Chapter Eleven

Hours later, an insistent vampire prepared to drive Buffy home; finally getting her to agree that it would not be in his best interest to begin his life in Sunnydale by making Joyce angry that she didn’t know where her daughter was all night. With many pauses for kisses and caresses, they were finally dressed and ready to leave.

“Besides, pet,” he continued the conversation that had been ongoing while they dressed, “I need to get to Willy’s before it closes. Let the evil denizens of Sunnydale know that I’m back, and see if I can find out more about this wanker of a Mayor you’ve got.”

“You don’t think he’s going to know who you are?”

“I’m bloody well hopin’ he knows who I am,” Spike said, looking insulted. “I expect him to be beggin’ me for help as soon as he finds out I’m back in town.”

“But…I thought…doesn’t everyone know that you and I…that we…?”

“Doubt it, pet. I never left this place until I was almost ready to leave town the first time, so unless you were blabbing about who the pig blood was for, there’s no reason for anyone to connect us. And I wasn’t here long enough for anyone to notice me when I came back for your birthday. The only one who knows about us is my buddy, Clem, and he wouldn’t tell. All anybody else knows is that you and your watcher took out Angelus and Dru while I was trapped in that wheelchair that you put me in. He’s got no reason to think I’m anything but what I am – the Master of Sunnydale come back to live here for a while and maybe get a bit of revenge on the Slayer.”

“Well,” her voice was dubious, “if you’re sure he won’t know that you’re helping me…”

“He won’t know, Slayer. Not until it’s too late to matter. With a bit of luck, I can get close enough to take the wanker out before we have to worry about this whole ‘Ascension’ thing, an’ if I don’t, at least you’ll have a better idea about what’s going to happen.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride to Buffy’s house was leisurely; the Slayer snuggled up against his side as Spike slowly guided the big car through the city’s empty streets. He pulled into her driveway, intending to let her out and go directly to Willy’s when they both saw her mother’s light go on.

“Guess I’d best pop in and say ‘hello’, eh, pet?”

“Yeah, probably. You don’t have to stay long – I’ll tell her that you’re working tonight.”

They got out and walked to the front door, which was opened by a relieved-looking Joyce Summers.

“I’d like to yell at you for making me worry,” she grumbled, stepping aside to let them in. “But I’m too relieved to find you in one piece.”

“Why would you think I wouldn’t be?”

“Giles called to warn me that you might be late. He said that Spike was here and that there had been some sort of battle at the school. So, when I didn’t see you…”

“Oh, that battle! We won that one, Mom. Or, Spike did, anyway. I don’t think there’s a vampire left in Sunnydale tonight – except for Trick and any other bodyguards the Mayor might have.“

“So, you haven’t been fighting with more of the Mayor’s men tonight? Where were you, then?”

Buffy’s wide-eyes, Spike’s embarrassed shrug and their matching lack of ability to speak coherently caused Joyce to roll her eyes and shake her head.

“Never mind! I don’t want to know. I don’t even know why I asked. I must be getting old,” she added with a soft smile. “I should have realized that you two would have wanted some time together before you came ho—“

“I’m sorry, Joyce.” Spikes apology was as sincere as it was unexpected. “It was thoughtless of us. You have every right to be angry.”

Buffy blushed and stammered as she realized that her mother knew exactly what they had been doing, if not where. It was one thing to have one embarrassing and frank discussion with her mother about her relationship with Spike and something entirely different to be standing right in front of her knowing that she and Spike probably reeked of sex.

Fortunately, Joyce was serious when she said she didn’t want to know, and after welcoming Spike back to Sunnydale, she retired for the night, giving them some privacy in which to say their “good-nights”. With a quick peck on Spike’s lips, Buffy pushed him toward the door saying, “Okay, go get to Willy’s and see what you can find out. It will help a lot to calm everybody down when they see how useful you can be.”

“All right, pet. With a bit of luck, I’ll make some contacts and maybe even meet the old man himself. If nothing else, I’ll try to find his right-hand vamp and play a bit of ‘mine’s bigger than yours’; see if I can convince him he wants me on his side.”

Before he went out the open door, he leaned in and captured Buffy’s mouth in kiss that continued until she was moaning and pulling on his coat. With a supreme effort of will, he pulled himself away, muttering, “Well, that backfired on me, didn’t it? Jus’ meant to leave you something to remember me by, now—“

“Now you’ll be thinking about me all night,” she said cheerily, squeezing the bulge in his pants before pushing him away and laughing at his groan. “And, Spike?”

He cocked an eyebrow at her and she whispered with a giggle, “I’m pretty sure yours is bigger than his.”

“Bloody right, it is.” He smiled at her happy face and adjusted himself. “See you later today, love. Go get some sleep.”

“Good night, Spike. I’m glad you’re back.”

“So ‘m I, love. So am I.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The reunion with Buffy had put such a smile on Spike’s face that he had to pause outside of Willy’s and concentrate on things that irritated him in order to be wearing the appropriately dangerous look when he entered the demon bar. When he felt that he looked sufficiently evil, he shoved open the heavy door and stopped just inside to glare around the room. The way Willy’s face paled and his hand automatically reached for a bottle of Jack Daniels was very gratifying and Spike allowed a grim smile of acknowledgement to cross his face as he grabbed the bottle and carried it to a suddenly-empty table.

