Sweet Revenge
Part 29
Spike glanced around him as he was dragged into Glory's place, very posh too. Being a Hellgod must come with a few perks. A couple of big mirrors, she obviously liked the look of herself, plus a lot of satin and rich colours made it a pretty sumptuous place. Although maybe she should speak to her decorator because somehow it felt like a shrinking cell lined with sharp pointy objects, all aimed at him. Glory looked up at him as he was shoved to a standstill in front of her, rising from the couch she tossed aside her magazine and glared at him with open distaste.
"What the hell is that and why is its hair that colour?"
"Stunning One," said the lead guy - Spike had picked up that he was called Jinx. "This is the one who can tell you about ..." He paused for emphasis and the other guy - Murk - finished with him; "The key!"
"Really?" Glory beamed at them both. "That's fantaboulas! And impossible." Her eyes flicked over Spike dismissively and he gritted his teeth, it felt she was scraping his skin with sharp metal. "Because see this is a vampire, Slayers kill impure creatures, not tell them their secrets. Lesson number one, vampires - not pure."
"Yeah damn right I'm impure. I'm as impure as the yellow driven snow." Spike agreed hiding his sick relief. "Let me go." Trying to sound confident, reassured. Now he knew he was home and dry his fears all seemed laughable, of course she wasn't going to torture him! It was all going to be okay - it wasn't like she would do any real damage to him if she didn't think he could tell her anything, surely? He was going to be let go, he wouldn't be hurt ...
Glory ignored him, walking around him, assessing him coldly. "You can't even brain suck a vampire. He's completely useless."
"Yeah so I'm just going to let myself out." He tried to shake Murk off but Murk tightened his grip.
"But your Holiness," Jinx objected as Spike wished fervently for five minutes, just five minutes alone with this bastard. "We observed him with the Slayer. They were fighting but he most definitely mentioned the key."
"Yeah that was just trying to piss her off!" Spike said hurriedly. "I haven't got a bloody clue who the key is!"
Jinx rolled his eyes at the interruption and continued to soothe Glory. "Also he was with the Slayer's friend this very evening. A most determined young gentleman, unhappy about us taking the vampire. As though he was ... precious."
"Really?" Glory looked intrigued. "Precious?"
Oh shit. Spike felt terror leap inside him. She looked like she was buying this.
"Oh yes Magnificent One," Jinx said smoothly, pressing his advantage. "Or as though he at least *knows* something precious. I believe if you persuade him, he will yield the information you need."
Glory smiled as she stepped back up to Spike. "Let's take a peek at you precious."
He looked at her warily as she studied him intently, a small smile playing on her lips. The scent of her perfume was overwhelming. A pretty little Hellgod, but the blueness of her eyes didn't hide that inside she was a ruthless, merciless bitch. Her smile scared the crap out of him, she was going to enjoy this. Oh shit what the fuck was she going to *do* to him ...?
"Sod off," he said nervously.
She laughed as though he'd just told her a slightly risqué joke - then punched him in the face. He'd been on the receiving end of a lot of punches lately. This bitch won hands down. The stinging pain of his face was only topped by the agony in his side and shoulder where he flew back and hit the wall with such force it crumbled under him.
Dazed, he lay on the floor, watching fearfully as her shapely legs danced over to him. "He doesn't look very fancy to me," she said threateningly, dropping her prattling exterior for a second. She pulled him up roughly by his lower lip.
"Hey easy with the lip!" Spike protested as he succumbed to her pressure, following her like a dog on a lead. Her nail dug into the flesh and the taste of his blood filled his mouth.
"But if he knows the Slayer's secret," Glory continued, ignoring his protests, "maybe appearances are deceiving."
She flung him down on her silken bed, and he landed on his back, unable to struggle away, laying there helplessly as she clambered on top of him, pinning him down. Her skin was so soft, her hair so golden, but under all that he felt as though a cold snake was winding itself around him, just waiting for the right moment to tighten up and crush his bones ...
"Maybe there's something on the inside," Glory said thoughtfully.
This was bad. Oh shit this was so bad. Nothing, not Angelus, not the Initiative, not the Slayer had made him feel this cold toxic fear. But Xander knew these guys had him, Xander would come for him. He just had to hold on. Spike clenched his jaw in readiness as her finger twisted teasingly in front of his eyes then slid down to his stomach.
/Oh fuck Xander please hurry up./
And then awfulrippingtearingburning she was *inside* his stomach, /ohstopstophurtssomuch/ swirling his insides around. His scream of pure pain resounded around the room, as she twisted her finger around playfully.
"Shhhh." Glory crooned soothingly, as she dug around even deeper, her eyes bright, her lips moist with pleasure. "What do you know precious? What can I dig out of you?"
***
Xander was drifting, fathoms deep, someplace black and soft. It was kind of nice, floating along, a deep, restful sleep, the kind he hadn't had in a long time, but somehow he knew it was very important that he wake up. Now, right away. But he couldn't get his body to respond, couldn't prise his eyes open, couldn't break through the layers of this overwhelming darkness.
/Wake *up*!/ His mind kept bellowing it at him. He tried to break free again but the blackness pressed down on him, thick and heavy and soft, so soft ...
