If Buffy had a nightmare at 3:09 that morning, Lily wasn't awake to know about it. A little after two o'clock she had left Spike at the edge of the park and headed back towards Buffy's. Things were still tender between the lovers, but Lily had suggested that some time away from each other might help. Spike agreed, obviously needing to think, and they promised to meet at the bench the next night at ten o'clock to talk some more.
Yawning, Lily let herself into Buffy's house and headed straight to the basement. She stripped the dress off, frowning at the blood-stiffened bodice, then shrugged and tossed it aside. She'd try to get the blood out tomorrow. Right now she had to get some sleep. Being awake during the day was just unnatural!
*****
After leaving Lily at the edge of the park around two o'clock in the morning, Spike made his way underground to the room in which they had first made love. At the time, it had been sex, pure and simple, but now, he could only refer to it as making love. Looking back, he realized that he had been falling for her even then.
Flopping down on the mattress, he tried not to think about the events of the previous couple of hours, but a vision insisted on exploding in his brain. Lily sprawled on the ground, blood on her throat, pain in her eyes.
With a groan, Spike sat up, rubbing his hands over his face, trying to make the vision vanish. He would do anything to make it go away...to make it never have happened.
There had been fear in her eyes as well, even if only briefly. It tortured him that he had frightened her. He was so sorry....Sorry? Was this regret? Two centuries had passed without any regret.
Spike shook his head and frowned deeply. Vampires didn't feel regret. They didn't feel remorse. They didn't feel like begging forgiveness! He prayed she really did forgive him.
Pray? Vampires didn't pray! Where the Hell had that come from? Spike shook his head again in agitation, trying to clear it. Something was very wrong with him.
The scent of Lily's blood hovered around him, distracting him--maybe that was it. Her blood was on his shirt and jacket where she had leaned against him and on the handkerchief he drew from his pocket. Lifting the scarlet stained linen to his nose, he lay back down, wishing he was holding his love.
*****
Blood lust overcame Lily and the taste of blood sent an orgasmic shudder through her. Lily drank and drank as a woman screamed and screamed...
Drusilla stood before her, nude, with marks painted with thickened blood on her breasts, arms and legs. She raised her hands and Lily's eyes followed her. The crescent moon glimmered in the night sky and Lily felt the cold caress of wind across her own naked body.
Drusilla began to chant.
Buffy stood in the Library using a large knife to sharpen a stake with single-minded purpose. She looked up at Lily and her eyes were dead. "We should have known. It was so simple." Her voice was equally dead.
Giles crossed the room carrying a book. As he passed in front of Lily, he recited part of the prophecy. Lily's mind skittered away from what he said, denying the truth.
Light blinded her and Lily stumbled back. Cowering in the shadows, she watched a female figure walk out of the bright, yellow sun, but was unable to see any features. She smiled at Lily and offered her hand. "Day into night and night into day.
Lily reached out her own hand towards the figure...and burned.
*****
With a jerk, Lily sat up in bed, shaking from the remnants of the nightmare. Buffy sat on the end of the bed holding the tape recorder. In a quiet voice Lily recited the images she had seen, wondering why she couldn't remember what Giles had said. Everything else had been so clear, except for the features of the woman in the sun.
"How did you know I'd have a nightmare?"
Buffy shrugged her shoulders and turned off the recorder. "I guessed. If you hadn't, I'd have left about now. You sleep like the dead, you know." Lily gave her a pointed look and leaned against the couch back, pulling the sheet up over her naked breasts. "It's a little creepy. I mean, I've seen dead bodies, you know, and, except for your eyes being closed, you look just like one of them." She made a face.
"If you are going to continue your relationship with Angel, you're going to have to get used to the fact that we don't breathe and our hearts don't beat, so, yes, when we're asleep, we look dead."
Buffy blushed and looked away, leaving Lily wondering how far their relationship had gone. Not wanting to pry, she changed the subject. "So, did you have a nightmare as well?"
"Yeah, pretty much the same stuff as I've been seeing. One new thing." Buffy seemed a little hesitant and Lily nudged her with her foot.
"Go on," she encouraged.
