Love In Vein: Book Three - Chapter 9

The cool water splashing against her face didn’t do Buffy as much good as she’d thought it would. She continued to cup handfuls of it, drenching herself in the hopes that she’d feel fresher.

Every time she closed her eyes, she could see the angel. It was still eating Cerberus’ heart.

Something told her angels weren’t supposed to do such atrocious acts.

Rubbing her face with a small towel, she heaved a sigh into it and then stared at herself in the mirror. She looked pale, her skin washed out from being sick. Her mind was buzzing with a million questions, all of which she wanted to put to Giles immediately but there was something she had to do first.

She had to see Spike.

She had to see if he was better now that Cerberus was dead.

Slipping her plum coloured jumper on, she wrapped herself up and began to make her way to the lower levels. She didn’t care about having to come alone. She actually preferred to be able to spend time with Spike without having to worry if people were listening in on her, or if people were judging her.

Especially tonight.

Tonight she was going to feed Spike. She was convinced that the strength in her blood was what he needed to help bring him back from wherever he was and even if it didn’t, it would help reaffirm the bond they shared.

She walked down the dark, damp corridors, her arms instinctively wrapping around her upper body as she attempted to keep herself warm. As soon as Spike was marginally better, she was going to get him out of here. She was sick of having to see him living in such poor conditions. If Giles refused her wish, then she would just have to move down here with Spike.

“Miss.” The man on the other side of the door greeted her for the first time and she smiled at him.

She waited impatiently for him to open the door and then watched as he opened the other one, the one that led to Spike. She was about to go straight in when she stopped, her foot barely an inch from the threshold.

She turned to face the man and hesitated for a few seconds as she tried to think of something she could say, something that would help break the ice between them.

He wasn’t a well-built man. He was only the same height as her and if anything he looked younger. He had sandy hair that was a mess, sticking straight up and slightly reminiscent of Angel’s. She wondered why the Council had placed someone so young, weak and inexperienced down here to guard Spike.

She was stunned that she’d never noticed how young he was before, but then she’d never paid him any attention before either.

“How’s he been?” She said and saw him peer into the cell at the vampire in question.

“He’s been good today…I think he’s getting there, recovering. When he first came to us, he was…well…I’ve never seen a vampire like him.”

“That’s because there isn’t one…he’s unique. He’s mine.” Buffy’s tone was distant as she watched Spike with a smile.

“Yours?” The boy sounded confused.

Buffy revealed the marks on her neck. “Mine…and I’m his.”

“But you’re the Slayer…” He looked even more confused.

“And?” She shrugged and then realised that he hadn’t known about her and Spike. She wondered how many other Council members hadn’t known about her relationship with Spike before she’d arrived. “Listen…the short of it is that we’re together, hence the not killing him.”

“I just thought you were after information.”

Buffy stifled a laugh. He’d clearly not been watching them that closely when they were in the cell alone together. Either that or he thought she was trying to kiss the information out of Spike.

“Do you have any?” She watched him shake his head. “How long have you worked here?”

“About five months.” He said proudly.

“And they assigned you to watch Spike?” She looked incredulous. “Are they trying to get you killed?”

“No…I volunteered.”

Buffy was stunned into silence. He’d volunteered to watch Spike? What kind of person volunteered to watch an insane vampire who was liable to escape and rip your throat out? She recalled what he’d said earlier and how fascinated he’d looked by Spike. Sneaking a glance at him, she caught him staring at her mate as though he was studying him.

Did he want to be Spike?

She rolled her eyes. Spike would love that. He’d find it highly amusing. She could almost hear him chuckling now.

“I better get his food. He’ll need feeding soon.” The boy’s voice brought her out of her thoughts.

“You feed him, too?” She looked stunned. There was definitely something wrong in the head with this boy now. What kind of kid risked their life on a daily basis to not only watch, but feed a vampire? Not just any old vampire either, but a vampire that wouldn’t think twice about just killing him for the sake of tasting fresh blood. She knew what Spike got like if he was restricted to a diet of animal blood for too long. Lydia’s arm was testament to how dangerous it made him and Spike had been eating pig blood for a month now.

He nodded.

“Not anymore you don’t. I’ve taken over that duty.” She said and noticed that his eyes fell to her hands.

He raised his brows as he saw they were empty. The Slayer was going to feed Spike, but brought no blood with her. He raised his head quickly as he realised how she was going to feed him and was about to protest over being told he was no longer responsible for feeding Spike.

The cell door slammed shut in his face.

He peered through the window, watching Buffy as she walked directly over to Spike.

“Hey gorgeous.” Buffy said quietly as Spike slipped into vampire guise. She smiled wide at him, showing him that he didn’t scare her. She knew he was being all show.

Kneeling down in front of him, she ignored his low growls as she inspected the manacles, checking that they weren’t digging into his skin anymore and that the padding was still there. She checked the bandages that were tied tightly around his fingertips and felt satisfied when she saw they were all still in place.

“How have we been today?” She asked, knowing she wouldn’t get a verbal response but hoping for a sign of recognition.

He purred quietly.

“Good to hear.” She smiled, letting her fingers run over his ridged brows.

Her eyes followed them as she thought about what she’d seen tonight. They’d got rid of one danger, only to find another, much worse one waiting for them. She hadn’t even been the one to get the kill in. The new big bad had seen to that.