/Wake UP! Wake up wake up wake up!/
Slowly, with a huge effort he began to obey the command, struggling through layer after layer of consciousness, a throbbing in his head and his arm was getting worse as he broke free. Finally he managed to prise his eyes open. This felt wrong, he certainly wasn't at home, he could smell the dust on the floor where he was lying face down. His limbs felt so heavy, as though he'd sunk into the floor. Groaning he painstakingly prised himself up and into a sitting position before he surrendered back into that beckoning sleep. He looked around, his fuzzy mind trying to grasp details of his surroundings while struggling to remember what had happened. He was still in the crypt, Spike - those demon guys, they were all gone.
"Spike?"
Standing up falteringly, leaning on the wall for support Xander looked around the crypt. Utterly silent, still and dark. He shook his head and immediately wished he hadn't. It hurt like hell where he'd been hit. He checked his watch and felt a cold shiver of fear. He'd been out for hours. He looked around again hoping that Spike would miraculously appear, but nothing. He wasn't here. The last he'd seen were those demon guys surrounding him.
He opened the door and stepped outside. The fresh air helped to wake him up blowing the cobwebs away. The demon guys had surrounded Spike, and he was *sure* he'd heard one of them mention Glory.
Oh *SHIT*. Ignoring his head that was still banging in pain he broke into a run.
***
Spike didn't know how long he'd been here. It felt like days but was probably only a few hours. Only. That was a joke. The things she'd done to him in that time, the many ways she'd made him scream over and over, and she wasn't nearly done yet. But neither was he.
He tensed as she walked around him appraisingly. He was chained to the ceiling, his feet just brushing the floor, his arms burning in their sockets. Her dainty fingers paused in their torment as she stood behind him. She indicated in the large mirror hanging on the wall opposite him.
"See me there?" She asked him her breath close to his ear, her eyes luminous, trailing her hand over his body lightly. He tensed in revulsion and fear as her hands brushed against cuts and bruises. "See me? Not you. You're not in there, you know why? You're *nothing*!"
A cracking sound ripped the air and the leather cut angrily into the skin on his back. He threw his head back, biting his lip, unable to hold back a muffled cry of pain.
"Nothing! So why. Won't. You. *Talk*!" She was almost crying in frustration as she shot around to grab his face. "Tell me who the key is. Tell me, tell me, tell ME!"
He kept his eyes steadfastly on her face, watching as she turned red and blotchy with anger as his mouth stayed resolutely shut. /Aww. What's the matter bitch? Not playing your game? Take it like a man. I don't play to anyone's rules but mine./
"God!" She yelled in frustration, and punched him hard across his face. His head flew back under the force, he rocked on his feet, the chains pulled at his arms, and then snapped him back. He lifted his head, his face a hot agonising ball of pain and stared at her defiantly through his swollen eyes.
"I hate you!" She spat, shaking in fury. "You worthless, useless *vampire*!"
"Yeah," Spike agreed, grinning wickedly through the blood dripping from his mouth. "But for a worthless, useless vampire, I'm doin' a *really* good job of pissing you off."
Glory stared at him, her eyes burning as the balance of power shifted uncertainly between them, and through his satisfaction Spike knew he was really going to pay for that. Now he'd gone and made it personal. She whirled away from him, throwing herself down on the couch, almost in tears.
"Jinxy why won't he talk?" She asked her voice wavering. "Why won't he tell me? Have I lost my touch?"
"No! Never!" Jinx rushed to reassure her. "It is a privilege for him to be honoured with your touch! You are the epitome of skilled agony and exquisite precision!" Jinx glared at Spike, while clucking soothingly to Glory. "The vampire doesn't appreciate your mercy Wondrous one. Maybe you should be less gentle."
Glory nodded and drew in a deep breath. She walked over to the mirror, running her hands over her silky dress, readjusting herself. She stroked through her hair with her fingers admiringly, visibly calming at the sight of her reflection. Then she turned back to him her eyes glittering as she came closer. Spike swallowed.
"You will talk precious." She said confidently as she stroked his face gently. "Either you'll talk or you'll ..."
Her hands burst through skin and bone squeezing until he was going to burst, white heated pain ripped through him like a bolt of lightening, his scream causing the crystals in the chandelier to reverberate. "Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Yes," Glory acknowledged calmly. "That's better."
And she went back to work.
***
"Guys! Guys!" Xander burst into Willow and Tara's place racing into the bedroom, turning on the lights. "Wake up!"
Willow and Tara blearily opened their eyes as Dawn shot up - she'd been unable to sleep for wondering about what had been happening with Xander and Spike, whether Xander had gone to meet him, if they were friends now.
"Xander" Willow croaked as she sat up, "What is it?"
"Xander what happened?" Dawn burst out. "Are you okay? I was worried."
"Guys," he panted. "Demony kinds of guys." He wanted to scream with frustration at himself, he couldn't get his words out properly, could barely breath, all he could think was those guys had Spike and God knows what was happening to him. "Buffy said the guys that work for Glory are kind of like hobbits with leprosy? Well this was like a whole *flock* of hobbits, they just grabbed Spike I think they've taken him to Glory."