"You're not going to like it." She looked at Lily, then stared past her at the cinder block wall. "You were still in the cage--I saw that for an instant, then it was if I was looking through your eyes. Angel was chained to the wall across from you. He looked bad." Buffy hesitated, obviously affected by the memories, and swallowed hard, then continued. "Between the two of you, on the floor, Spike and Drusilla were, um, you know, having sex," she finally spit out.
"Oh."
"You really are the master of understatement!" Buffy said sarcastically.
"Did it look like he was under a spell?" Lily asked hopefully.
"I don't know. Maybe it was symbolic."
"Usually something is symbolic for sex, not the other way around." Lily was beginning to grow depressed, plus she was still tired. She yawned, trying not to think about Spike and Drusilla. After all, there was nothing she could do about it. "How's the research going?"
"No where. I got off because I pointed out that someone should be here to record your nightmare, if you had one, and since it's my house...I'm supposed to take you back with me as soon as it gets dark."
"Good. Wake me up a half an hour before sunset," Lily said as she lay back down.
"Okay."
*****
The whole gang was at the Library when Lily and Buffy arrived shortly after sunset. Willow and Jenny were on the computers; Giles had his nose buried in a book; Xander and Cordelia were reading microfiche of old manuscripts and journals; and Angel was sitting on the steps, flipping through Parapovich's journal, as if hoping something new would jump out at him.
Giles looked up at the sound of the door opening and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Oh, good, you're here. Any nightmares?"
"Yeah, Buffy has it on tape."
As Buffy and Giles went into his office to listen to the tape, Lily sat down at a free computer and logged on. She was determined to crack the Vatican security net.
Nearly two hours passed before Lily gave up. She really should continue working on the encryption codes, but she needed to see Spike. Need beat out should where Spike was concerned. A part of her brain had been debating whether or not she should warn him about Buffy's vision of him and Drusilla. The problem was, she'd have to explain the whole thing, and that probably wasn't a good idea.
She stood and stretched, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Any luck?" Jenny asked from her computer terminal two seats away.
Lily shook her head. "No." She glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly ten. "I need to get out of here for a while. Will you still be here around midnight?" she asked Giles.
Giles sighed and took a sip of lukewarm tea. "Undoubtedly."
"I'll come back then and see if I have more luck." Lily headed for the door where she was cut off by Buffy.
"Where are you going?"
"I told Spike I'd meet him. I'll be gone a couple hours." There was a hint of challenge in Lily's voice.
Buffy looked at her for a minute, then relaxed her stance. "Be careful," she warned. "We're getting closer and I don't think you want to wake up in a cage anytime soon."
"He won't hurt me."
Buffy shook her head and walked back over to the pile of stakes she had been sharpening.
Lily left the Library and nearly ran over Xander and Cordelia, who had their hands full of snacks. They both gave her uncomfortable looks.
"I'm...we're glad you're okay," Xander began hesitantly.
"I'm fine. You two are lucky to be alive," Lily scolded.
Cordelia flushed bright red. "We know, we were being stupid..."
"Um, anyway, we want to thank you for rescuing us," Xander said with sincereity.
"Yeah, thank you," Cordelia added her gratitutde.
"Thank me by not wandering through the park in the middle of the night."
"We won't," they both promised and headed into the Library. Lily shook her head at how young they were, then left the school, heading the park. She reached their bench about ten after ten, but there was no sign of Spike. Lily sat down, looking down each path for him. Maybe he had told Drusilla and she hadn't taken it well.
The image from Buffy's nightmare came back and Lily squirmed. Spike loved *her*. She believed that. She had to believe that. Oh God, please don't let this have been a trap.
Despair and doubt overtook her for a moment before Lily got herself under control again.
No, it had to be real. It wasn't a trap. From what she had learned over the years about Drusilla, she was not a female to share even if it meant ruling the world.
Spike was just late for some reason. She had to remember that he loved her, not Drusilla. If he was making love to Drusilla, it had to because of a spell. Or, maybe Buffy was right and it was symbolic.
Restless, Lily rose and began to pace in circles. He would be here soon. He had promised. He loved her.
But, in a corner of Lily's mind, there was a growing doubt...
