Lost in the Dark, Cleansed in the Flame

Chapter 7 - Spells

Xander was back in the dark place. The world around him had
melted into complete black and he floated freely in the empty space.
He allowed his mind to drift afraid that if he concentrated on any one
thing for too long he would be forced to remember the pain. He didn't
want to think. He didn't want to remember.

But it was too late. The thought had already been planted and the
outside world began to intrude into his dark void. His body trembled
as he relived the first cut. The blade raking down his arm, and then
coming back up to tease the cut open further. He felt the blood
seeping from the wound, and heard Spike's cries beside him.

He was actually pretty proud of himself for lasting as long as he had.
They'd been 'testing' him for at least 3 hours before he succumbed.
The pain was pretty unbearable but it wasn't the worst part. The bond
he shared with Spike had been growing steadily stronger ever since
he'd been captured. Maybe from all the exercise it was getting, he
mused. So the anguish that coursed through the link from Spike
almost overwhelmed the physical pain Xander was being subjected
to.

His only regret was leaving Spike behind. The vampire's growls and
jerky attempts at escape had not ceased since the first cut. And after
finding his healing abilities to be exceptional, or so it seemed to
Xander, the soldier had proceeded to intensify the tests. At first
Xander didn't know what they planned to do. But when the pinky
finger of his right hand was jerked sideways, and the shiny blade was
replaced with a small, but sturdy set of clippers, he knew. Spike's
screams almost completely drowned out those of Xander's.

In the dark Xander contemplated his lost appendage. Would it grow
back? He hadn't had a finger, or really any part of his body, severed
since establishing the Claim. Or if he thought about it, even before
the Claim. Did Spike give him enough healing ability to grow back a
whole finger? Then his thoughts began to drift toward his lover. Was
Spike still struggling? Of course he was. Xander hated to think that
he'd escaped the torture only to leave Spike to carry all the pain
alone.

Slowly he reached out a mental arm, stretching to touch his mate.
His mind came up against a thick wall of rage. Xander shivered at
the strength of the emotion, wanting nothing more than to soothe
Spike and collapse the wall. He began to bombard Spike's mind with
his own arsenal of emotion. Sending nothing but love, support, care,
and understanding. He knew that Spike would be blaming himself for
not being able to get to Xander, so Xander let him know it was okay.
That no matter what Xander loved him.

When he was finally able to create a small gap, Xander soared
through. {Spike??}

{I'm sorry. I'm sorry luv.} Xander could hear the sobs that followed
the words.

{Shhh.} Xander soothed. {S'not your fault. You know that.}

{Fucking bastards!}

{Shhh.} Xander tried again. {Stop struggling Spike. Concentrate. I
need you to come to me. Can you do that?}

Xander felt what he thought was a deep sigh from his lover. {Yeah
luv. I can do that. Give me a sec.}

Outside Spike's body stilled. His eyes closed, and if anybody didn't
know better they would have thought him an actual corpse. Inside
Spike was taking deep calming mental breaths, concentrating his
being on one image. Xander's goofy grin, chocolate eyes, and mop
of brown hair.

When Spike opened his eyes again, he was surrounded by darkness.
He could feel Xander's presence and drifted unerringly toward him.
{Hello Xan.}

{Spike!} Xander grinned. The smile fading slightly with his next
words. {I'm sorry I left you alone.}

{No luv. Not alone, never alone.} Spike assured him. {You're always
there with me, as long as the bond stays put.}

{I'm glad you're here.} Xander pulled the vampire closer.

{Me too luv.} And they wrapped themselves in each other's arms.
They lay together in the void, content to be in each other's presence.

***

Buffy, Willow, Giles, and Tara made their way toward the new
Initiative base. The glamour had been cast and the four friends were
armed to the teeth. Buffy and Giles with weapons, Tara and Willow
with herbs and spells.

Angel watched from the shadows, following the group from a
distance. His game face had appeared the second Buffy had
explained where Spike and Xander were being held. Fear for his
Childe had forced a long debate over who would enter the complex.
But unfortunately Angel had still lost.

As they neared the complex, Buffy turned toward Giles and began to
roar. She flung herself at him, being careful not to do any real
damage. They began a loud and gregarious fight, with Willow and
Tara watching on the sidelines. Soon they heard heavy footsteps and
before any of them could react, the sting of tranquilizer darts hit each
in turn.

"Shit!" Angel muttered under his breath. They hadn't known exactly
what to expect. If they would be walked into the complex, or not.
Apparently the answer was going to bt.
t.

Angel checked the four small globes he carried in his pocket. Each
glowed a different color. Each attuned to a similar globe on one of
the four now being carried away. If he had to, he could track each
one. He checked his watch. They had just under 90 minutes to
return to the surface before Angel went in after them. He hoped the
tranquilizers wore off soon.

***

The older man watched as X2573's finger began the slow process of
regeneration. It took well over an hour but the finger had been
restored completely. His hands clapped together with finality. There
was no other bonded pair with that strong a link. No other Claimant
had adapted that high a healing rate. He'd also noted the moment
the vampire had stilled all movement. He knew what that meant.
This had to be the pair.

He gathered his belongings. The spell book, the candles, the sand.
He made his way down into the warehouse, toward the row of seats
the two were strapped in. They were both still unconscious. All the
better. He didn't need to go through any explanations now. They
would know soon enough.

Slowly he drew a circle around the vampire. He drew a pentagram
within the circle, with the vampire directly in the center. He put a
candle at each point, and then brought out the small bundle of herbs
he had in his bag. In a copper bowl he set flame to the bundle. Then
he stood and began to chant.

***

The younger man watched with smug satisfaction. This would show
the others. The man below him was obviously deranged. Believing
in spells and incantations. Believing in vampires and boogie men.

When nothing came of this so called spell, he would finally have
some proof that could get the man thrown out. And what did they
need him for anyway? What use was this fabled pair? They had an
army of Claimants, what was one more or less? They had the
manpower and the firepower they didn't need anything else.

With that last thought he stood. Making his way down toward the
warehouse level.

***

Xander woke slowly. He looked around, noting that he was still in the
void. He smiled and snuggled closer to Spike. He would happily stay
here forever, as long as Spike was with him.

{Morning luv.}

{Morning Spike.} Their lips ghosted over one another.

{We can't stay here forever Xan.}

Xander pouted. {Why not?}

{You don't belong here luv.} Spike's fingers caressed him as he
spoke. {You don't belong in the dark.}

{But I like it here.}

{I know you do pet. But it's not for you. We'll get out. Don't worry.}
Spike assured him. {You belong in the light. In the sun.} Spike
gestured around at the empty blackness. {Don't want you to get lost.}

{I won't.} Xander leaned into Spike's cool chest. {Not as long as
you're here.}

{Always.} Spike answered.

And then they were both up, crouching low in defensive stances. The
air crackled around them, and the darkness was consumed with a
bright blue flame. Xander had only a moment to note that the flame's
color matched exactly those of his lover's eyes. And then the flame
was speeding toward them.

The flame engulfed Spike, and with a loud scream Xander plunged
forward into the licking heat. He crashed into Spike, tumbling them
both to the ground. The flame dancing around them. The heat was
intense but not unbearable, and Xander found that neither of them
was being burned.

He looked toward Spike, whose face bore a look of awe and no small
amount of shame. Before Xander could ask what was happening, the
flame abruptly disappeared and Spike's form collapsed in a small
heap.