chapter 33, peace beyond passion, part III

“Stay still.” Spike tightened his grip around Tara's waist. “This might not be the best plan I've ever had.” He whispered in her ear. “But right now, it will have to do.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Buffy flinch. She’d been oddly quiet since stepping out of the portal with Carlo. Spike was beginning to think she’d lost track of what was happening. He skimmed the faces of the others standing in the park with them and they appeared dazed, too. Even Tara had relaxed in his arms.

Spike glared at Willow. She was stretching Dawn’s body like a crossbow between two trees.

She hadn't changed, that was for bloody certain. She was still insane.

Spike’s fingers squeezed Tara’s neck hard and she made a gurgling sound. "I'll kill your girlfriend if you don’t let Dawn go." He shouted.

“You won’t hurt her.”

“Then why do you look so worried?” said Buffy, touching Spike's arm as she moved by him.

“Can you stop all of us?” Buffy advanced toward Willow and Dawn. “Don’t you see how Luke is not paying attention to us?” She waved in the Portal Jumper’s direction. “We are the ones doing this to us. Not Luke. Not the devil. It’s us. Just us.”

Buffy was blocking Spike’s view of Willow and he circled to his left, pulling Tara with him.

“That means we can stop this. If we want to,” said Buffy.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Willow arched an eyebrow. “You never do."

"I do understand." Buffy reached her arms out wide. "All of this has been about power and choices and consequences.”

Buffy leaned toward Spike and whispered. "The thought spell, it’s gone and I’ve got my memories back.”

Then she faced Willow. “I know why I didn't care about being away from Sunnydale. I was happy in New York and I didn't feel any guilt about it. I missed my friends, but I didn’t care about having died or having been in heaven. I was just glad to be alive."

"Heaven?” Willow's eyes widened. “I don’t need to hear this.” She was looking down as as if something at her feet needed her attention. “I can snap a finger and end the world, you know?” Willow lifted her head to the sky. “I have my thought back, too, but I still have the First Witch’s power.”

“That can be good for us,” Buffy looked encouraged; her voice sounded excited, even hopeful. "We can defeat Luke together. We'll be able to give the universe what it wants. We can make this work for us, don't you think?”

Willow was pacing back and forth in front of Dawn. “I was Shemhazi’s consort and gave birth to the first of his half-breed demons. I won’t fight Luke. I can’t.”

Spike glanced at Luke. He was smiling and leaning confidently against a tree.

“Willow, listen to yourself?” Buffy pleaded. “The spell is over. You've got your thought back. You are not the First Witch. We are back to being us again." The urgency in Buffy's words echoed through the park. "We were tricked. Fooled by our own weaknesses. This is a game. Something Luke and his eternally bored father made up. But, we don’t have to play any more.”

“I won’t give up my powers.” Willow brushed a strand of hair from Dawn's brow. “If I pay my debt to the universe and give the world back its Key, I get to keep it all.”

“Oh God, Willow. I don’t want to hurt you.” Buffy pulled a dagger from the waistband of her jeans. “But I won’t let you hurt Dawn. If you don’t release her, I will stop you.”

“You won’t have to Buffy.” Carlo’s voice boomed from behind Spike. “Because I’m going to stop her."

Still holding Tara firmly around the throat, Spike sidestepped Buffy so he could see Carlo. The boy was taller and his eyes burned bright gold. He wasn’t just a young kid from the Bronx anymore. He was something more.

Sod it all to hell.

Spike could bloody well smell the difference in Carlo. He had become a demon, a vengeance demon—a powerful vengeance demon.

“I’m going to say this once, witch.” Carlo’s voice vibrated. “Let Dawn go.”

Willow floated up above the treetops, Dawn seemingly forgotten. Carlo rose with her. His abilities leaving Spike drop jawed for an instant, but he recovered, releasing Tara as he grabbed Dawn’s wrist, untying the robe binding her to the tree trunks. Buffy was at Dawn's feet, using her slayer strength to break the magic robes around her ankles.

In the sky above, Carlo and Willow were indistinguishable, the fight between them a blur of wind and noise.

“Well, now that was a surprise,” Luke stepped away from the tree and was looking up at Carlo. “My muse appears to have gotten her wits about her and given the young boy a wish.”