*****
As night fell on Saturday, Spike strolled towards the warehouse. He wasn't looking forward to the inevitable confrontation with Drusilla, but knew he had to face her. He wasn't sure he'd tell her about Lily yet--he'd have to gauge her mood first--but they needed to talk.
He had conveniently forgotten about the promise she had extracted from him, but on the walk home the memory returned. Drusilla wanted her virgin and wanted him to find her. How was he going to get out of this one?
Spike definitely needed to get her to explain more of her current insane plan before he took such a drastic step. Taking over the world was just a little too vague.
*****
On cautiously entering the warehouse Spike discovered that Drusilla was gone. One of his lackeys told him she had gone out to eat.
Spike took advantage of her absence to shower and change his clothes. As they didn't perspire or secrete any body oils, vampires didn't need to bathe unless they got dirty, but Lily's blood and perfume were all over him. No need to rile Drusilla even more by smelling like another female.
Attired in clean clothes, the old ones stuffed into the bottom of one of his old trunks, Spike returned to the main room. Drusilla was just entering with two male vampires. Each of them dragged a struggling, sobbing young woman. Maybe Drusilla had found her own virgin.
At the sight of Spike, Drusilla shoved her captive towards a couple of other vampires, and sidled over to him, her face reverting to human. "I missed you last night," she purred with a brief kiss.
Before he could kiss her back or touch her, she spun around and spread her arms wide. "I brought you a prezzie."
"What?" he asked in confusion.
"Dinner." Drusilla pointed to each of the girls.
"I'm not exactly *that* hungry, Dru."
"Think of it as a human salad bar." She danced over to one of the girls and held up her arm, feeling the muscle. "This can be the pasta salad." The girl shrieked in fear and Drusilla leaned forward to lick her cheek. "Ummm, tastes Italian."
She moved on to the next young woman who was gamely trying to remain calm. Drusilla sniffed her perfume. "Strawberries. I just love strawberries with scones and clotted cream and tea and little sandwiches with the crusts cut off and apple tarts made from apples fresh from the orchard...." Her voice dwindled away as her eyes took on a far away look.
Slowly, she drifted over to the third girl. The petite blonde was nearly unconscious from terror. "And this one can be chicken salad," Drusilla said decisively, "'cause she looks like a little bird!"
Drusilla clapped her hands and bounced a few times in eager joy. "And after you've had your dinner, you can go get me my virgin!"
"Dru, we need to talk about that," Spike began.
Drusilla swung around with a demonic growl. Her eyes sparked and she stormed over to him. Spike was so stunned at the sight of her so furious that he didn't move, only held up his hands to ward her off.
"You'll do this for me, Spike," she hissed. "If you know what's best for you, you'll get me who I want. There are people in this town--little bitches all of them--who need to pay."
Spike had had enough of her new attitude. It was really pissing him off. "What in Satan's name is wrong with you?"
It happened so fast he was unable to duck the hard, open- handed slap that she delivered with a clawed hand. Stunned, Spike looked back at her, slowly raising his hand to the cheek she had gouged.
"Now see what you made me do," she said with a pout. "You've spoiled dinner."
With a flourish, Drusilla turned and swept across the room to the library. Spike watched her go, feeling more unsure about her than he had in a long time. She was still insane, but strangely sane at the same time. It was very unnerving.
The looks he was getting from his followers and fledglings weren't helping. Before nearly the entire clan, she had taken his power from him. He could see it in their faces. Spike was no longer king.
*****
Ten o'clock came and went. Spike sat in his chair brooding. He had fed on the chicken, then retired to his one-time throne, letting the rest of the clan fight over the other two. Drusilla had closeted herself in the library with Dalton, most likely working on her bloody spell.
He knew Lily had to be worried, but he couldn't face her in the black mood he was in. He had to do as Drusilla asked. His position as leader of the Sunnydale vampires had been stripped from him by one slap of her hand. He could see it in the other vampires' faces, their attitudes. They followed Drusilla now. If he didn't do as she asked, they would turn on him in a human's heartbeat.
But doing as she said...He couldn't face Lily for that reason either.
*****
An hour later Spike finally accepted that he had to do this. Until he could get his full strength back, his survival in the clan depended upon remaining in Drusilla's favor. They would accept him as their leader only if she allowed it. Telling her about Lily now was out of the question. The selfish side of his demon would not allow him to sacrifice himself for their love...no matter how much he wanted to do so.