"Wait - Spike's still in town?" Tara asked bewildered. Willow stared at Xander with stunned eyes full of questions. Questions that he couldn't deal with right now - he didn't know anything anymore. All he knew was these ... *things* had Spike and that meant bad things, all kinds of bad things.
"Yeah but we don't have time to go into that now. He ..."
"He knows about Dawn." Willow finished with horror.
"We have to rescue him!" Dawn blurted out in fear.
"How do we find him?" Xander asked, his voice shaking, trying to think past the fear that was thudding alongside every beat of his heart. There had to something they could do - a locating spell, *anything*, but the girls just looked around them blankly, maybe hoping a solution would magically appear.
"We'll need weapons." Tara said at last.
"Yeah," Xander agreed thankfully, glad for something to concentrate on. "I got nothing - you guys?" Willow shook her head.
"Okay we'll hit Buffy's place, stock up."
Willow nodded. "Let's go."
***
Spike wasn't sure where he was anymore, one moment he was sitting in his crypt with Dawn, telling her scary stories, the next he was floating in a bubble, white and safe, it turned to hundreds of tiny bubbles, he was in a bath with Xander, soapy and warm ... but that had never happened. He didn't care, he liked it here. But something was pulling him back. Slowly he drifted back to himself and struggled to open his eyes, wincing as the blood made his eyelashes stick together, eventually they eased apart.
He was still hanging from the ceiling, the shackles biting into his wrists, his arms and shoulders still throbbing in dull pain, but his insides, oh God his insides, what had she done to them? They felt all wrong, torn and open, he could feel hot liquid trickling inside him, gathering heavily in his stomach. His back burned, his skin shredded, tatters still hanging from him, brushing across where she'd whipped him raw. Was there any skin left intact? Had she ripped it all to shreds? His vision gradually cleared. Glory was standing in front of him.
"There you are," She smiled handing the small vial she'd been waving under his noise back to Jinx. "Nearly had me worried there."
Where was Xander? Why hadn't he come for him? He wanted to hold on, he'd tried so hard but he couldn't take any more of this, he couldn't. Xander hurry, hurry ...
Or maybe he wasn't coming. Maybe he'd been holding on for nothing.
"Xander," he mumbled his head lolling back as his vision went grey again.
"Xander?" Glory leapt forward in excitement. "Is he the Key?"
"No," he rolled forward again. "Not key." He couldn't open his mouth properly anymore. "Everything else though ..." His vision turned grey and hazy as he swayed, hanging helplessly in front of her.
"Who's Xander?" Glory asked Jinx.
"One of the Slayer's friends, Magnificent one."
"Could he be the Key?"
"Unlikely I think Beauteous thou, he has been in the Slayer's life for a long time. It is more likely the vampire is ... attached to the human. He seemed very focused on the human when we found them together."
"Awww," Glory crooned. "The vampire's in love!" She turned back to Spike grabbing his face and forcing him to look at her. "Shall I have him brought here precious? String him up next to you?"
Terror jolted him back into full alertness. "You stay *away* from ..." His voice failed him, his throat hoarse from screaming there was nothing left in him, only a few croaks.
"Does that torture you precious?" Glory crooned. "That's nothing. Wait until I'm cutting into him."
/No! No, not Xander, don't hurt Xander./ He shook his head wildly, looking at her pleadingly through his slitted, bleeding eyes.
"But I won't hurt him if you help me. Just tell me who the key is." Glory breathed softly, as though she was scared speaking loudly would disturb the air, make him change his mind.
/Yes, tell her, make all this stop, can't bear any more./
She looked so concerned. So ready to stop, maybe she didn't want to hurt him any more, and crazily he craved it - the feeling that someone cared about him, and right now she was all that was on offer. His eyes stung as he looked at her helplessly and her eyes blurred to a blue sheen. He hadn't cried yet but he was near to tears now. His mouth opened, the words she was aching for ready to fall from his mouth. He couldn't hold on to them anymore, there was nothing left in him to keep his grip tight on them, the only thing here was her.
And her minions. A slight movement caught his eye, making him glance away from Glory. Jinx was fidgeting uncomfortably, the scabby guy obviously didn't like the idea of grabbing Xander ...
Of course they didn't, she *wouldn't*, she was bluffing. No way would she risk the Slayer bursting in after her friend, not while she had him all tied up and still a chance of getting the key without involving anyone else. She was trying to break him.
His jaw set as he met her eyes again, his vision clearing, properly this time. He loathed her in a way he'd never loathed anyone before. Stringing him up, powerless and beaten. But he wasn't powerless. He had something she needed and he was damned if she was going to get it. This repellent bitch wasn't going to touch his Little Bit. She wasn't going to make him break his word, he'd promised Xander only a few hours ago that he'd never let him down again, and he wouldn't, not for anything. Especially not for this vain, spoilt, prattling cow. Xander would come for him.
Glory read the look on his face and sighed. "Then I suppose its back to the old ..."
Her nails flayed at his skin and Spike discovered he did have a scream left in him after all.
