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Possession by icemink
 
Women of Business
 
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Chapter 14: Women of Business

Buffy tried very hard to pay attention as the slaves were brought up one by one to be auctioned off. She had decided that if she was really going to consider Darla's offer, she had to know about how much she should ask for Spike. She was doing a cost benefit analysis, at least she thought this is what a cost benefit analysis was. Her dad had always gone on about cost benefit analysises, and she figured that if she was going to be a responsible business woman she needed to do one too.

But she couldn't seem to concentrate on the auction. The truth was she didn't want to sell Spike, she didn't want to think about selling Spike. In that strange disconnected moment when Darla had killed Daryl an image had popped into Buffy's head, and she couldn't shake it.

She and Spike sat on the couch in her parent's living room. She was half sitting on his lap as they kissed and made out. In front of them the light of the TV flickered as the movie they had started watching played on despite the fact that no one was paying any attention.

It was a completely absurd idea. She wasn't that girl anymore and Spike could never be her boyfriend. He was her slave, and as fond of him as she had grown, she also knew that he must really hate her.

But a silly fantasy about having a boyfriend again wasn't a good enough reason to turn Darla down. Just because she was eighteen didn't mean that Buffy was some silly teenage girl. She was an adult and a business woman, and she had to make a smart decision. At least that was what she kept telling herself.

But as the slaves continued to be paraded in front of her, she couldn't help thinking about the fact that if she did sell Spike and buy another slave, she would be sharing her home with that slave. Would any of them talk as much as Spike did? Would they just growl at her, leaving her all alone again?

She tried to focus.

Every slave she saw was an untested entity. Even the toughest looking of them couldn't be guaranteed to be a good fighter. Spike she knew was a very good fighter. In fact, she thought he could be as good as she was. Which made him even more valuable. But what if she could convince Darla to give her enough that she could get two slaves? After all, even though Spike was good, she'd only fought him at the lower levels of The Circle. Something could always happen to him, and having two slaves would give her a bit of insurance.

She turned all the possible arguments both for and against through her head, but the one thing that she couldn't stop thinking about was that Spike had a family. That was one of those things she had tried not to think about. It was one of those things that reminded her that she had been a slave, and it made her feel like an awful, awful person.

And there was no doubt in her mind that Spike and Darla were family. She had seen it in the way they talked together. It wasn't just that they shared a common past and obviously knew the same people. It was the way that they didn't exactly get along but seemed to still like each other. If that wasn't family, Buffy didn't know what was.

It made her think of her own family and feel homesick. She wished she could go home, that she could be their little girl again, but she just couldn't make herself fit there anymore.

Would that happen to Spike? What if he was as good as she was. What if he fought so well that eventually she had no choice but to let him go the way she had been let go? And what if it was too late for him the way it had been for her?

Spike was still pretty much the same as he had been when she had first bought him. On the other hand, he didn't quite talk as much as he used to. She had been like that. She'd been a real chatter-box when she had first been captured, but now she rarely spoke unless she had to. Was that happening to Spike?

It had taken her a couple years to earn her freedom. In a couple years time would Spike be as broken as she was? Would he be unable to go back to his family?

She didn't want him to end up like her. She wanted him to stay loud and rebellious and obnoxious.

And that's when she made her decision. She was scared of losing Spike. He made her feel like a person again and she knew how alone she would be without him. But she couldn't stand the thought of him ending up like her. And it wasn't as if she was being selfless. She would make Darla pay, and pay a lot for Spike. So it was a good business decision too, even if it did make her want to cry.

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

As Spike buttoned up the blue silk shirt Darla had brought him, he couldn't help but feeling a bit confused. He should be happy. He was finally going to be free, and yet some small part of him didn't want to go.

He tried to tell himself that it was just because he didn't trust Darla. He knew her well enough to know she was up to something, and he didn't know if he really wanted to be in the middle of whatever that was.

Or maybe it was just that it was anti-climactic. He had always known he'd be free again, but it was supposed to end in the Slayer's death. Somehow just leaving her here all by herself seemed wrong. It wasn't supposed to end this way.

But then that was the whole problem with being a slave, he had no choice in the matter.

