18. Revelations



After their moment of bonding in the cellar encounter, Angelus unaccountably took to spending more time with Spike. He’d send Dru on little errands to keep her out of the way and the two of them would talk – or rather Angelus would ask Spike questions, and Spike would try to answer in a way that wouldn’t get himself killed.

Eventually Spike realized where the questions were heading, and he decided that if Angelus really wanted his opinion, then he’d give it to him, if only so he could be left alone again. Suddenly Spike had become the favored childe. It was unnerving – waiting for Angelus’ mood to change again.

Finally Spike decided he had nothing to lose if he spoke his mind. It was just dusk, and Angelus had followed him into the garden. During his convalescence it had become his favorite place in the house.

Gesturing for the older vampire to sit by the fountain, Spike spoke his piece. “Look, mate. If you want to keep the Slayer, it’s not me you have to convince. It’s Dru. Dru can’t stand her. But whether you turn her or intend to keep her human, if you try to keep her here she’ll be in danger.” What he was saying ought to be nothing new to his grandsire. Why Angelus felt the need to make Spike say it had been pressing on his mind. “You and I both know that Dru doesn’t care about your threats, or what the consequences would be. One way or another, Dru would find a way to get to her, and Buffy will wind up dead.”

Angelus shook his head. This was more like a real conversation with Spike than he could ever remember. “I know Spike. Why do you think I send her home again each time she comes here? Why do you think I made sure you were there to watch out for her the night I let Dru play with her?”

Despite what his grandchilde might think, he wasn’t stupid. “I have another solution in mind, Spike. That’s why I tested you both, to see how you’d react to being left alone with Buffy. I needed to know who I could trust, and who I couldn’t. Let’s just say that I was not surprised at the results. And I agree that two women who hate each other in the same household is not going to work.”

He bent over so that his mouth was touching Spike’s ear and whispered seductively. “How about if we send Dru away and keep the Slayer instead?”

Spike was speechless. He’d expected a lot of nonsense to come out of his grandsire’s mouth, but he never expected that. Get rid of Dru? They’d been together for more than a century!

It was true that she’d hurt him by making it clear that she preferred Angelus, but all vamps preferred the Alpha male. He firmly believed that things would be different if he wasn’t as helpless as a baby bound to this wheelchair.

And Angelus was Dru’s sire! How could he even think of sending her away? It was hard for Spike to even imagine life without Dru. The sire/childe bond was strong between them, even if it was Angelus who had actually raised them both.

Seeing the distress in his grandchilde’s eyes, Angelus pulled away. “Think about it Spike. Think it through before you say yes or no. I still haven’t decided – and don’t get me wrong – it’s not like I’m asking for your permission. I’ll do what I choose with or without your consent. But I thought you might have an interesting perspective on the issue.” He chuckled. “Already got part of my answer.”

Spike rallied from his stupor – “What’s that then?”

“You didn’t fly into a rage and threaten to kill me.”

Spike blinked and looked at Angelus with new respect. “You planned this. Manipulated events. Pushed the Slayer and I together.”

“Of course,” Angelus admitted.

Spike was angry. He hadn’t been this angry in a long time. He had never liked being anyone’s puppet. “Why? Were you hoping that I’d be so enthralled with the Slayer by now that I’d forget my sire? That I’d be so enamored of her blood that I’d actually support your decision to oust Dru?”

Angelus smiled and caressed his grandchilde’s cheek even as Spike tried to avoid his hand as if it were a blow. “Well, just because I might have to give up Dru for the Slayer, doesn’t necessarily mean I’d have to give up you as well.”

For the second time Spike was stunned speechless.

Jerking his head away from Angelus’s touch, the chair nearly toppled. “You’ve made it perfectly plain that you don’t care a rat’s ass about me, Angelus. Why’d you expect me to believe this rot?”

“Appearances can be deceiving, Spike. You should know that. Besides, it kept you safe.”

“Safe!” Spike croaked. He’d had more than enough of this crap and wasn’t going to take any more. He began rolling the chair back towards his room as quickly as he could.

“Yes, safe!” Apparently without any effort at all Angelus held on to the chair and forced Spike to stay and listen to him. “By taking control of your minions and declaring you my possession – to kill or spare at my whim- it kept the others from seeking revenge against you. Without my protection, you would have been completely vulnerable to any minion who might have imagined he’d have something to gain by your dusting. Just like with Buffy, I can’t be around 24/7, Spike. How many vampires do you know, besides Dru, that have survived a long convalescence? Not that I don’t appreciate all the trouble you went to getting her well and all – but do you really think it was worth it – seeing how quickly she dumped you when I came along?”

Angelus put his hand on Spike’s knee – moved it further up his thigh, till he found the spot where Spike’s erection was slowly burgeoning. Then he leaned in and kissed Spike full on the lips while stoking him to hardness.

“Just think about it Spike.” He pulled back just a little ways and allowed Spike to search his eyes as if he could see the missing soul. “We’ll talk again later. In the meantime, take the opportunity to get your fill of Drusilla, if she’ll let you. She may not be with us much longer.”

With that he let go of Spike abruptly and stalked off, leaving Spike alone, frustrated and confused in the garden.