Summary: Spike is in for the fight of his life as he takes a vampire challenge. Buffy, now a vampire, is Spike's minion...but will she ever be his Queen?
Rating: R, for gore and adult themes
Disclaimer:Joss Whedon, the WB and Fox own Buffy and Co. Sandra owns the rest
She stirred in his arms, opening her eyes to gaze into his.
"Mmm, couldn't you sleep?" she sighed, trailing feathery kisses along his shoulder.
His arms tightened around her, cradling her against him in a fierce possessive hold.
"Wasn't sleepy," he lied, unwilling to admit he'd been scared of waking without her beside him. And...he never wanted to wake without her beside him...never again.
Buffy wasn't fooled. "You can sleep, Spike." She slipped both arms around his waist. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?" he realized that he sounded like a kid; but he was too happy to care about keeping up pretences.
"I promise," she said solemnly.
Spike stared down at her, instinctively knowing he had to learn to trust her as well as love her. "Kiss me again," he whispered.
There was a sound like a long, mournful sigh...then...a figure in a long dark robe stood before them. Isabelle cried out; and the minion holding the torch shivered uncontrollably.
"Protect me, spirits, and bind the dead to my will. I call upon you, mighty Kore, Persephone, Ereshkigal, Adonis, Hermes and Thoth..." Drusilla's voice continued chanting as she drew out a long, sharp knife.
"It is time for the blood sacrifice."
Isabelle nodded at the unconscious body of Joyce Summers. "Where do you want her?"
"Not her," Gunther said coldly. "That's the bait."
"But you sent the other fledgling with the message," Isabelle protested. "If you kill this one, we shall have no light at all!"
Gunther and Drusilla both chuckled as if Isabelle had something amusing.
"Not him, Isabelle," Gunther said, "You!" He gave her a strong shove towards Drusilla; and Isabelle barely had time to scream before Dru viciously sliced her head off!
Isabelle's blood gushed from her severed neck, drenching the grave and its marker. The shrouded figure, formerly immobile, now bent its head submissively.
"It's done...the spectre is now bound to my will," Drusilla said intently.
Gunther stared at the spectre in ghoulish fascination. "Who...is it?" he asked fearfully.
Drusilla laughed in lunatic abandon.
"Kendra...the Vampire Slayer!"
"Spike?" Buffy's voice sounded worried. "Get up! Please! I...need you!"
His eyes flew open. "What's the matter, pet?" Instantly he was all concern, reaching for her, cuddling her against him.
"My mother hasn't come back from the gallery!" she told him. "Spike...it's past midnight, and...she hasn't come home!"
"Calm down, love," he soothed, "Joyce might be playing least-in-sight for awhile, giving us a chance to sort things out."
Buffy shook her head vigorously. "She'd never stay out this late without calling....Spike, I'm..."
The sound of the doorbell galvanized them both. Spike and Buffy scrambled hastily into their clothes and flew downstairs.
The fledgling on the porch was trembling violently but managed to deliver his message.
Spike and Buffy exchanged glances. Then Spike turned back to the young vampire. "Take us there....step out of line, even for a second, and you're dead!"
The fledgling relaxed slightly. "Will...will you let me go? If I leave town?"
"If you don't get in my way." Spike's face vamped out.
Buffy walked over to him and took his hand. "Let's go."
The flickering torch pointed the way; the young vampire stopped at a safe distance. Buffy nodded at him- and then he ran like a hare, disappearing into the night.
Spike assessed their chances. "Knowing Drusilla, she'll have conjured up something fairly horrific."
He noticed Buffy was standing very still.
"Pet? You're not frightened, are you?"
She put a shaky hand on his arm. "Spike! Oh God...that's...Kendra!"
His stomach clenched at the sight of the Slayer's spectre. How diabolical of Dru to force a dead Slayer to face one who'd been turned. He took Buffy's hand, and gave it an encouraging squeeze.
"Don't you worry, pet...that bitch is going to pay for this!"
Buffy gave him a reproachful look. "It's not Kendra's doing...she isn't to blame."
But he hadn't been talking about Kendra at all. He was looking straight at Drusilla.
"Spike," she purred, "you came...Miss Edith said you would."
"Well, she was right, wasn't she, Dru?" he said ironically.
"Miss Edith is so clever," Dru nodded, "she shall have cake for tea. We'll have a party, won't we, Spike? After the Slayer girls have gone!"
"Was ist...?!" In his consternation, Gunther had reverted to his native tongue. "No, Drusilla! Spike is the one who must die...so I can have the girl!"
"Both will die!" the Jamaican accent was instantly recognizable.
"Kendra...." Buffy whispered in dread.
"They are vampires. They must die," Kendra stated flatly. She moved to face Spike and Buffy, standing in front of the circle.
Buffy sent an intoxicating smile in Gunther's direction. "Bet Gunther's not too happy about that, right Gunther? Now you don't get to show me your castle."
"The only part you'd have seen, girl," Dru hissed, "is the dungeon."
"Oh, is that where you guys get down and dirty? I hear your taste runs that way, but..."