***
The sunrise came just as they got to Buffy's house, and the edgy terrified feeling inside Xander was getting worse. He had to stay calm, stay focused and rational, but there was nothing rational about how he felt, sickly scared and shaking, and he didn't even know what he was scared of anymore. It had been such a long time since Spike had been taken. Hours, when God knows what could be happening, for all he knew Spike had already told Glory and they were laughing together about how they were going to take Dawn ...
His fists clenched, if Spike had done *anything* to put Dawn at risk, he had to die. But what if he hadn't? What were they doing to him?
/Oh Spike, Spike, Spike, Spike/
"If we're going to stop Spike from blabbing about Dawn we're gonna need these." Xander said heading for the weapons cabinet. He couldn't think about the other stuff right now. Dawn's safety was the most important thing, not that his lover - *ex* lover could be in mortal danger. He had to hate Spike - it was the only way this was clear. After all Spike was scum, a user of people. He was bound to talk if it would save him. He burrowed through the cabinet passing out weapons.
"Ooh the big guns." Dawn said impressed. Willow shot her a stern glance as she removed a small axe from Dawn's hands.
"Xander where shall we go? Where shall we look for Glory?"
"I don't know!" Xander snapped, slamming the lid down in frustration.
"It's okay Xander." Willow said tentatively.
"No it's not we need to rescue Spike!" Dawn burst out impatiently.
Xander felt himself flinch and Tara took her aside. "Um ... Dawn, I, I think Buffy has more weapons upstairs. Why don't you go get those?"
Dawn nodded. "I can do that. I'll be right back." She darted upstairs as the other three exchanged glances.
"Okay this has gone way too far - she thinks we're going to rescue Spike," Xander said bitterly. No rescue. Spike didn't deserve a rescue, they just had to stop him from talking. He didn't care what was happening to him, he didn't care, he didn't care ...
"Well what are we going to do?" Willow asked uncertainly.
He didn't know. He *didn't know*. Damnit would Spike ever stop screwing with his mind? There was too much damn *stuff* churning around inside him. His hate of Spike, of what he'd done, clashing with his worry for Dawn, but under that there was something else. Something had crawled inside him and was squeezing tighter with every passing second that went by and they weren't getting any closer to finding him.
And all the time Dawn kept wondering aloud if he was okay, asking what they were going to do to help, talking about him like he was friend, a person, not an evil creature. She had faith he wouldn't betray her. And that was the hardest thing of all to bear.
But he couldn't say that. He had to keep this clear for them. "Find him, stop him from talking whatever it takes."
"And what are we going to do with Glory?"
"Whatever we do we're gonna need Buffy's help," Tara pointed out.
"Woah - group hang time?" Buffy's voice dropped into the pause as she walked wearily into the house. For a moment they all stared at her, stunned into silence at her perfect timing.
"Buffy - God this is good." Willow said.
"Didn't seem like it to me." Buffy said distractedly, her mind still obviously not fully with them. "'Death is my gift.'" She looked disgusted.
"Buffy we need to talk." Xander said quickly, they had to get *moving*.
Buffy's eyes widened in alarm as she really took notice of them for the first time. "What's wrong - is Dawn okay?"
"Dawn's fine, she's upstairs. It's just ..." Willow paused, looking at Xander.
"Spike's still in town." Tara finished.
"Xander," Buffy stared at him in horror. "Omigod - you're having sex again with Spike?"
A loud clatter cut off Xander's angry protest as Dawn, who had entered the room unnoticed, dropped the sword she was carrying. "He's *whating* with *who*?"
Everyone froze, speechless, he could hear Willow's gasp of dismay and Xander felt himself pale, even while shame burnt two red slashes across his cheeks. Dawn stared at him, her eyes wide and horrified.
"Dawn go upstairs." Buffy said rapidly.
"I won't! *Xander* is having sex with *Spike*?"
"I am *not* having sex with Spike!" Trying to blank out that moment in the crypt when Spike's hands had come up to cover his own. He was past all that now, it was over, did he have to keep paying and paying?
"No one is blaming you Xander ..." Buffy began.
"Wait - there's blame now?" he snapped as anger boiled up inside him. Not only did they not believe him, but now it was apparently open to debate in front of a fourteen year old girl who may as well be his little sister.
"It's understandable," Buffy said desperately trying to be supportive. "You can't just switch off your feelings."
"Yeah - we understand," Tara chipped in. "Spike is mysterious and compact ..."
"But well muscled..." Willow finished.
Xander narrowly restrained himself from screaming in frustration. "I'm not having sex with Spike but I'm starting to think you two might be!"
Willow and Tara exchanged a look. "But you were with him last night?" Willow questioned gently.
"He asked me to meet him - I ... look we *don't* have time for this!"
"Yeah we're forgetting the most important thing." Dawn said quietly. "Glory has Spike and she's going to hurt him."
"Glory has Spike?" Buffy repeated ominously calmly.
"Yeah I was *trying* to bring that up." Xander glared at the others. "We were getting weapons."
"Grab 'em. We're going now. I have to kill him."