He sat at the table by himself, casually dismissing the first few female vampires that tried to sit with the good-looking newcomer and glancing around the room periodically. Very few of the vampires or demons were willing to meet his eyes and he basked in the knowledge that his reputation was still intact enough to warrant the proper respect. Eventually, when a particularly attractive female vampire smiled tentatively at him from the bar, he raised his glass to her and arched an eyebrow questioningly. Followed by the jealous glares of the other women in the bar, she strolled over to the table and sat down. Although she was outwardly exuding confidence, Spike could sense her nervousness and he delved into his large store of charm to put her at ease.

“Got to say, luv, the decorations in this dive have definitely improved over the last time I was in town.” He looked her up and down, his message unmistakable and she preened in front of him.

“Is that so?” She attempted to match his casual appraisal with her own long look at him, losing her focus when her eyes stopped on the semi-hard bulge in his tight jeans. With no way of knowing that it was courtesy of the Slayer’s goodnight kiss, she moved closer to him, leaning forward to offer him a good look at her cleavage. He leered at her breasts the way he knew she was expecting him to do and licked his lips hungrily.

“Oh, yes, pet,” he purred. “Things are definitely looking…up”

He poured them both another drink from the bottle and within a few minutes he had the information he needed about Trick and the Mayor’s iron hold over the demon population in Sunnydale, as well as the latest rumors about the date of the Ascension. It was obvious that the general demon population had, as yet, no idea that the majority of the Mayor’s fighting force had been wiped out that evening. Spike nodded wisely as the vampire babbled on about what Sunnydale would be like when it belonged to the demons and how she was more than willing to do her part to contribute.

“Planning to take on the Slayer yourself, then, are you?” he asked with a barely concealed grin.

“Uh…well. No. Not me. I mean, not that I’m afraid of her –them – but, you know, that’s the kind of thing that should be left to somebody with experience.” She smiled admiringly at him, sure that her flattery would deflect any lack of respect he might be feeling about her unwillingness to face Buffy or Faith.

“That it should, luv,” he agreed with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “And I’m just the vamp to do it. I pro’bly need to make that clear to the head demon. I don’t suppose you know where to find this Mayor or his henchman?”

“I know where Trick hangs out. Nobody gets near the Mayor except him. Do you want to meet him?”

She looked pleased to be able to offer the master vampire something he couldn’t get for himself and Spike let her bask for a few seconds before he shrugged and said, “At some point, I s’pose it would be polite to let him know the town’s master is back. Got more important things to do tonight, though.” His leer left no doubt as to what he meant and she glanced at his crotch again, reaching forward to stroke him. With a swift grace that was too subtle to be interpreted as rejection, he avoided the hand and rose to his feet, holding out his hand to her.

“What say you show me where this Trick fellow hangs his fangs, while we head for someplace more…private?”

With an eager nod, she pulled him towards the door, already mentally composing her haughty words to the other female vamps when they realized that she was dating the new Master of Sunnydale. When they were away from the bar and walking towards the area in which she assured him that “Mr Trick” had his lair, Spike draped a casual arm over her shoulder as he coaxed more information from her about Trick and the Mayor.

An indignant, “What the fuck?” from the dark-haired girl walking towards them had his companion ducking behind him, hissing, “Slayer!” while Spike growled in frustration and cursed under his breath.

He glared at Faith, willing her to move on, but she headed straight for him with blood in her eye.

“You lyin’ son of a bitch!” she snapped, throwing a punch at his jaw.

“You don’t want to do this, Slayer,” he growled back, slipping into game face.

“Are you sure?”

She sent a well-placed kick to his chest and followed with a flurry of punches. Spike retreated until he was sure they were out of earshot of his now-whimpering companion before he returned the punches, sending the less experienced slayer to the ground, He landed on top her, hissing into her ear, “What the hell’s wrong with you, wildcat?”

“You’ve only been here a few hours and you’re already cheating on B with a vamp ho,” she snarled back, bucking him off. “I’m gonna save her some heartache and—“ Her head snapped back with the force of his next blow and he caught her before the other vampire could realize that the Slayer was unconscious. Burying his face in her neck, he snarled and shook her, allowing his fangs to graze her skin just hard enough to cover his lips with her blood. He continued to shake her gently until she moaned and opened her eyes to his amber glare.

“The idea was for me to get close to the bad guys, you stupid bint. I’m on m’way to the Mayor’s second-in-command’s place now – if you haven’t completely bollixed it up.”

His angry snarls were real enough that he could smell the younger slayer’s fear. Reining in his anger, he growled that she was to run as soon as he let her go, then raised his head to allow the still-trembling, but cautiously approaching vampire to see the blood on his lips.