"Don't disturb yourself, little one," Gunther fixed burning eyes on her. "if you please me, you shall rule beside me."
"Sounds mouth-watering...if your zombie doesn't stake me first," Buffy remarked.
Spike frowned. Surely she wasn't...flirting...with the dragon?
Gunther saw his expression, and laughed. "Can't keep a woman, Spike?"
Spike looked at Buffy, hurt. She would go with the dragon? But she'd said...he HAD to trust her. His head snapped up, and he snarled at Gunther, "And you can't win one in a fight, can you, wanker?"
He nodded at Buffy. "Take the little slut if you want her...while I add another Slayer to my list!"
Gunther bellowed in rage. "I will take her, Spike! Time and time again...and make you watch before I kill you!" Furious, he hurtled forward to grasp Buffy's arm.
"No, no, Gunther!" Dru screamed a warning. "Stay...inside the circle!"
But Buffy had already unleashed a vicious kick to Gunther's groin; Spike winced reflexively, and grinned. Then he found himself locked in combat with Kendra...
"Switch!" Buffy called, vaulting over him to face Kendra. Gunther, roaring in a frenzy, had found his feet...
"Aaahh!" Spike sank a punch into Gunther's gut with a long sigh of satisfaction. "I feel better!"
Drusilla snatched the torch from the young fledgling and thrust him towards Spike. "Help Gunther!"
The vampire wavered; he was terrified of the dragon, but he was equally afraid of Spike...and Spike seemed to be getting the best of it. He realized he had only seconds before SOMEONE was liable to kill him, and promptly took to his heels, determined to put plenty of space between himself and Sunnydale before dawn.
Buffy and Kendra were fighting full force now, trading blow for blow and holding nothing back.
Spike spared them a quick glance...so far neither showed signs of flagging, but Spike knew Kendra could outlast even Buffy's vampiric strength. Without stakes, they had no hope of ending it for good...
Then, Spike spotted the shovel the fledgling had used to dig up Kendra's grave.
He backhanded Gunther so hard he fell against the side of the mausoleum; then, before he could rise, Spike broke off the shovel's wooden handle and shoved it into the center of Gunther's chest.
The dragon screamed; and disintegrated.
Spike stood a moment; then turned his attention to Buffy and Kendra, still battling for dominance.
"Spike!" Drusilla held her thin-bladed knife, stained with Isabelle's blood, flush against Joyce's throat. Joyce, still partly dazed, stood frozen...staring at her daughter locked in combat with a tireless opponent.
Then her eyes met Spike's. "Buffy," she mouthed silently. He knew that she was asking him to help her daughter. But...he had promised...
"Baby," he said plaintively, looking at Drusilla, "I've had enough of this! Why don't we go home?"
Her glittering eyes held a brief glimmer of uncertainty. "But Spike, what about..." she looked at Buffy.
Deliberately he said, "I don't care about her, ducks. That whole thing...it was just to get you jealous, so you'd come back. Now why don't we make up, and go have some fun?"
Years of experience had made him anticipate the probe into his mind....he had ready his reaction, filled with yearning and adoration.
Drusilla withdrew, reassured. "My Spike, she purred, "how I missed you."
"Then, all's forgiven, pet?'
"Yes," Dru smiled. "I want my Spike again!"
"Then, why don't you get rid of that Slayer?" he pointed to Kendra. "She's making me nervous!"
"But, I called her to kill the other," Dru protested.
"Oh, I'll kill the little bitch, ducks. I promise," Spike said eagerly. He had never broken a promise to Drusilla.
"Kendra!" Dru commanded. "Return to the Kingdom of the Chosen."
Kendra paused, turning away from Buffy. She extended both arms; and plunged forward into the open grave. There was no sound as she fell.
Spike noticed that Drusilla had relaxed her hold on Joyce.
"Now, Spike! Kill her for princess?" Dru insisted.
He still held the broken wooden shaft of the shovel that he had used to stake Gunther. He seized Buffy's hair, pulling her head back viciously. As she went down, he struck...the wood penetrating Buffy's chest to stick upright in the ground.
Drusilla squealed in delight, stepping forward....forgetting Joyce in her glee at witnessing the death of her hated rival.
It was a mistake; Joyce yanked her arm free and pushed Dru out of the protective circle. Instantly both Spike and Joyce were moving- one springing towards Dru and the other jumping away.
"NOOO!" Dru screamed, slashing at Spike with the knife as he tried to grab her wrists.
Joyce reached her daughter, but Buffy was already scrambling up. The wooden handle was stuck in the ground where Spike had thrust it, the shaft passing harmlessly between Buffy's arm and her torso. Now Buffy seized it for a weapon.
But Dru's strength lay in her madness...her maniacal rage made it almost impossible for Spike to subdue her. Buffy tried to draw her attention...and was only too successful when the madwoman rounded on her, slashing open Buffy's arm and causing her to drop her makeshift stake.
The scent of Buffy's blood roused Spike's killer instinct to its keenest edge. He twisted Dru's wrist until the bones snapped. She screamed again; but as he moved in for the kill, someone else got there first. Joyce had picked up the handle Buffy had dropped; and with all her strength, charged at Drusilla like a medieval knight flourishing his lance.