Rising he made his way towards the library, only to find his path impeded by one of his fledglings, a football player from the community college. Spike drew himself up to his full height--which was a full six inches shorter than the behemoth guarding the door--and boldly said, "I want to see Drusilla."
"She don't want to be disturbed."
"Tell her I'm going to need some help capturing her prey."
The football player mulled this over for a minute, then went into the Library. A moment later, Drusilla came out, a happy smile on her face. She walked over to Spike and gently patted his slowly healing cheek.
"Good boy. We'll have a nice celebration when you return victorious."
Spike felt like grabbing her hand and flinging her across the room--the first time he had ever felt like hurting Drusilla out of anger--but he restrained the impulse and gave her a tight smile. "I'll need a few of the boys to help."
"Of course. Otis here will go and," Drusilla said, looking over the assembled clan who were all avidly watching the exchange. "Terrance and James. That should be enough. She's just one human female, after all."
With a growing feeling of impending doom, Spike nodded and gathered up his forces. He did not want to do this. It violated everything he shared with Lily.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
*****
It had been too easy. An hour's search and they had found her, walking with her friends. They had followed the girl and her friends to her house, grabbing her on her doorstep before she could enter. Her friends had moved on already, eager to reach their own homes and escape the danger of the night. Moving silently, more swiftly than humans, the vampires had been able to use the hedges and trees to conceal their movements. As she had turned up her driveway, they had been waiting in the dark shadows by the door.
A tap on the head and she was their's.
Spike had brought Drusilla her virgin. At least he assumed she was a virgin. He hadn't been in the mood to try any of the usual ways to find out. If she wasn't, tough shit.
On their arrival at the warehouse, Drusilla had whisked the girl away to some new hiding place. She didn't inform Spike of its location, and he didn't see her doing so anytime soon.
"I'll be back in just a little while, sweet, and then we'll celebrate your success. You were a very good boy," she crooned nauseatingly before sweeping out of the warehouse with her prize.
With absolutely no desire to celebrate, Spike left soon after and began to wander aimlessly around Sunnyhell. It was after midnight. He was sure that Lily had given up on waiting for him, but he avoided the park all the same. He couldn't face her. She was very perceptive and he couldn't hide this from her. She would know that he had done something much worse than killing an innocent. And for such petty reasons.
Guilt, a close kin to remorse, was even harder to deal with than its cousin.
*****
At midnight Lily returned to the Library. Totally depressed, left wondering if her budding relationship with Spike was over or if Drusilla had killed him, she definitely was not in the mood to research, but *she* kept her promises.
Although the lights were on, the Library was empty. Through the glass in the door, Lily could make out two people in the office--Giles and Jenny. The teenagers must have gone home.
Loathe to disturb the two--after all, anyone could see the sparks that flew between them--Lily sat down at the computer and logged back on to the Vatican secure site. She was determined to break the encryption codes--it had become something of an obsession.
*****
In an undisclosed location--yet another of the many abandoned buildings in Sunnydale--Drusilla stood gazing into the cage suspended from the ceiling. She had had it moved from the warehouse--it was perfect for her captive.
High above her, through a skylight in the ceiling, the sliver of moon shown down, bathing the unconscious prisoner in the cage in silver light. Drusilla began to smile, then twirl around in joy. Her plan was coming together. Five more nights and the world would be her's.
Taking a knife from one of her followers, she reached through the bars of the cage and lopped off a lock of hair. Unpinning one of the girl's barrettes, she hooked the lock of hair in it, then tucked it into a pocket of her skirt.
Now, if she could just figure out what she was supposed to do with this virgin's blood.
*****
Shortly before half past two, Jenny tiptoed out of the now darkened office. She gave Lily a surprised look, then joined her at the table. "I didn't think you'd return," she said in a quiet voice.
Lily responded quietly but also very shortly. "I keep my word."
Jenny sensed her bad mood. "Oh, that doesn't sound good."
Lily sighed and turned away from the computer, rubbing the back of her neck. Jenny gave her a sympathetic look and Lily responded with a rueful smile. "Spike didn't show up. I don't know if it's typical vampire fickleness or if Drusilla did something to him." Worry crept into her voice during the last phrase.
