time when it appears that death is the only choice. You must understand that death isn’t an ending. That there are alternatives to it, even ones we wouldn’t normally like.” At their confused frowns, “I’m sorry...rambling. Just, be careful with your lives. And just remember that if you’re facing bleeding to death, there are other alternatives than just dying.”

***

Dien bowed with a slight smirk on her face. Before her sat one of the oldest vampires in the world, and one of the few immortals no one would dare to kill. It was more of play than anything else since neither of them were considered the servant of the other. The old vampire chuckled at her in amusement, “Well, well...ancient one.”

Raising an eyebrow, “You’re quite old yourself...for a succubus...”

Chaos nodded a little, gesturing with his hand. A couple of rather timid minions came over. But then when faced with two of the most dangerous demons in the world, even the bravest might be intimidated. Especially as the demoness was considered the natural predator of the vampire, “I have heard your family is here.”

The demoness nodded, “And I have heard your destiny is here.”

“Life, after so long, has no meaning. It will be nice to rest.”

“So you’ve already chosen?”

“Indeed. The coven is already weaving the appropriate spells for the transfer after my...transition.”

Jason raised his hand a little, “I didn’t understand a word of that.”

The two demons glanced at the young one, Chaos rolling his eyes tiredly while Dien snorted, “I see you have your work cut out for you with this new crop.” Jason wilted under his master’s glare, “And don’t worry. This sanctuary is completely protected from human detection.”

“The soldiers?”

“Will be kept busy.”

“The Council?”

“Working on that little problem right now.”

“The slayer?”

“Well, she won’t find you so long as you don’t put out signs advertising it.”

“Your grandson?”

Smiling, “Is coming along nicely. Trust between he and the Slayer has been established. The watcher has been taken care of and the friends are off balance.”

“The mother?”

Evil smile this time, “Is practically handing over her daughter on a silver platter.”

Nodding agreeably, “Soon your family will have it all. Your grandson will have his third slayer and
power beyond imagining. Whatever shall you do?”

Leaning back, sipping her glass of blood, “Go to Disneyland, of course.”