“Yes, that does seem likely.” Spike stood next to Buffy and in front of Tara and Dawn as the group faced Luke. Spike held his garrote in his hand and saw the dagger clenched in Buffy’s fist. He wished one of them had bothered to grab some larger like an ax or mallet or some other heavy, sharp, metal weapon.

Spike shook his head and went into game face, having forgotten for a moment his own ever-ready weapon.

“Well, how nice. I hadn't seen your fangs before. This should be good." Luke giggled like a woman.

Another flurry of movement and Spike and Luke were locked in battle. Ripping and tearing at each other, Spike felt a blow to the gut that made him drop to his knee. He righted himself swiftly and glimpsed Buffy connecting a one-two punch and scissor-kick to Luke’s throat. The Portal Jumper stumbled backward, but then soared forward, pushing Buffy out of his way as he grabbed a handful of Dawn’s hair.

“You’ll take me home, Key or I’ll kill everyone here,” shouted Luke, twisting Dawn’s face to his.

"Let her go!” Carlo shouted from the sky. He shoved Willow aside and jetted next to Spike and Buffy.

“Get out of here, boy," said Luke, a frown covering his thin, pale face. “I don’t have time for you.”

Willow descended from the sky and landed at Luke's side. She squinted at Buffy, a deep sadness in her narrowed eyes. “You’ve forced me to make this decision.”

“You made your decision when you changed the thought spell, Willow," said Buffy.

Willow and Luke clasped hands as a sharp, billowing wind swept through the park, pushing Spike backward, but he braced himself against the force of it. Surging through the wind, he smacked Willow in the face on his way to the Portal Jumper. He felt Buffy spring into action behind him, grabbing Dawn, and in a flash Carlo was at Willow again, tearing at the witch with his hands.

Then the wind changed direction and Buffy was in the sky above him, held by Willow, a black raging cloud engulfing them both. Spike couldn't help Buffy either. Luke had him by the throat, dangling him off the ground like a doll. Struggling pointlessly, Spike saw Carlo out of the corner of his eye. He had Dawn in his arms and was whispering in her ear.

Suddenly, Spike heard Jacob's voice rising above the wind.

“The witch has something in her pocket that can help us, Spike.” Jacob was running toward Tara. "I'll get it from her."

Spike felt the world spinning. Luke was choking him. Strangulation hadn't been something Spike had worried about in centuries. He hadn't been able to breathe, so cutting off his air supply hadn't been a big deal. But now, the sensation of not being able to draw a breath, the strain he felt behind his bulging eyes as Luke squeezed harder and harder, it was agony being choked to death.

How could such a thin man be so strong?

Bloody hell, Luke wasn't a man.

He was the heir to the Kingdom of Hell and his mother was the world's First Witch. Luke killed for pleasure, traveled through dimensions, destroying the innocence of the good and bending the depths of evil for fun. He was all-evil and all-powerful, but he believed in his fucking right to exist and play with the nature of things. He'd turned Spike into a super human vampire, hadn't he? Made Spike the First Witch's bitch.

So, why should Spike be surprised that Luke could straggle him to death?

Spike's legs went limp as he felt his body slump in Luke's grasp.

Damn it all to bloody hell, he couldn't let this piss ant beat him.

If he did, he wouldn't be able to help Buffy save Dawn.

He would fail the Slayer again.

Spike blinked. The darkness was smothering him. He couldn't see anything, except for Luke's cold blue eyes flashing red and gold. And then...he heard Jacob.

"Why won't you die, witch!"

The next few seconds moved like lightening across the sky.


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Spike had released her, but now Jacob had her by the throat. He wasn't trying to use her to get to Willow, though. He was trying to tear her arm out of its socket and twist her head from her shoulders.

"Leave me alone." Tara kicked at the vampire with her feet. But his hands held her with such force she collapsed against his chest, helpless.

He was jamming his hands into her pocket, ripping her coat. She prayed he'd pull out the herbs and roots wrapped in the cheesecloth she had hidden in the coat's lining. Then she could find a way to toss them in his face. Cast a quick spell and freeze him for an instant, give herself enough time to get Willow's attention.

As Jacob's hands clenched around her esophagus, she looked up.

Willow was busy, fighting for her life against the boy, Dawn's friend.

Tara thrashed from side to side. Jacob was choking her and searching her pockets.