"I'm sorry," Jenny said sincerely.
"Thanks. Well, I can't really do anything about either one right now, so I thought I'd spend some quality time with the Vatican."
"You having any luck?"
"I think so. It's very complicated, but that's to be expected when you have a kazillion dollars to spend on the very best. Is Giles asleep?"
Jenny nodded. "Finally. I've been trying to get him to zonk out for the last two hours. He'll do no one any good if he's wasted on Thursday."
"He seems very dedicated."
"That's a nice way of saying obsessed," Jenny said with a laugh.
Lily laughed softly with her. "We all have our obsessions. My current one seems to be decoding this system."
"I was a little surprised to find you so proficient. I guess I've always thought of vampires as being stuck in the past."
"A lot are, but I've always loved new technology. I've owned a personal computer since the late '70s. My baby at home has every bell and whistle I could think of and a few things I designed myself. It gives me something to do when I'm not hunting vampires. Through a modem I'm able to manage my estates and financial accounts."
Jenny patted the computer affectionately. "Yeah, they are useful things."
Lily nodded then gave Jenny a rather hesitant look. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but how did you get caught up in all this? I mean, I was very surprised to find so many people who know the identity of the Slayer--it's just not done--but a computer teacher?"
"I'm also a techno-pagan. Last Spring Willow scanned a demon onto the computer and it got loose on the Internet. I helped stop it. After that, I just kind of got caught up in all of this," Jenny answered with a shrug.
"You also have a thing for Giles?"
Jenny blushed and grinned. "When I can get him to unstuffy himself. We've only had two real dates, but I'm hoping after this current crisis, that will change."
"He is cute...and has a nice butt."
They both giggled like schoolgirls for a minute, then returned to their respective projects.
*****
Drusilla returned to the warehouse and looked around for Spike. When she finally realized he was no longer there, anger began to bubble up within her. Undoubtedly he was with the black haired bitch!
Her eyes flashing, she snapped orders to her followers. "Find him!" They all fled, not even bothering to discover whom she meant.
Drusilla stomped around the room for a moment, then left the warehouse herself. She'd tear this town apart if necessary.
*****
3:09 a.m. Nightmare
Buffy woke with a start, burying her involuntary scream in her pillow. Her hands fumbling, she found the recorder and turned it on as dread gripped her heart. She couldn't speak. Her breath caught in her throat and she started to hyperventilate.
Collapsing onto her back, she forced herself to calm, focusing on taking a breath. It was hard, so terribly hard, when all she wanted to do was scream. Finally, she could breathe and burst into tears of fear and loss.
She knew the identity of the person in the cage. She had finally seen the face of the slender girl who whimpered in pain in Lily's arms. They should have known!
Buffy wanted to scream her name from the rooftops. All she could do was sob helplessly.
*****
3:09 a.m. Vision
Drusilla walked through the park, all her thoughts focused on finding and punishing Spike. In mid-step a vision hit her and she crumpled to the ground as it played its course.
The black haired vampiress was in the cage with the little virgin, drinking her blood. The crescent moon rose and Drusilla stood naked beneath it, her body covered in runes of blood. Equally naked and marked the other female was chained to a post and opposite her was Angel, similarly chained. Drusilla glided over to her rival, chanting the word 'Slayer'.
Bewildered, Drusilla shook herself from the vision. Slayer? Her beloved Spike was infatuated with a Slayer? No! Drusilla shook her head in denial. Bad enough that he had turned from her, but to their natural enemy?
Continuing her walk, Drusilla recalled the images in her other visions. A Slayer yet not a Slayer--a Slayer who was now a vampire? Virgin blood combined and changed-- within a vampire? Two dark goddesses--well they both had black hair and she always had wanted to be a goddess.
In the end the dark goddess would die--obviously the bad one--and time would reverse, bringing night into day.
All she had to do was capture the bitch and throw her in the handy-dandy cage.
With a gleeful smile, Drusilla began to skip through the park, not really caring any longer if she found Spike. She had cracked the spell.
*****
3:09 a.m. Intuition
Lily's hands froze on the keyboard as she felt a darkness envelop and invade her. Her fingers curled into fists, the nails digging into her palms. Staring blankly across the room, she knew something terrible had happened.