There was a moment's silence where everyone looked at him to see how he was talking this, but his voice was calm as he spoke. "We don't even know where to look."
"I know where to start." Buffy replied. "Willow, call Giles. Tara will you stay here with Dawn?"
"Of course."
"Oh but I ..."
"No," Buffy said in a tone of voice that Dawn dared not argue with. They left the house, Buffy in the lead, Xander close behind.
***
Glory's earlier anger had changed now into something worse. A cold determination to keep him alive and tortured until she broke him apart and found what she wanted inside him. She could treat him with a god's casual contempt he was nothing. Just an object to rip and break and smash and painpainpain. /Don't care, don't care, cut into me, rip into my insides and squeeze until they burst I'll never tell you./
He wouldn't give up Dawn. Wouldn't let Xander down. But the pain, oh shit the pain. It consumed him, swallowed him, burnt through to his bones and he wasn't strong enough to take this much more. His determination was nothing, so weak compared to Glory playing his screams like an instrument with her manicured fingernails.
Breaking bones with a snapping sound that makes him sick. Throwing up in front of her, can't see anymore through blood in his eyes and nearly passing out again into blessed relief, but she kept waving some more of that foul smelling stuff under his nose that kept him awake oh fuck oh hell please make it stop.
His mouth wanted to open, to let the words fall out, it was so hard to keep it clamped shut. Just his bruised and battered body the only thing between Glory and Dawn.
He pulled pointlessly against the chains. Pointless because even if he got loose he was wrecked, could barely stand, and minions were swarming all over the place. How far could he go before they caught him? One step - two and then Glory would throw him through the wall. Throw him through the wall ...
Glory's voice floated into his ears, "I have a riddle for you precious. How is a vampire that won't talk like an apple?" She forced his head back and pulled a knife across his chest. Sharp, his skin sliced open easily as she viciously drew it across.
/Oh God no don't peel me/
"Think I can do you in one long strip?"
"No more." He begged, was that his voice? Weak and rough from screaming. He couldn't take anymore. Xander wasn't coming for him. He had to look after himself.
"I'll tell you who the sodding key is."
***
Xander looked around the grassy verge where Giles had driven them too under Buffy's directions. It was very calm, peaceful with a slight breeze ruffling Buffy's golden hair and he tried to swallow the scream welling up as they looked around them, wasting even more time.
"Glory's key-sniffing snake was about here when I killed it." Buffy said. "It was heading back to her."
"Do you think she lives around here?" Willow asked.
That was all she had? "It's not a lot to go on," Xander pointed out trying to keep the shade of blame from his voice. It was hardly Buffy's fault she didn't know where Glory lived.
Buffy shrugged. "It's all we got. We've got to find him so I can kill him." She flinched guiltily. "I'm sorry Xander - I can't begin to know how hard this is for you - but I gave him the chance to leave and he didn't, and now he's too big a risk - he knows who the key is and there's no way he's not telling Glory." She looked at him beseechingly as though trying to beg for forgiveness for preparing to kill his lover. Former lover.
"You're right." Xander said numbly. "He's evil."
And evil creatures didn't deserve mercy or forgiveness or love, they should die. And Spike was evil, don't think about how he'd hidden in the sewers for days, just to stay close to him, don't remember how he begged for forgiveness, he didn't care.
"So you're still on board?" Buffy asked.
Xander nodded. "Let's find him."
"Okay guys split up and spread out. Check out the priciest looking places first. Xander you come with me, Willow, Giles stick together."
Willow and Giles peeled off in the other direction as he and Buffy began to head towards the nearest building, a pretty swanky looking place. The knot in his stomach tightened further. Spike could be in there. He really could.
As they neared it they picked up speed, until they were nearly running.
"How are you holding up?" Buffy asked.
"Fine," he said wilfully misunderstanding her. "The axe actually gets lighter the longer I carry it."
"You know what I mean."
He nodded, without letting his speed drop. "I want to find him, I want to know. I want it done."
***
Water, cool, pure, it slid down his throat like silk. Spike swallowed, wondering if it was going to come out of the holes she'd torn in his skin with those dainty fingers.
"Is that better?" She asked, all concern. "Do you think you can try to talk again now?"
He nodded wearily.
"Good. Because I'm tired of these *games*!" She smashed the glass against his face, tiny shards trapped in his skin. "'I need time, I need a drink' you're a very needy little bloodsucker and it's not very attractive!" She threw herself down on her couch and glared at him. "Just start talking."
She wasn't going to let him buy any more time. If he didn't do this now she'd just torture him again and any little strength he'd recovered would be torn away. He choked down his nerves and began.
"Yeah," he croaked as he glanced in the mirror at the wall behind him. "Okay the key. Here's the thing." He surreptitiously pulled against his chains. They gave a little, if he pulled hard enough he could get loose, but he was going to need one hell of a pull. Or a punch ...
"It's that guy on T.V, what's his name?"
Glory raised her eyebrows sceptically. "On the television?"
"That show, the price show? Where they guess what stuff costs?" Spike winced. Even though it was the only way out - well he wasn't looking forward to it.
"The Price is Right?" Murk suggested helpfully.
"Bob Barker!" Jinx said pleased.
