full 3/4 1/2   skin light dark       
 
Ring Around the Buffy - Conclusion by anaunthe
 
26. Payback
 
<<     >>
 
A/N: Let's all get back to what we came here for and enjoy ourselves. I will miss those who have left.


Chapter 26. Payback

Anton hadn’t gotten where he was by taking unnecessary chances. By keeping the pathetic minion around, the twit could attest to the fact that everything had transpired exactly as Anton said it had. Anton knew he’d be dealing with the Auctioneer again - if he dusted his representative there might be unforeseen consequences. Maybe the squeamish vamp was someone’s favorite toy. After all, he had to have some purpose to be allowed to continue to exist.

He’d have to make do with torturing the little Slayer, which almost seemed to hurt Spike more than the threat of bodily harm to his own person. He sighed, acknowledging that a glass three quarters full was better than none. Spike still didn’t seem to have a clue that his own hide was in any danger, but he was obviously obsessing about his little toy. It was almost cute.

“Now that I have your undivided attention, I’m gonna teach you something, boy.” This was where he wanted the impudent upstart. Anton was surprised that he hadn’t thought of it to begin with. “Your thrall was pitifully inadequate,” Anton taunted, “much like that little stick you call your cock, I’ve no doubt. I don’t know why the Slayer didn’t stake you before now, except that I suspect she hardly noticed your presence.”

That said, he leaned in and licked Buffy’s face while he watched Spike for his reaction. The Slayer didn’t so much as flinch, while William looked like he was ready to explode.

“I’ve got much greater control of her already than you ever had,” Anton leered. “And I’m gonna show you my secret for making that bond almost unbreakable. The Slayer’s friend here, who’s already been through this process, is going to help me do it. All we need is a little pain to help things along.”

Eyes gleaming wickedly, he gestured the little witch forward, the glowing brand still in her hand.

Anton grinned as he watched while the Slayer waited impassively as her friend approached. With Buffy completely under his control, Anton turned his gaze back on Spike instead. Spike still didn’t seem to realize that he was in danger, but for some reason he was obviously incensed at the liberties that Anton was planning to take with his new possession. For some reason, Spike not only didn’t want to give up his little captive, but he didn’t want to see her hurt either. Anton couldn’t help but smile as he watched the captive vamp’s eyes flash from blue to gold and back again, betraying his agitation. If he wasn’t mistaken, he was growling as well.

Just centimeters away from the Slayer’s tender flesh, Tara halted. Anton’s grin widened as he caught the flicker of hope that flared in Spike’s eyes.

“I think we need to spice this up a bit.” Anton leered. “It’s no fun if the feisty little Slayer can’t even scream. Tara dear.”

At Anton’s silent command Tara returned the brand to the fire pit, and tightened the chains that bound the Slayer to the wall. Then she fastened additional chains to Buffy’s ankles and pulled them taut. Anton smiled again; he hadn’t smiled so much in ages. It was beginning to make his face hurt.

“There now, that’s better,” he lied. “I think its time to give our little prize a few minutes of freedom to consider her situation and tell us what she thinks. This part will be so much more interesting if she’s her own person again. She’ll understand completely what is in store for her, what’s happening to her, but she’ll be helpless to stop it.”

Anton pulled his gaze from the naked Slayer and met Spike’s eyes. “Plus it will have the added benefit, that when I take control of her mind again, she will welcome the cessation of pain that the thrall can bring. That is the secret, William, my boy. To make her WANT to accept my control – consciously or unconsciously, it doesn’t matter. Accepting my control of her mind will mean an end to the pain. The pain of the knowledge her hopeless situation, as well as the physical pain from the brand. In order to escape from the reality of her captivity, her mind will accept my dominance. And then she will be mine utterly. Just watch.”

The next second her eyes cleared, and Buffy was back. Her eyes sought Spike’s while her body struggled with the metal fetters that held her bound. Spike already knew that route was futile. Anton had done his homework well, and had equipped his safe room with magically reinforced steel. They were well and truly buggered, unless the Slayer could break free where he could not.

Helplessly, he called out to Red again. ‘Any ideas for rescue, Red? Please tell me you and Watcherman came up with a plan. Just about anything would be a good idea about now, or we’re all fucked.’

He couldn’t stand to look at Buffy. She was going to be branded and enslaved to one of the meanest and ugliest vampires since Angelus, and there was nothing he could do about it. He had failed her.

On the other hand, Anton had eyes only for Buffy. Her struggles excited him to the point where he could barely contain himself. He couldn’t imagine how Spike could have tired of this sport so quickly. Dangle just a little bit of freedom in front of her, only to take it back when he grew tired of the game. It wouldn’t take him long to break the Slayer completely.

As the Rubinesque blonde moved the firebrand close enough that the heat began to blister the Slayer’s skin, Anton undid the top button of his slacks and pulled his throbbing cock out into his waiting fist. He had been a vampire centuries longer than the last living Aurelian. Almost as old as the Master had been. He was no longer entirely human in form. Let the little Slayer contemplate THAT!

Just a little bit longer. He’d take the Slayer as soon as his mark was upon her. Take her with cock and fangs, until she begged for death. Until she welcomed his mind’s embrace and the false peace it offered. Oh yes, he could play with this little morsel for years.

Forgetting everything else but Buffy, Anton moved forward to claim what was HIS. With a final nod to the lusciously plump human slave, he lunged towards his prize. There would be hundreds of other times he would take his little Slayer in the future, but there would only ever be one FIRST time.