"Lily!"
Lily came back to herself to find Jenny gently shaking her shoulder.
"Are you okay," Jenny asked, concerned.
"Something terrible has happened. I can feel it." She glanced at the clock on the computer and was not surprised to see that it read 3:09 a.m. She automatically hit a few more keys on the computer, then pushed her chair back, rising to her feet.
"I have to get out of here, try to find out what has happened," she said in an agitated voice as she grabbed her purse.
"Should I wake Rupert?"
Lily shook her head, still fuzzy and distracted. "There's nothing he can do. I'm afraid there's nothing anyone can do."
"Do you know who it is?" Jenny asked in dread.
"No." Lily glanced down at the computer, then back at a worried Jenny. "This program should run for a couple more hours before it either works or not. Hopefully, I'll be back by then." She turned and hurried from the Library.
*****
Finally tired of wandering around the pit of a town, Spike entered the park, certain that he would not run into Lily. He made his way to the center of the park and plopped down on their bench, wondering if he'd ever be able to share it with her again.
He certainly didn't want to celebrate with Drusilla. Maybe he and Lily should just leave Sunnydale. He was charismatic and with her blood, he'd be strong enough to start a new clan in another town. Maybe San Francisco. He had always liked that city.
Of course, first he had to find her, explain and beg her forgiveness. His demon cringed at the thought, but he knew it was necessary if they were to ever have any kind of relationship.
Suddenly, Drusilla skipped into view. Spike groaned and thought vainly for a moment of fleeing, but she caught sight of him.
"There you are, you naughty boy. Mummy's gonna have to spank you," she said with a sadistic grin.
Spike rolled his eyes, growing more and more tired of her treating him like a child. "I did as you asked," he growled.
She gave him a little pout and sat down next to him, cuddling against his side. "Growlly bear. It's all for the best. She's a perfect good little girl."
Spike unsuccessful tried to scoot away from her, but Drusilla clamped tightly onto his arm. "How do you know she's a virgin? There aren't many teenage virgin girls around in this decade."
"I just know," she replied mysteriously. "My little virgin will get nice and wilted just in time to be sacrificed." She smacked her lips in anticipation.
Spike sighed. "I suppose I should go pick up some food for her."
"No, silly, she needs to be wilted. No food. Humans can live without food as long as they have water. The guards have been instructed to take her to the water closet every six hours and she can drink water there. I've thought of everything, luv."
Spike gave her a disgruntled look. "I'd like to know more about this spell, pet."
Drusilla stiffened and pulled away from him. Her tone of voice became very matter-of-fact. "Not just now. I have more work to do." She stood up and took something out of her pocket. When she held it out to Spike he saw that it was a lock of hair in a green plastic clip. He took it hesitantly. "A souvenir. Now, I expect to see you at home soon," she said sternly. "We have a lot of quality time to make up."
With a spin, she strolled off down the path towards the warehouse. Before heading in the opposite direction, Spike looked down at the lock of hair in his hand, then raised it to his nose. It smelled like...innocence.
*****
4:00 a.m. Convergence
Lily had hurried to Buffy's, only to find the girl gone, the house empty. Next she had stopped at Angel's, but, he too was gone or at least wasn't answering the door. After exhausting her two possibilities, she headed for the park, the feeling of dread driving her.
Her feet automatically took her towards the bench. It was empty. Despair overwhelmed her--subconsciously she had prayed he would be there--and she collapsed on the bench, weeping quietly into her hands, her mind whirling.
Had the vampires taken Buffy and Angel? Buffy had been sure it wasn't her in the cage, but prophetic dreams were tricky things. Or had Buffy had another nightmare, one that had driven her from her bed? All Lily knew was that something terrible had happened, something to do with the prophecy.
Suddenly, a scent came to her on the light breeze--Spike. Looking up, tears streaking her pale cheeks, she saw him walking slowly towards her. His shoulders were slumped-- his whole posture indicated that he didn't want to be here. Intuitively Lily knew that whatever had happened, he had been a part of it.
Lily rose to her feet, bracing herself for a fight. If he had come to put her in a cage, she wouldn't go gracefully.