"We will bring you Bob Barker - we will bring you the limp and beaten body of Bob Barker!"
Glory rolled her eyes in exasperation. "It is not Bob Barker you scabby morons!" Glory spat furiously.
"The key is new to this world, and Bob Barker is as old as grit." She turned to smile back at Spike. Fuck he was really beginning to hate that smile, but at least it meant this was working.
"The vampire is lying to me."
Spike giggled past his fear. Years spent pissing off Angelus, hiding his terror were finally paying off. "Yeah but it was fun. And guess what bitch? I'm not telling you jack. You're never going to get your sodding key because you may be strong but in our world ..." he untwisted the chain as much as he could, trying to loosen them a little more, aligning his hands so his wrists hopefully wouldn't snap like twigs when the punch came, "you're an idiot."
Glory smiled in disbelief as he spoke. "I am a God."
"The God of what? Bad home perms?"
"Shut up!" Glory's hands went to her hair and she looked at him uncertainly for the first time. She may be a Hellgod but she was a typical woman, more so in fact - with all these lackeys around her, she'd probably never been criticised in her life, he should have tried this hours ago. "I command you shut up!"
"Oh yeah okay. Sorry but I just had no idea that Gods were such prancing lightweights." Inside he was whimpering with fear that this mightn't work, but if he was going to get killed for it he may as well make it good, give the bitch a memory to make her flesh creep.
"Mark my words," he continued with conviction, "the Slayer is going to kick your skanky, lopsided ass . .."
Glory anxiously checked out her behind, he tightened his grip on the chains, keeping up the pressure, waiting for it - come *on* bitch just get it over with!
" ... back to whatever place would take a cheap ... " he paused to size her up, and finished - not without some small satisfaction - "*whorish*, fashion victim, ex-god like you."
That did it.
It all happened so fast, one second she was glaring at him and he was pulling like hell against the chains the next she'd spun around, her foot connecting squarely with his chest and pain exploded as ribs broke, organs were pushed out of place, but with a loud sudden snap the chain broke and he had a confused jerky impression of Glory receding as he flew backwards, smashing through the wall and skidding to a bone jarring stop.
Worked like a charm. Now if he could only get himself to move.
"Good plan Spike," he muttered to himself, his voice sounded odd, the words mushed and rounded but he forced himself to his feet. Got to get out. But it hurt so bad, skin, insides and out, torn and grating. His body was screaming at him to lie down, please give up, just die please. He ignored it. He could die as soon as he got out, for now he staggered down the corridor so slow, every step jarred sending more pain sparking through him, they were coming, he had to move but it hurt oh fuck it hurt.
He could see the lift through the alarming black spots dancing in front of his eyes, as he looked the lift door was closing. He tried to hurry, his left leg was numb, dragging behind him. Biting his lip to stop from screaming he got there just as the door closed. He almost let the tears of frustration come. It was so tempting to just lie back down...
"Here!" They'd spotted him, hurrying towards him.
/Oh God/ he begged, /if you have any use left for a demon let me get away, I can't take any more torture, if you don't want me to talk let me get away/
He struggled against the lift doors and maybe his prayer was being answered, at least a little as he found a tiny measure of strength he didn't even know he had left, he gave all he had, pushing so hard he might just throw up again from the pain of straining his battered and beaten body still further, but the doors slowly, grudgingly eased open.
"Oh God," he groaned as he slid through and let himself drop to the lift below. He hit it hard and white lights flashed violently in front of his eyes replacing the black spots, as the pain rocketed through him, momentarily paralysing him. He had to get into the lift, but he couldn't move, unable to bear setting off any more hurting. He could only lie there and wait for it to recede as the lift continued downwards. The white lights faded back into dark spots and beckoned to him. Beautiful, velvety darkness where he could put himself beyond pain.
In alarm he deliberately knocked his hand against one of his broken ribs. The darkness faded again, and the whiteness exploded back across his eyes, too bright, too painful, but it was safer than that darkness. His fumbling fingers opened the hatch and he let himself fall through into the lift just as it reached the ground floor and the doors opened. He could see the outside world from here, but he could already hear them clattering down the stairs after him, no time for escape - it was too late, it really was over.
But there was another way to keep them from getting him. He looked from the shadows of the lift at the sunshine streaming in through the windows and although he could hear them yelling, feel fear thudding at the edge of his mind, somehow it was easy to ignore. A bubble of quiet and clarity was spinning itself around him. Just a few steps and he could rest, he'd be done. /See Xander I did it. I didn't let you down again./
One of the minions was staring at him with open disgust as he ran down the stairs. "You do not insult Glory by escaping!"
/Oh yeah?/ Spike dragged himself to his feet, staring determinedly at the little shit through puffy eyes. /See how she takes me dying then mate. That'll really piss her off./ And if he was going he was gonna take as many of these little bastards with him as he could, but he'd never talk. Never, never, and he could swear even though he was still in the shadows he could already taste the sunshine and it tasted just the way he remembered. Warm, pure, fresh. He took the first step out.
And the door burst open.