Then he stopped. He'd found what he was looking for.

He was pulling the photo from her pocket.

She had wanted to tell Willow about the photo. Why hadn't she?

God, she wish she knew.

"Why won't you die, witch?"

Jacob's words were a muffled sound inside her head. Still, she'd heard him. Except her throat was too swollen and she couldn't answer him.

Besides, what could she say. Please stop. Don't kill me?

Jacob released her and she fell to the ground.

Her eyes flew open.

She knew why he needed the photo. It would bring back Luke's memory of him and that might save his pitiful vampire life.

Too bad she'd forgotten to show the photo to Willow thought Tara, as she lay on the ground.

Then she stopped thinking about anything at all.


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Luke couldn't believe his good fortune.

The redheaded witch was fighting on his side and keeping the Slayer at bay. Spike wasn’t strong enough to stop him. It would take only a straight-armed push to knock him out of his path. Luke's only concern was the boy. Anyaka had played an evil trick on him, giving the boy a wish. He could prove troublesome.

"Carlo." Luke turned as he felt the boy’s power surge. “You can't battle me when you are so angry."

“You can’t have her,” said Carlo, his body had grown massive.

“What powers have you developed there, dear boy?”

“Vengeance is my power. ”

“No, that’s not it," mumbled Luke.

"You killed my mother and you're trying to kill my girlfriend."

"Well, I've killed a lot of mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers," chimed Luke. "So, you don't get vengeance just because you've experienced a loss. It has to be an injustice of significance."

"My mother was a good woman."

"I've killed quite a few good women, too." Luke laughed. "Besides, this has been Shemhazi’s game of vengeance. Your mother, whoever she was, was simply my gift.”

"No, she could never be your gift. She was ready for evil like you. She prayed every night for God to make her strong enough to fight against your kind."

Luke wondered aloud. “Did she work in a restaurant in New York?"

"You bastard," hissed Carlo.

"I remember her," said Luke, surprised. He never remembered his gifts. His muse kept those memories for him, made it easier to keep killing. But he did remember this one.

"She was hard to kill." Luke rocked on his heels. "I thought she was a special treat from Shemhazi to me. A foreshadowing of my victory here.”

“What victory?” The boy shouted.

“I will win the Key. The witch is on my side. The vampires, well, who cares about them. And the slayer will die soon, too. An added bonus.” Luke smiled, thinking how easy it had been. A simple spell had robbed a group of saviors of their strength. He and Shemhazi had wiped out their powers by giving them what they wanted, what they thought they needed—and all because of the egos of a Watcher and a Witch. He and his father had punished the do-gooders who had destroyed his sister, Glorificus. All that was left was for the Key to take him home, return him to hell so he could join his father, finally.

No longer would he be banished to dimensions that were too hot with human joy and human stink.

There was a loud crackling noise and Luke turned to see a streak of white light exploding from Carlo’s outstretched arms. He felt his body shimmer, his arms weakened and trembled as the universe unfolded around him. The ground split open beneath his feet.

“You have my gifts!” Luke stared in shock at the boy. “My muse gave you my memories.”

“No, she gave me my wish," said Carlo. "The power to kill all fools, and I guess that means you, too."


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Carlo was standing near the trees holding her in his arms. The young boxer looked very much the champion he’d always told her he would be, holding her.

Dawn turned her head and saw Buffy talking to Willow. Most likely, it wasn't a friendly conversation. Willow had just tried to kill Dawn or at least stretch her from limb to limb between two trees. She bet Buffy was rather pissed about that.

"Dawn," Carlo whispered in her ear. "You've got to jump three dimensions in a row, without looking back, and you've got to do it when I say, go. Okay?"

"No, I won't leave Buffy." Her sister couldn't beat Willow and Luke, and Dawn couldn't see Spike anywhere.

"You've got to do as I say, babe."

"I don't understand. You've got like superpowers. I don't know how, but I do know that you've got 'em."

"For this to work, you've got to go."

She hadn't seen him look so serious, ever.

"Will you save Buffy?"

"Go now."

"Carlo, please," cried Dawn. "What about Buffy?"

"Go."

Dawn jumped.