And somehow being sold this second time was worse than the first time. When the Slayer had bought him he hadn't known her or the demon who was selling him. It was cold and impersonal. But he knew both Buffy and Darla, and he didn't enjoy being passed from one blond to the next.

At least the clothes that Darla had brought him were halfway decent. He never would have chosen the shirt, but the black jeans and boots made him feel a lot more like himself than he had in awhile.

Dressed properly for the first time since he'd been sold, he left his cell for the last time. In the main room Buffy and Darla were going over the final details of his sale.

This time Darla hadn't come alone. Standing nearby and glaring at Spike was a big neanderthal of a vampire. At first Spike had thought that he was just one of Darla's minions that she'd brought along as a bit of muscle in case she had trouble with Buffy. But when he and Darla had first arrived he had taken one look at Spike and said doubtfully, "This is William the Bloody? We can't really need him."

Darla had sharply reprimanded the vampire whose name was Riley, and Spike had realized that he must be her childe. Darla would never have tolerated a minion who spoke back to her like that. That caused Darla to fall in Spike estimation. She could have been forgiven for choosing big, dumb, and Irish for a childe once, but twice was a little too much.

On the other hand, it seemed further proof that something must be terribly wrong with Angelus. Spike couldn't imagine his grand-sire tolerating this new-comer to the family.

It was an uncomfortable thought, and one that made Spike glad to be gaining his freedom. Angelus had practically been his sire, his Yoda, and if something was wrong with him, Spike wanted to help. Even if he was only likely to get a kick in the teeth as thanks.

"I guess that's it then," Buffy said blankly.

Ever since she'd announced her decision the other day to sell him, Buffy had avoided him. Now she walked up to him and put her arms around his neck. For just a second he was startled by the gesture, mistaking it for something more intimate than it was, at least until he realized that she was removing the silver chain she used to collar him.

As the chain fell away, Darla caught his gaze. The look she gave him was clearly one of warning. She didn't want any trouble, and was not interested in any need for revenge he might have.

"Well, I'd say it's been fun, but it hasn't been," Spike said to Buffy.

He saw her flinch at his words and he immediately regretted them.

"That's that, then," Darla said. "Thank you so much for being so understanding. We'll just be on our way now."

Darla headed for the door, her new boy toy in tow.

Spike stared at the Slayer for a moment more, trying to figure out what he should say.

"Bye," was all he came up with.

"Yeah, bye now," Buffy responded quietly as he turned and left.

Once he was outside of the small house that had been his home for the last few months, Spike took a deep breath. It was good to be free, even if he wasn't sure just how free he was. Whatever else she was, Darla was a clever bird who was used to getting her way. The sooner he figured out why she had sprung him, the better.

"So?" he asked her. "Why'd you really come for me?"

"What?" Darla asked innocently. "You don't think I did it out of the goodness of my heart?"

They both smiled at that.

"You've got about as much goodness in your heart as hair on your chest," he told her. "So why not tell me what this is all about?"

Riley growled. "Don't speak to her like that."

Spike grinned. He didn't like Riley, even though he didn't know the first thing about the young vampire. Maybe it was because the fellow seemed to be trying to take over Angelus' space in the family. In any case teaching the fledgling some respect seemed like just the sort of fun Spike could use right now.

"I'll speak to Darla anyway I like," Spike told Riley. "Not like she needs a nancy boy like you to defend her honor anyway. Not like she has any."

It was something of a lie. There was a limit to how far he would insult Darla. Getting her angry was not a good thing. But he also knew he well enough to know that she wouldn't take offense at his comments. Darla might like to play the fine lady in human society, but among family she reveled in being thought of as depraved.

Riley obviously either didn't know her as well, had a mistaken view of his place in the world, or maybe both because he took a swing at Spike.

Spike was ready for that however, and easily ducked under the blow. His own fist slammed into Riley's gut, and as the bigger man doubled over in pain, Spike's knee found Riley's nose. Riley fell to the ground but that didn't stop Spike. Normally Spike would have waited for Riley to get back up, but something had opened up in Spike.

All of the restraint that had been forced on him over the last few months as a slave was gone. He was in charge of the violence for once, and it wasn't a power he wanted to give up. He continued to kick and hit Riley, letting out all of his frustrations on the nearly prone vampire.

