Lost in the Dark, Cleansed in the Flame

Chapter 6 - Lilith

Xander was surprised when they turned in a completely new
direction. He had thought that they would be taking them to the same
little room he'd been in for the past few days. But then he realized
that room had only had one chair. So now that Spike was with him,
they'd have to take them somewhere else. He just shrugged and
continued to follow the lab coats.

"What the fuck?" Spike blurted when they entered the large
warehouse. There were rows and rows of what Xander called
"dentist" chairs, outfitted with metal restraining bands. Almost all of
the chairs were filled, every other occupant a vampire, most in game
face and swearing.

They were led to two empty chairs, and then strapped down. Spike
glanced over at Xander trying to send him waves of comfort. "Don't
worry luv."

Xander turned to meet Spike's gaze. "I feel guilty."

"What for Xan? S'not your fault we're here."

"I know that." Xander shrugged. "I don't feel guilty for that." He
turned away and mumbled softly. "I feel guilty because I'm glad
you're here with me."

Spike cursed the metal bands holding his arms down. He wanted to
reach out and touch his mate. "None of that now Xan. You know I
wouldn't let you go through this alone. Can't feel guilty over
something I'd do whether you wanted it or not." He reassured him.

Xander gave him a weak smile and then turned to face forward as a
lab coated technician approached them. They had removed his shirt
before strapping them down, and now were applying electrodes to his
chest, and a blood pressure cuff to his right arm. When the tech left
Xander turned to Spike and asked, "Why am I the only one getting
decorated?"

"No vitals luv. Nothing for them to check on me." Spike smirked.

"What do you think they want to learn?"

"Don't know Xan, guess we'll find out soon enough." Spike answered.

"You'll wish you hadn't." Both men turned to a third voice entering the
conversation. It was a dark haired, olive skinned vamp. She looked
almost Mediterranean in origin.

"Who are you?" Xander asked.

"My name's Lilith. At least it used to be. I've been Hostile 66 for the
past year, maybe longer." She mused.

"What are they - " As Spike spoke Lilith began to shudder lightly, her
eyes rolling back into her head. When the shaking stopped he asked
gently, "What happened?"

"They're hurting him." She shrugged.

"Who?" Xander whispered, afraid he already knew the answer.

"My mate."

"You don't seem too put out." Spike observed.

"Don't you care?" Xander asked at the same time.

"Of course I care!" She snapped back. "The Claim won't let me do
anything else. But..." She looked away for a few seconds and then
back. "They forced it on us. On me." Her eyes filled with a mixture
of anger and sadness. "He's one of them. A 'volunteer' they called
him." A single tear made its way out and traveled the length of her
cheek. "You know he still calls me Hostile 66?"

Xander was speechless. How could anyone go through a Claim and
not *love* each other? How did that work? He couldn't imagine any
other feelings when he thought about the link between himself and
Spike. "What do they want?" He whispered softly.

"Don't know." Lilith shrugged again. "Maybe building an army of
Claimants? Their stronger you know. You must have felt it?"

"What the hell do they need us for then?" Spike asked. "If they can
bloody well make their own!"

She had no answer, so Lilith just remained silent.

"How can you just sit there, while they hurt him?" Xander asked
quietly, sure if the vamp were free she'd probably rip his throat out.

Lilith growled low and bared her teeth. For a few moments she didn't
answer, only glared at him. But the warning growls from Spike had
her returning to her human visage before answering. "When it first
started." She paused. "When they first strapped us down and started
testing him. Hurting him. I did everything I could to rip out of my
bonds. I kept crying out to him as he screamed." She turned away.
"Eventually they decided to separate us. He's there." She pointed
with her chin. "On the other side of the room."

Both Spike and Xander turned to see a few men in lab coats
surrounding a soldier strapped to another chair. Another blonde, blue
eyed, corn fed automaton. Xander shivered at the glimpse he got of
the instruments being used on the 'volunteer'.

"It calmed me a little. I kept struggling to break free, but I didn't feel it
as strongly as before." She didn't notice Spike's frown as she
continued. "And after about two months of it, I guess I got used to the
feeling. There's still something in me, something wanting to tear all
their throats out for hurting him, but I've learned to live with it." She
focused her gaze on Spike. "You'll feel the same way eventually."
Then she went quiet and turned away as the shudders started again.

{Pet?}

{Yeah Spike?}

{I'll never feel that way.}

{I know Spike. Their bond doesn't seem as strong as ours.}

{Bloody right! No matter how far away they separate us, I won't be
able to stop until I get to you.}

{I know.}

They paused for a moment, before Xander asked another question.

{Spike? Why would they build an army, just to torture it?}

{I don't think that's what their doing pet.}

{Then what?}

Spike sighed inwardly. {They must be testing themeeineeing how
strong they are, how much pain they can take. That sort of thing.}

{How much pain they can take?} Xander gulped.

{You know you're different now pet. Stronger, heal faster. Guess
they want to know how different.} Spike tried to send soothing
feelings of comfort through the bond. {Don't worry pet. We'll get out
soon. Witches probably already know where we are.} He assured his
mate.

Xander nodded and turned as another lab tech approached. His
heart began to race as he caught sight of the silver glint in his hand.

{Love you Spike.}

{Love you too Xan.}

Then there was only pain.

***

"Do we have the boy's medical records?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. We'll have to compare them with the results of the testing."

"And if they surpass the other subjects?"

"Then we'll do it. I've got all the ingredients and the incantation ready.
They're the best hope so far."

"Sir may I speak freely?"

"Go ahead." The older man laughed. "It won't change anything."

The soldier looked at him as if he were crazy. "How can you believe
all this stuff about magic and prophecies? Do you really think an
'incantation' will *do* anything but make you sound like an idiot in
front of the men?"

"I don't just believe. I know." He tu to to the young man beside
him. "How can you not?" He pointed out the window toward the rows
of vampires and men strapped to their chairs. "Those are vampires.
Not hostiles. *Vampires*. How can you see them everyday and not
know that?"

"They're just animals sir." The younger man replied.

"As are we all." The older answered.