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Buffy bounced hard on the ground, and rolling over the lawn, collided into tree stumps and broken benches before rolling to a stop next to a sand dune. Willow had dropped her from the sky when the world split open and swallowed Dawn and the Portal Jumper. It had happened so fast that Buffy hadn’t had time to do anything but try and hold on to Willow. Keep both of them from falling into the big hole that had erupted in the middle of the park. Not that Buffy cared about saving Willow, not any more. But she might need Willow to get her sister back.

Buffy jumped to her feet, brushed off her jeans and eyed what was left of the park. It was shredded like cabbage for slaw. Trees cracked open from the root, splintered branches and benches and crushed swing sets scattered everywhere appeared to have been tossed about like salad.

"Spike!" Buffy screamed out his name. There was so much wood in the park. The stupid vampire might have gotten staked. “Spike!"

She ran, pushing stacks of wood aside, picking up branches and searching under broken benches. But she couldn't tell if the dirt was just dirt or Spike. Then she remembered Carlo. He'd been like Superman for a few minutes there. He'd had Dawn. Buffy remembered seeing that.

"Carlo!" She turned round in a circle. The park was darker now, she could barely see three feet in front of her in any direction.

“What the hell is going on?” Buffy shouted. “Where did everybody go?”

“Things have changed.” Willow’s voice came from above her.

"What do you mean?" She looked up.

“Luke has Dawn and she has opened the doors to hell for him.”

“You let this happen, didn’t you?” Buffy fought to control the rising pitch of her voice.

“No.” Willow loomed in the sky as if standing on an invisible lift. "I think it was Carlo's idea."

Buffy had had her fill of Willow’s cryptic remarks. “Where. Is. Carlo?”

"What do you think, Jacob?" Willow was a few feet in front of Buffy with Jacob, suddenly appearing next to her, looking way too smug. "Should we tell Buffy what happened to her vengeance demon?”

“How did he get here?” She gestured toward Jacob.

He growled. “Ask me that question, Slayer.”

“Where’s Carlo?”

“Oh,” he paused. “Not that question. I thought you wanted to know how I got here.”

His shit grin was getting on Buffy's last nerve. "What's your stake in all of this?"

“It's an Aurelius thing, Slayer. You wouldn’t understand."

"I know your clan pretty well, Jacob," muttered Buffy, but then she added loud. "Try me."

Jacob smirked and grabbed his crotch suggestively. "I guess you do know us. At least I hear you knew Angelus rather well, and I do mean in the biblical sense. Also seems that Spike wouldn't pass you up, either. I could tell that from the alley in New York."

Jacob kicked at the dirt. "The Aurelius connection with Luke is a century old tale. Darla and me met Luke a hundred or so years back. I'd forgotten about it. But Willow's witch found a photo of Darla, our boy and me from back in the day."

He ambled toward Buffy, smacking his lips. “Finding that photo was a very good thing for us. Used it to help Luke get back home, which means this is my show now …or should I say, me and Mom's show." He smiled at Willow. "Now I can move into Luke's little shoes, so he can go home to Papa and get the rest he deserves."

"So, Vampire Slayer.” Jacob swung one arm ceremoniously over his chest, the other behind his back and bowed. “It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the new Portal Jumper."

“Shit," cursed Buffy.

Jacob grinned. "That's right. Little old me."

He walked to her, so close his breath scorched her face. "The new big dog of dimension jumping and murder is moi,” he gloated, stepping so close their bodies touched.

But Buffy didn't back off.

He touched her cheek and his tongue trailed down her jaw line and she cringed, but she didn't move. Then he was kissing her and whispering into her mouth.

“I'm going to enjoy fucking you. See what has Spike's nuts in a bundle. Then I’m going to rip off your head and drink your Slayer blood like a gallon of spring water.”

Buffy’s body stiffened, but she stared past Jacob, her eyes on Willow. “What are you going to do? Watch?”

“Pretty much,” said Willow, her pupils black balls, obliterating the whites of her eyes.

“What happened to not wanting to hurt me?”

“I’m not going to hurt you.” Willow folded her arms over her chest. “Jacob is going to hurt you.”

“So, that’s your idea of power?”

“I had to make a choice,” she said. “One of my friend’s had to die for the world to survive.”

She reached out and took Buffy’s hand. “Since you already know you’ll go to heaven, I thought if any one had to die to save the world again, it might as well be you.”


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to be continued...