Only the one time when it was all new to her, when she didn’t understand that she must bow to the inevitable. And only one time when he would be able to watch Spike writhe with the desire for his blood.

Only after he had finished taking the trollop by force would he re-establish his thrall. Then he would free the little Slayer from her metal chains and have her take him the way she had taken Spike on the stage, while on her knees. While she was down there, maybe he’d have her suck off the blonde vampire again, while he fucked her from behind, doggie style.

Only after the Aurelian was forced to accept that he had lost all hold on his former captive, that Anton was her true lord and master, only then would Anton fake the Slayer’s escape and allow her to dust her former master. Yes, that was the best way to manage affairs for maximum enjoyment.

As he closed on Buffy wearing nothing but a leer, a momentary look of disbelief flashed across Anton’s features before he dissolved into dust.

Coming to her senses immediately, Tara lifted her astonished eyes from the pile of dust in front of her, only to see two of her best friends each chained and helpless. Dropping the glowing brand with horror back into the firepit, Tara poured the pitcher of water over the glowing embers, before turning to look for the keys to the cuffs.

At the same moment, Buffy breathed a sigh of relief and surprise, looking around to thank Spike for the timely rescue. Seeing that Spike was similarly restrained, her eyes turned to Tara. Had the witch somehow managed to save them?

It was only when the cough sounded from the other side of the room that Buffy’s gaze fell on the other occupant of the small space. She hadn’t realized that there was another vampire in the room. Was he their unlikely savior, or was he merely her latest captor?

The seemingly mild-mannered Auctioneer’s assistant must have been the person who had thrown the stake that had dusted Anton.

Buffy cringed as the unknown vamp reached for the keys that lay carelessly next to the pitcher. He had seemed so --- utterly unvampire like. How had he managed to raise up the courage to stake a vampire many centuries his senior? And more importantly, why?

Buffy and Spike were both still trussed up like holiday turkeys, and unless Tara could somehow save them, Buffy wasn’t sure what they could do to help themselves from their current positions. She could only hope that Tara had a spell ready. Even considering that their captor was a mere fledgling, and a pathetic one at that, both she and Spike were basically helpless. Of course Buffy wasn’t under a thrall any longer. And an enraged Slayer was a force to be reckoned with, whether she was chained to a wall or not.

Spike took in the situation immediately. Somehow the crafty bugger had found the stakes hidden in the Slayer’s discarded clothing, and the fledgling had had the patience to wait until Anton was completely distracted before striking the killing blow. Almost as if he had known he would only get the one chance. Spike only wished that he had had patience to wait until the climatic moment before making his move. But then Spike had a personal interest in the matter of Buffy’s safety, and seeing Anton put his meaty hands on his girl had been more than Spike could stomach. If this twerp tried anything… Renewing his struggle against the binders, Spike knew that if it he could only free himself of these cuffs, he’d turn this sodding excuse for a minion to dust within seconds.

Spike called a warning as he realized that the tweedy vamp was heading straight for Buffy. She wasn’t under any one’s thrall now, and should be able to make short work of the usually non-combatant vampire should he be unwary enough to get too close, chains or no chains.

Spike could tell she was poised to do just that, when Tara’s cry stopped her.

“Buffy, no! It’s Giles.”

“Giles? It can’t be. He’s the Auctioneer’s assistant.”

“Willow isn’t the only one who can cast a glamour you know.” It wasn’t the first time that they had heard the myopic vampire speak, but it was the first time they had actually listened. “Just because I chose to wait until I targeted a specific individual to impersonate, does not mean that I am not still myself underneath.” He sounded just like Giles. “Tell me, how did you know, Tara?”

“Your aura. It’s still the same.”

“Yeah. And who ever would believe a spectacled tweed-wearing vampire?” chimed in Buffy, not willing, even now, to let herself appear ignorant. “It was so obvious.”

“Right,” Giles agreed. “And that’s why you agreed to go with me earlier in the afternoon when I tried to get you away from this horrid place? And for your information, I copied the assistant’s clothing, appearance and mannerisms exactly. Any superficial resemblance that any of you claim to have noticed, however belatedly, are merely that – superficial. No doubt despite his appearance, the Auctioneer’s assistant was as bloodthirsty as the rest. As you know, I’ve had to carry on this masquerade for hours.”

This was taking too long. Spike knew that they were in even greater danger now than they had been before. “Look, much as I appreciate the big reunion scene, Anton’s minions are going to burst in here any second. You got any incendiary spells to go with the false fangs Watcher? And I’d appreciate if you’d undo these shackles. You might need a few extra hands once ole Anton’s crew come charging through that door to find out what happened to dear old da.”

“No. No spells. But I’ve got something better. I’ve got a plan. One that may actually work.”

A/N: An end to some of the suspense. Tell me, those of you who guessed about Giles, did you enjoy having those hints, or would it have been more fun if it was harder, or a complete surprise? What gave it away for you? Also, did you like him coming to the rescue like that, or did you feel disappointed that it wasn't Spike? It was only in later drafts that I came up with that plot twist. Then I got myself in a bind because I wrote Anton as such a sadist that I could see other ways that things could work out okay - but only AFTER Buffy had been severely traumatized, and I didn't want that to happen. It's just not that kind of fic.
 
<<     >>