Spike stopped a few feet from her, putting his hands in his pockets, trying silently to indicate to her that he didn't want to fight.
Lily couldn't prevent the emotions she felt from emerging in her voice. She spoke through lips tight with anger. "I waited for you for nearly two hours. I didn't know what to think. Whether you were dead or alive or had just decided that this had all been a fling and you were tired of it."
"I'm not in the mood for another female's nagging right now," Spike snapped, his guilt making him express anger he knew he had no right to feel.
Lily's nostrils flared in response and her hands fisted against her sides. "So, were you too busy kidnapping my friends?"
Surprised, Spike dropped his eyes, his body language shifting from anger to guilt. Lily was stunned and horrified that her snide quip had been accurate. Her heart constricted and pain slammed through her. Tears welled in her eyes as she truly accepted the fact that she was in love with a monster.
"Who?" she whispered brokenly. Suddenly, she flung herself at him, pounding her fists against his chest. "Who?" she demanded. "Who?" she screamed.
Finally, Spike caught her wrists and jerked her against him, trying to calm her down. "Quiet. I had no choice," he answered harshly, through gritted teeth.
"Liar!" Lily glared at him, snarling in fury and pain. Oh God, why hadn't she just killed him when the first opportunity had presented itself?
Spike looked away from her angry eyes and pinned her hands behind her back in one of his. His other hand reached into his coat pocket and withdrew something. The scent of apples and soap wafted towards Lily and her eyes left his face to look at his hand. She moaned at the sight of the lock of hair.
"No, not her...Oh, Lord, why?" she pleaded as the tears that burned her eyes slipped down her trembling cheeks.
Suddenly, a guttural, furious yell came from the left, accompanied by running feet. The next thing Lily knew, both she and Spike were knocked off their feet. As they tumbled to the ground, Spike automatically released her and Lily rolled away. Sweeping her hair from her eyes she was stunned to see Buffy kneeling on top of Spike, repeatedly pounding his head into the dust.
"Where is she? What have you done with her? I'll kill you!" Buffy screamed harshly.
At the sight of a stake being raised, Lily threw herself at Buffy, grabbing her arm. Buffy lashed out, but Lily was stronger and held on, preventing her from plunging the stake into Spike's heart.
"You bitch! I knew you'd side with him."
Lily heard the hysteria in Buffy's voice and tried to control her own anger. "Buffy, listen to me. He can help us find her."
Buffy turned her head to look at Lily. Her voice shook as she spoke. "You know what he did and still you take his side?" Lily felt her own sorrow erode the anger and she reached one hand out to Buffy's tear-streaked face, trying to comfort the younger woman.
"BITCH!"
The blow sent Lily reeling backwards, her hair and arms flying. She grunted at the pain in her nose which had broken under Buffy's fist and struggled to her feet in time to see Spike take advantage of Buffy's confusion and flip her off of him. He rolled, just missing the stake, which ended up buried in the ground.
Dabbing at the blood streaming from her nose, Lily hurried over to Spike. She pulled him to his feet and shoved him behind her, raising her fists to protect him even when a part of her wanted to stake him herself.
Buffy didn't make a move to rise, instead curling herself into a sobbing ball. Compassion filled Lily and she dropped to her knees. Slowly Buffy allowed herself to be drawn into Lily's arms as Lily murmured calming, meaningless phrases.
*****
In a darkened room across town, the object of everyones' concern, finally awakened with a groan. Pain lashed through the girl's skull and gingerly she probed the growing bump on the back of her head. Managing to open her eyes, she gasped at the sight of the metal grill she lay upon and the concrete floor three feet below. Wildly, ignoring the stabs of pain, she looked up and saw the sides of the cage. Her heart leapt into her throat and terror filled her as she drew herself up onto her knees, wrapping her arms around her shaking body.
Suddenly, a woman appeared before her--Drusilla, smiling evilly. "Hello, my pet. Welcome to my home away from home. I hope the accommodations are to your liking. If not, don't worry; you won't be here long." She ended her speech with a cackle worthy of any wicked witch out of a child's nightmares.
In the cage, Willow swallowed convulsively and blinked repeatedly, her mind going blank as the terror overwhelmed her.
End Chapter 11