“Come on, pet,” he growled around his fangs. “There’s enough for both of us.” As he spoke, he pretended to lose his grip on the now very conscious slayer and allowed her to shove him away. She obediently took off running, quickly disappearing from the disappointed vampires, leaving Spike to pretend to be embarrassed at losing her. Fortunately, the other vampire was looking at him with a mixture of pure lust and hero worship at having seen him easily beat a slayer and then bite her.

When he saw the adoration on her face, he recovered some of his swagger and put his arm around her again.

“Now, where were we when that rude bint interrupted us?” he purred, guiding her in the direction they’d been going when they ran into Faith. Without reply, the girl led him down the street, stopping in front of a large Victorian house and pointing.

“Mr Trick lives there, when he isn’t with the Mayor. But no one is supposed to go in unless he invites them. I’ve only been inside once,” she admitted. “But I guess I’ll be invited in more often now,” she speculated slyly, pressing her body against his. “He won’t make you leave your girlfriend out on the street, will he?”

“Nope, don’t s’pose he will,” Spike said absently as he studied the house. “Ta, pet. I owe you one.”

“You’re more than welcome,” she purred, still rubbing up against him. “What do you want to do now?”

“I think I should pay my respects.” His grin was feral as he walked up the steps to the front door and kicked it in.

He straight-armed the bodyguard that jumped at him, breaking the unfortunate vamp’s neck without even looking at him. Spike saw the elegant looking man in the big wing chair raise a hand to stop another attack and he allowed his features to fade back to his human face as he nodded his appreciation.

“’preciate it, mate,” Spike said with a glare at the obviously angry minions still left.

Trick’s eyes slid past the blond vampire to the nervous-looking woman behind him.

“Mitzi, is it? What is the meaning of this?” His tone was mild, but Spike could see the fear his question evoked.

“Don’t be hard on the poor bint. She was jus’ doing me a favor. Told her I wanted to pay my respects and let you know that the master was back in town. Lest there be any misunderstandin’s.” Spike’s words were mild, but his eyes flickered amber as he made his meaning clear.

Not to be outdone, Trick countered smoothly, “I would have thought that was me.”

Spike shook his head slowly, then waved his hand magnanimously.

“Can see how you might think that. What with me being out of the country for a bit. ‘Course, now that I’m back, should be obvious that it wasn’t really a permanent vacancy.”

The other vampire narrowed his eyes. “Do I know you?”

Spike grinned and shrugged. “Sometimes my reputation precedes me. William the Bloody? Better known as Spike? Killed two slayers so far – back to work a bit of revenge on the one what lives here.”

“Is that the blonde? The one who killed Angelus and Drusilla? And, if I remember the stories correctly, put you into a wheelchair?”

Spike bristled convincingly. “That’s the one,” he snarled. “Crippled me and killed my family. I’m here for her.”

“There are two slayers here, you know.”

Spike laughed, then laughed again when Trick frowned at him.

“Already met the other one. She’s nothin’. If I have time after I finish with the real Slayer, I’ll take care of her for you.”

Behind him, Mitzi was nodding her head vigorously. “I saw him. He beat her and then he bit her. He wasn’t even trying hard. If he hadn’t tried to share her with me, she’d be dead already.”

“Well, Mr. Bloody, it appears I may have underestimated you,” Trick said easily, rising to his feet. “If you can take care of the slayer problem for him, I suspect the Mayor would be prepared to be very generous with you.”

“Don’t need his generosity,” Spike growled. “Just don’t want any interference. He minds his business, I mind mine and we’ll be fine.”

“Perhaps you don’t understand,” Trick said with what was meant to be a reassuring smile, but that showed all his teeth. “If you stay here, you will become the Mayor’s business.” He walked towards the door, gesturing for Spike and Mitzi to precede him. “I will speak to him about you, but I’m sure he’s going to want to meet you in person.”

“Fine,” Spike growled with convincing reluctance. “I’ll talk to the old bugger, but I’m not anybody’s minion.”

“As I’m sure will be immediately obvious,” the other vampire soothed. “As I said, if you take out the slayers, he will be very grateful. And now, if you will excuse me…”

Spike stopped just before he stepped over the threshold. “And if I don’t excuse you?”

The two old vampires stared into each other’s amber eyes for long minutes before the darker one looked away.

“I have work to do. I will send someone to find you tomorrow night if the Mayor wants to meet you. Where should I send him?”

“I’ll find him. Just send him to Willy’s; that’ll probably be my office until I set up house.”

Trick nodded and began to close the door behind them. Spike took Mitzi’s arm and walked her down the stairs, paying no attention to the way she was rubbing against his side. He continued to ignore her as they began walking away from the house. They had gone several blocks before he came back to himself and realized that she was tapping her foot impatiently.

“Are we going somewhere now?” She ran her hands up his chest to his face, not noticing his slight flinch when her fingers brushed the human tooth marks on his shoulder. “I think you are so amazing,” she cooed. “How sexy is it that you can kill slayers? Maybe you can bite that bitchy blond slayer and share some of her blood with me?”

“Never gonna happen, pet,” he said quietly as he drove a stake into her back. “But thanks for reminding me whose side I’m on.”

Without looking back at the dust drifting away on the sidewalk, he began to head back to Crawford Street and the bed waiting for him there.