It was only when Darla put a gentle hand on Spike's shoulder and pushed him away that he stopped.

"That's enough," she told him. "I'm sure there will be another chance for you to teach Riley some respect, but if he can't walk home, you're going to be the one to carry him."

Spike nodded. As the beaten and bloody vampire struggled to his feet, Spike felt a tinge of regret. This fellow hadn't really done anything wrong, just asked for a bit of respect for his Sire. Spike reached down to offer Riley a hand up, but the young vampire snarled at him and struggled to his feet on his own.

"You two will eventually have to learn to play nice however," Darla said once they were on their way again.

"And just why is that?" Spike asked. "I know you must want something from me, mind telling me what it is?"

"Of course. I need you to be my champion," she said as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Spike stopped dead in his tracks. He was dimly aware of Riley growling, probably because he felt it was his place that Darla was offering Spike. He had the sudden urge to start hitting the young vampire again. It was clearly Angelus' place Darla was asking him to fill. Maybe once upon a time that would have thrilled Spike, but now it only filled him with dread.

Although most Master vampires appointed some sort of second in command to take care of more trivial matters, not every Master had a champion. The champion was a Master's enforcer. The one who dealt out punishment for disobedience, and who fought any rivals for the Master's powers. And when a vampire clan found itself in a territory dispute with another clan or a group of demons, it was the champion who acted as general for the Master's forces.

No, not every Master chose a champion, but Darla was the sort who would. Although she had never used the title of Mistress while her Sire was still around, in the old days the four of them had always operated as if Angelus was her champion. Whenever their travels had taken them into another vampire's territory, it was always Angelus who had fought for their right to stay.

Darla had not stopped to wait for him, and Spike had to jog to catch up. By the time he did so they were at the stones where portals to the regular world were opened, and Darla was busy with the simple incantation that would open the doorway to where ever she was calling home these days.

Spike followed the two other vampires through the portal she opened. As he stepped through, the first thing he noticed was the strong pull of evil. It was like some great power calling to him from the very ground. It sent a thrill through his demon as if he had somehow come home.

The next thing he noticed was that although they seemed to be inside, there was a distinct draft coming from above them. He looked around at the strange room they were in. It looked rather like a library except that all the shelves were now empty of books. A great gapping hole was in the ceiling through which he could see the night sky, and the marble floor beneath their feet was cracked. It was as if a giant pole had been dropped through the roof and smashed into the floor.

"You might want to call your decorator," Spike commented to Darla, "and let them know they didn't finish your skylight, luv."

Darla looked up at the hole, and anger flashed across her face. "Richard did that," she said angrily. "And if he ever slithers out from whatever dimensional rock he crawled under I'll make a pair of boots out of his skin. Almost a hundred years we were allies, kept this town under control, not to mention the small army I gathered for his ascension, or the help I gave him gathering his tithes. You'd think the least he could have done was warn me about the government."

Her little diatribe didn't make much sense to Spike, but Spike figured who ever this Richard fellow was, he best stay wherever he was because Darla was obviously mad as hell at him.

"Where are we anyway?" Spike asked as Darla led him deeper into the library. She opened a hidden door among the book stacks that led down into the ground and the darkness.

"Sunnydale."

"The Hellmouth," he finished for her. That would explain that special evil buzz he felt in the air. He'd heard of this town, although he'd never been himself.

As soon as they entered the passageway, they were confronted by a couple vampires who seemed to be carrying rifles. Spike raised an eyebrow at that. They were obviously some of Darla's guards, but they raised even more questions. First, why were they armed with guns, and second, what was going on that had driven Darla underground. Whatever her situation it must be desperate if Darla's lair wasn't in the lap of luxury. Spike remembered how long it would take for them to find a home whenever they travelled to a new city. Darla was extremely picky, and whichever house they took over, she always made sure that she liked the view before she declared it a suitable place for them to live.

"Right," Spike said with frustration. "How about you tell me what's going on, and what the hell has happened to Angelus."

"What's going on," Darla replied wearily. "Is that we're at war. I know the rifles are a bit. . . silly, but that's why I need you to take over for Riley. He just doesn't understand how to fight like a vampire. As for Angelus. . . it's best if you see for yourself."
 
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