“I saw an angel today.” She said the words slowly, not taking her eyes off her fingers. She just wanted to get it all out in the open, everything she’d seen and all the thoughts that were crowding her brain. “We found Cerberus.”

Spike seemed to recognise what she was saying, his head jerking up as he met her eyes.

“Thought that would get your attention.” She smiled. “I saw what you did…I knew it was you. You wanted to protect people from Cerberus, not protect yourself. You knew something was happening and you wanted to warn the Council, but they thought you just wanted protection. It’s gone now. Giles and I managed to kill another of its heads and then…well…then this angel appeared. Only it turns out it was demonic too and now I have to kill an angel.”

He blinked slowly, his head tilting slightly as he regarded her.

Buffy felt a chill run up her spine. There was something so familiar about what he’d done, something that reminded her awfully of the angel.

“Can you kill angels, Spike? Is that allowed? Would it damn me to kill it, even though it’s gone evil? I don’t even know where to start. Surely they’re indestructible?” She looked down at the ring on her finger and his left hand, the one he used to wear it on. “Like you used to be.”

She saw his fingers flex and knew he was looking at the ring.

“I can’t let you have it yet…Giles would kill me. It’s still yours, like I am.” Buffy shrugged and stared at his hand. “We’re both waiting for you.”

Wanting to be close to him again and to bring everything back to how it used to be, she drew the collar of her sweater aside.

His eyes narrowed immediately on her neck and her heart began to accelerate, pounding hard against her ribs as anticipation rose up in her stomach. She knew that it wouldn’t be liked it used to be, that he still wouldn’t recognise her for who she really was or instantly go back to being the Spike she knew, but it was going to bring them closer together and that’s what she needed right now.

To be close to him.

Having shown him her intentions, she took the small silver key out of her pocket and unlocked his left hand. She bit back a squeal as he grabbed her around he waist, nuzzling impatiently against her neck as he pulled her flush against him.

“Hang on…dammit.” She grumbled and pushed against him as she struggled to unlock the manacle still restraining his right hand. Pulling back, she looked straight into his eyes and gave him a stern look. “Play nice…or Giles won’t let me do this again.”

Her eyes fell to his mouth as he licked his lips. She could feel his whole body trembling as he drew the neck of her jumper to one side with his left hand and fixed his gaze on her exposed throat.

She swallowed hard.

Spike cocked his head to one side inquisitively and she knew that he was listening to the pounding of her heart as it thundered against her ribs. She took hold of his right hand and placed it against her chest, letting him feel what he was listening to.

He sneered wickedly.

Buffy was tempted to roll her eyes but she kept still as he leaned towards her, his lips coursing over the marks on her neck as he tasted her skin. She closed her eyes as she felt him dart his tongue out, tracing the curve of her throat and letting his incisors drag against her.

A sharp second of pain later and he was as close as he could get, his teeth sinking deep into her neck and his right arm wrapping around her, restraining her as he fed. She kept still against him, not wanting to risk angering him by moving into a more comfortable position. She winced as he squeezed her tighter still and she could feel how forcibly he was drawing her blood from her.

She just hoped he wouldn’t go too far. Bruises she could cover up, severe bite wounds she couldn’t.

She let her hands gently stroke the back of his head, her fingers playing with the mess of curls as he continued to feed. His speed surprised her. She had expected him to be gulping back what she was offering him, but instead he was now drinking slowly, deliberately slowly.

Buffy pressed a soft kiss to his ear as she tried not to tense up. She bit her tongue to stop herself from wincing or flinching, not wanting to show that he was hurting her in any way, not wanting to scare him. The pain was nothing compared to the pleasure that came with the feeling of his fangs piercing her neck, and the delight that came from having him so close to her again.

She almost protested when his teeth left her, his tongue lapping up the blood that had escaped and sealing the wound.

As he released her, her hand moved to her neck, her fingers tracing over the wound and her lips curving into a soft smile when she felt that he hadn’t bitten her as deeply as she’d thought.

“See…not so bad…and it means you get to do it again.” She said and smiled as he shook his demon away. Her hand reached up, her fingers lightly caressing his cheek as she let her eyes lock with his.

The silence seemed to stretch into infinity as she looked into them, feeling the unrelenting grip he had on her waist and seeing his unwillingness to let her go.

She blinked slowly.

So did he.

“Buffy…” His voice was hoarse as he whispered her name and she felt her emotions hitch in her throat, her feelings overwhelming her as she was moved to tears.

She must have imagined it.

He didn’t just say her name, didn’t look her straight in the eye and say her name.

“Spike?” Her voice was shaking badly as she responded, not daring to hope that he’d say anything more. She was satisfied with just hearing her name on his lips.

Nobody said it quite like he did.

“Buffy…” He blinked at her and tears slid down her cheeks. “Don’t fade away.”

“I won’t, I promise.” She flung her arms around him and was surprised when he responded, holding her tightly and burying his face in her neck.

She knew he wouldn’t stay long. Something at the back of her mind told her not to get her hopes up but it was too late, her heart was already running away with her. It was a good sign. It was the best yet. She knew he would come back to her and, little by little, he was.

She just wished she knew why he was like he was.

Pulling back, she smoothed the hair from his face as she saw his eyes were closed, the potent Slayer blood she’d offered him working like a sleeping draught. She curled up against him, arranging his arms around her and following him into slumber.

She’d get the answers she was looking for.

She’d find out what was going on in Spike’s head and she’d bring him back.

She’d bring him back to her.

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