Drusilla stared in disbelief at the shaft protruding from her chest...then she exploded into a cloud of dust.
Breathing hard, Joyce turned from Drusilla's ashes to see to Buffy....but Spike had already bandaged the wound with a strip torn from his shirt. Nor would he hear of Buffy's walking home; he insisted on carrying her, despite her objections.
"But Spike...the bleeding's already stopped! It'll be healed by tomorrow!"
"Then, you can walk tomorrow, can't you, pet?"
"But...it's my arm that's hurt, not my legs!"
"Stop your noise! I'm carrying you home and that's that!"
"Mom," Buffy began.
"I think Spike is right," Joyce put in. "Stop arguing until we get you home."
"Listen to your mum, pet," Spike instructed.
Buffy opened her mouth to protest, realized it was pointless, and resigned herself to be carried back to the house and fussed over by Spike and her mother. When she could stand it no longer, she rebelled....insisting on a shower before she would get in bed.
Since her wound had already closed, Spike grudgingly agreed- despite the fact that she refused to allow him to accompany her.
But he insisted on helping her into her pajamas. Unlike Willow, Buffy seldom slept in pajamas; in fact, the one pair she owned had been a gift from her friend. Although comfortable and warm, they were far from glamorous.
While Spike took his turn in the shower, Buffy sat on her bed and attempted to brush her tangled hair. It was difficult to wield the brush in her left hand.
When Spike came back he noticed her struggles and took the brush away from her. "Let me do that." Gently and patiently he brushed her hair....after a minute, he set the brush aside and she felt the clasp of something around her neck.
Joyce tapped on the door. "It's almost dawn, so I'll say goodnight. I mean...well, you know."
She took a second look at her daughter. "Oh, my...Buffy, that's just beautiful!"
Buffy beamed. "It's a black opal. It was a gift from Spike."
"For Buffy's birthday," Spike said quickly.
Buffy looked at Spike in surprise.
"You're a lucky girl," Joyce told her.
"You know, I'm starting to think so," Buffy said slowly, as Joyce closed the door.
Spike tucked Buffy in, then switched off the lamp, slipped off his jeans and slid in beside her. He tenderly fitted his body against hers, loving the feel of her against him.
She sighed...and laced her fingers with his.
"I've been thinking, pet," he murmured into her ear. "That pillock Gunther was right about one thing...you'd make a smashing queen! How'd you like to be vampire queen of L.A.?"
Buffy shrugged. "I'd look silly in a tiara."
"Don't fancy it?" Spike was surprised...most females vampires liked the status that queenship conferred. But she'd always been different.
"We could go anywhere, love. Wouldn't have to stay in L.A. Like to see a bit of the world?"
She grinned. "Where'd you have in mind?"
He considered. "Well...not Munich, at least for awhile!"
She rolled over to face him. "Spike..."
"What is it, kitten?"
"Do you...mind very much, about Drusilla? I know that you....cared for her."
Not even now could she bring herself to use the word "love." Not in connection with Drusilla...there had been nothing loving about her.
He hugged her tightly. "I believed what I wanted...needed...to believe. That she loved me. That we had an eternal love...I was a fool, but don't hold it against me, sweetheart. I had never known the real thing...had no way to recognize it, until you came into my life. You have all my heart."
"Mmmm," she snuggled closer, smiling happily. "I want it...all of it! I used to envy the way you loved Drusilla so...completely."
"Nothing to the way I love you, baby," he assured her. "Now, I'm going to see to it you have some fun! If you're sure you don't want to be a queen..."
"I want to be your girlfriend."
"You're my match!" He kissed her hair. "So, where shall we go first? We ought to have a honeymoon. At least for a decade or two. Paris?"
She eyed him dubiously. "I won't eat snails."
Spike laughed aloud. "India?"
"Please," she pouted, "I have a major appreciation for modern plumbing."
"London? I'll show you my hometown!"
"There's a thought! We can go tour the Tower!"
"We'll make plans tomorrow. Get some sleep now, love...you need to rest!"
She looked him up and down. "You don't look very sleepy!"
If he'd been capable of it, he would have blushed. "Never mind that!" He leaned closer and whispered, "See what you do to me?"
Buffy wrinkled her cute nose at him. "Oh yes- these pajamas are so sexy! How do you keep your hands off me?"
His blue eyes filled with laughter. "It isn't easy...especially since you look adorable!"
It was Buffy's turn to laugh. "You mean you prefer these to all that stuff you bought me at Victoria's Secret?"
"I wouldn't say that," Spike admitted. "But...I think you'd have the same effect on me, kitten, no matter what you wear. Or don't wear."
Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Really? Let me see!"
In one swift movement she wriggled out of the pajama bottoms and pulled the top over her head.
Spike felt the need to take a deep breath. "That..." he fought to get the words out, "really... is... not fair."
She giggled, and rolled on top of him. "Why not?" she teased.
He pulled her head down for a kiss.
"Come here, pet...and I'll show you."
The End