***
As he and Buffy burst through the doors the first thing Xander saw was Glory's guys gathered on the stairs, looking at them with horror. He wondered why they were all gathered at the entrance before he caught sight of Spike, bloodied, battered, staring at him in amazement. They couldn't have looked at each other for more than a couple of seconds but Xander felt those feelings that he'd tried to push down until he pushed them away clench almost unbearably tight inside him, making a mockery of all his empty words and threats.
He cared what they'd done to him. Oh hell yeah did he care.
Spike closed his eyes in what looked like a burning relief before sinking into the shadows of the lift and collapsing to the floor.
Xander wondered afterwards if this was how Buffy must feel when she was fighting. So grounded he could feel the wood grain of the handle of the axe between his fingers, feel each tiny shiver that shot along it as he hit, hear the sounds as he smashed into them over and over, but at the same time it was all almost like being out of his body, fighting on autopilot because the only real thing was the pure burning fury that was coursing through his veins.
As he hacked his way through the demons, he was dimly aware of Willow and Giles yelling that they were here, joining the fray, but he didn't stop to look, to speak. The only thing that mattered was reaching Spike.
It was warm in the lift, quiet as the fight roared on outside. The axe still clenched in his hands, he stared at Spike's prone form. His eyes blurred and the axe hit the ground with a dull thump as he dropped to his knees next to him. The hate was still there, trapping words in his throat. Stilling his hands from reaching out to Spike. But under that. In spite of that. He didn't want to feel it, he hated feeling it, but he did.
/Oh God/ he thought helplessly. /I still love him. I can't help it. I love him./
"Hey."
Buffy's voice came quietly, breaking his concentration. He looked up, Glory's guys had gone, at least for now. Willow and Giles stood silently behind her, watching them. Buffy had a sword in her hand. He stared up at her and knew she would kill Spike to keep Dawn safe. And he could understand that. But if she wanted Spike dead she was going to have to come through him, and it wasn't right or fair or sensible but it was just the way it was.
His gaze met hers unflinchingly and after a long moment she slowly lowered the sword.
"Giles," she said, without taking her eyes from Xander. "Bring the car round. Hurry."
Giles nodded and pelted outside.
Xander looked at her questioningly. She shrugged. "We can't ask him what he told her if he's dust."
He stood back and she hoisted Spike up to his feet with more speed than care. Spike rocked, his eyes flickering open briefly, he muttered something incoherent and managed to steady himself, leaning heavily on Buffy.
Buffy gestured across the sunlit space where the sun came streaming into the windows. "How are we going to ..."
Xander wordlessly shrugged off his coat and draped it over Spike. Spike's eyes were falling shut again, he was too far gone to notice what was happening. Buffy nodded to the entrance where Giles roared up with the car.
"Let's go."
***
The others talked in low whispers as Xander stared blankly at the rows of murky looking potions behind the till in the magic shop. Giles had insisted on dropping himself and Buffy at the shop while he and Willow dealt with Spike and they had agreed. Buffy had been anxious to see Dawn and he'd been desperate to get away from Spike. Being around him made his feelings as murky as any of these potions. So angry, so sad, so protective. It was too hard to bear. Especially with Spike beaten and in so much pain and all he wanted was to take it away, and the next moment all he wanted was to make it worse. He wondered if any magic could make him stop feeling like this. Was there anything that could stop love once it had taken root inside you? If there was he'd take it in a second. He'd always been scared of falling in love and now he knew why. He *hated* this. Love shouldn't be like this. It shouldn't mingle in with hate until you didn't know what it was you felt. It shouldn't tear you apart inside. You shouldn't be so completely *helpless* against it.
He jumped as the shop bell rang out and Willow and Giles entered the shop looking tired.
"What did you guys do with Spike?" Buffy asked.
"Dropped him back at his crypt." Willow replied, flicking a concerned glance at Xander.
Giles rubbed his eyes wearily. "We tried to find out if he'd told her anything but he was too badly beaten to make much sense."
"Well even if he told her he'd just lie to us about it anyway." Xander said dully.
"Count on it." Buffy agreed. "But I have to know - *now*. If he did give us up Dawn and I need to get out of town - I mean she could be on her way here right now."
"But not to worry I'm sure we'll all be perfectly safe" Giles said, trying to give Dawn a reassuring smile.
"Safe. Right, and Spike and Xander having sex is a euphemism for them playing checkers." Dawn said sarcastically. Xander felt a bitter smile tug at his mouth.
"It sounded convincing when I thought of it." Tara said with a weak smile.
"I don't think he did." Willow said swiftly changing the subject. "Tell Glory I mean."
"You don't? Why?" Buffy asked curiously.
"Why would Glory have kept on torturing him if he'd told her who the key was?"
"And why would he have needed to escape?" Giles agreed.
There was a long pause as Xander stared steadfastly at the ground. He knew what they wanted but he couldn't do it - he couldn't face Spike.
"Xander maybe you could ..."
"No! No. Sorry Buff but if I'm around him I'll end up ..." /Killing him, kissing him/ "...doing something I'll regret."
Silence fell again as he felt rather than saw the concerned looks they exchanged.
"I'll talk to him." Buffy said at last.
"I have something that could help there," Willow said stepping over to the array of bottles and jars on the shelf. She ran her finger along the bottles thoughtfully and picked out a couple. As she opened them she said tentatively; "You know, I feel kind of bad for him."
"*What*?" His head jerked up as though she'd snapped a string.
"I'm on your side Xander," she hurried to explain. "What he did to you was awful, a total travesty I'm completely on board. But ..."
She trailed off looking at him almost pleadingly.
"He was so *beat up*," Xander finished quietly.
***
Spike lay motionless for a long time, afraid to move, to awaken the pain that was throbbing dully through his body. Far better to just lie here until he might feel better, whenever that might be. To just cling on to the thought that he'd survived. Never mind that survival seemed a pretty bleak prospect at the moment. Xander had come for him, but somehow he didn't think that meant everything was happy now. He only had to open his eyes and look around the crypt where he'd been dumped, alone and in pain to get that. At least if he'd stepped out into the light he'd be beyond all this, peaceful and finished. Maybe Xander would have believed him then, but fate apparently wasn't that kind. That would have been easier on him. He was doing to have to do this the hard way and live without him. Day by day, minute by minute.
The silence of the crypt swallowed him until he began to wonder if he was even really here. Nothing to anybody. He'd held on for so long, now it was over he felt curiously hollow, empty inside. Alone and drifting. No Xander, no determination not to give in, no Hellgod. In a twisted way at least Glory had needed him, wanted him, she'd *seen* him. Not that he wanted to go back there, Glory's attention was pretty hard to take. But the loneliness was hard to bear as well.
So it was with a queer sense of relief when he heard his door swing open and he recognised the scent of the Slayer.
/Oh great. Come to poke me with a stick while I can't move?/
She was a bugger for that 'hitting him while he was down ' thing, but at least someone was aware of him. Anything in this crypt now was an improvement.
"Spike."
"'S me." Spike agreed, he opened his eyes to see her looking down at him, and he painfully eased his protesting, screaming body up into a sitting position.
She flicked her fingers casually at him, the dust in the air hazily rose then settled with the movement. "Love those bruises on you."
"Yeah - you're not the only one that likes 'em, pretty near everyone wants to plant a few on me these days."
"Can't say I see a problem with that."
Silence fell.
"Well there's our dose of painful awkwardness over with." Spike said at last. "If you want another round of beating me up though could you give me a couple of weeks? Cuts and bones need some time to heal."
"Why did you let Glory do this?"
Spike almost shrugged then thought better of it. "She wanted to know who the key was. You saying you wanted me to tell her?"
"Did you?"
"No!" He coughed desperately as the force with which he'd spoken tore at his hoarse, hurting throat, then went white as the coughing sent jolts of pain through his body as muscles that had been grabbed, twisted into a different shape and shoved back in, clenched and pushed. Clasping his hands to his chest to still the movement he shook his head. "I wouldn't ever. Glory never finds out."
"Why?"
And suddenly he was too tired to tell anything but the truth, to tired to try and hide behind any of the faces he'd worn with the Slayer. "The Bit, she's a mate, maybe the only real one I've ever had, stuck her neck out for me, and ... Xander. Although he's less pleasant these days." Spike shook his head self deprecatingly, trying to shrug aside his vulnerability. "I owed him that much. I promised I was never going to let him down again and I meant it. I love him, an' couldn't live with him being in any more pain. I'd let Glory kill me first." He looked down at himself and rolled his eyes at himself. Wrecked and ashamed, humiliatingly exposed in front of a girl he always tried - for one reason or another to look powerful in front of. "Nearly bloody did."
He kept his eyes averted from hers. Waiting for the mockery, the disbelief. The unexpected kiss brushing butterfly soft against his cut and swollen mouth flooded through him like a balm over his pain filled body.
He pulled away, staring at her with questioning, confused eyes, it had to be a trick - but she looked back at him gravely her green-blue eyes wide and clear and filled with things he'd never seen in there before, not for him anyway. Respect, trust. In that moment they ceased to be enemies. Not friends but maybe something more important. Allies.
She slowly turned away. He tried to bite his tongue but couldn't help himself blurting out.
"And Xander?"
Buffy sighed wearily and stopped.
"Xander isn't coming Spike. What you did to him was gross and obscene . . ."
"It wasn't ... "
"DON'T!" Buffy snapped, her voice still had a spark of anger, but he knew it wasn't for herself. It was for Xander. She turned back to look at him and must have seen his misery as she continued a little more softly. "These games, they're not even real."
Spike hung his head - the shame was too great to even look up. Then she spoke again.
"What you did in there. For Dawn. For him. That was real."
Spike looked up. She paused, hovering over the next words, but her voice when it came was clear and firm as she threw him his reward.
"I'll see that he knows it."
For a moment they regarded each other gravely then she walked out, closing the door behind her, leaving him alone again. But not empty. Spike stared into the place she had stood for a very long time as a tiny spark of hope caught inside him.
***
Outside the crypt Buffy thoughtfully brushed her hands free of the truth powder she'd sprinkled Spike with before walking away.
Continued in the next part
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