Author: Kay Tee maybeshedoes@yahoo.com
Distribution: Take it, but tell me where so I can visit.
Rated: Very hard R. Sexual situations. Graphic abuse. Murder. Angeltorture.
Category: Series
Original Character Warning
Spoilers: Lots for 'What's My Line 2.'
Disclaimer: In my dreams I'm Joss, but during the day I have to face the cold hard truth-- I'm a hack who steals characters. But I'm not giving them back! Or I am, just don't sue me, all I have are speeding tickets and student loans.
Summary: Spike can't take care of Druscilla all by himself, so he gets himself a slave to help. How does Eve deal when she learns that Druscilla's cure will kill Angel?
Author's notes: I know that Buffy put Kendra in a cab to the airport and then Druscilla carried Spike out of the church. I didn't like that though, and switched the order of the events.
More: The book, Physical Rehabilitation: Assessment and Treatment, is edited by Susan B. O'Sullivan and Thomas J. Schmitz. I really love Amazon.com.
***
Spike tromped down the stairs to his bedroom. They had Druscilla's cure, the boys were out looking for Angel, and everything was just damn good.
Across the room, Eve was ironing a dress that had been one of Dru's favorites before Prague. The boom box at the slave's feet was playing 'Should I Stay or Should I Go,' by The Clash. Spike danced over to Eve, his hair falling onto his forehead as he jumped up and down.
Eve grinned at her master. Ever since Dalton had translated the text, Spike had been almost cheerful... it was a little weird.
Arriving at the ironing board, Spike handed Eve a set of written instructions. "Dalton says we have to 'anoint the sire.' Basically, we, well, you wash Angel with this enchanted soap," he handed Eve a packet of purple powder. "I need you to set up a tub upstairs. And some chains. Wouldn't want Angel to escape."
"Angel?" Eve asked uncertainly. After Spike decided to hire the Order of Taraka to kill Buffy, Eve had stopped going to visit her only friend. She hoped that he would remember the last time she had started avoiding him, put two and two together, and protect his girlfriend.
"Yeah," Spike studied Eve's face. "Dru's sire is the key to her cure."
Eve nodded. "Oh," she said quietly.
"Do you know him?" Spike asked.
Eve shrugged. "Dru and I ran into him when she was out hunting, remember?"
Spike watched Eve try to suppress the emotions that flickered across her face. "Right then," he said grimly, turning to walk away.
After he left the room, Eve just stared at the wall. So Angel was going to die. She couldn't wrap her mind around the idea. She also couldn't do anything to stop it.
***
Eve tried the knob to the bedroom she shared with Spike and Druscilla. It was locked, which probably meant that Dru was sleeping.
Eve yawned. She had set up everything according to Spike's instructions. The only change was that she had to put Angel in one of the offices instead of the bathroom, because there was no sturdy place to hang the chains from in the shower. There were pipes of course, but Eve didn't really like the idea of having to clean up the flood after Angel broke free.
She lay down against the wall near Dru's door, and fell asleep instantly.
***
Angel could barely get his feet under him. Spike's minions had dragged him through the sewers, and up into a warehouse. They had passed through two buildings, walked briskly through the barely shaded alleyways, and ducked into the basement of a third warehouse. From there they had walked a short distance through the tunnels (Angel suspected they were crossing the street), and came up in yet another warehouse. They dragged Angel down a long hallway, but stopped when Spike did.
Angel looked where Spike was looking. On the floor outside one of the many doors, lay Eve. She was dreaming fretfully, and her lips seemed to be forming words. Spike scowled at what he thought he saw Eve saying, and kicked her in the gut.
The slave bolted upright and blinked a few times before looking at the group of vampires before her. Angel noted that her eyes didn't even pause as they passed him. So Eve knew what was going to happen. When she stopped visiting, Angel had worried about her, then remembered the last time that Eve stopped visiting, and started worrying about Buffy. He had never thought that he might be in danger. Why didn't Eve warn him?
The girl was on her feet, whispering to Spike. He shrugged and said, "Lead the way then."
Eve lead the group to a lift, which went all the way up to the top floor of the warehouse. They followed her into an office. The minions kept their hold on Angel while Spike tested the chains that Eve had hung. "Take his shirt off," Spike ordered. The minions obeyed, and then locked Angel into the chains. Spike watched, waving them away when they finished.
"You all set here, luv?" Spike asked.
Eve nodded. "Yeah, I got it."
Spike walked out into the hallway, but remained within hearing distance.
"What's going on?" Angel demanded.
Eve grunted as she moved a tub she had prepared with the magical powder, pushing it closer to where Angel was hanging. "I think they're going to kill you... it's part of a ceremony that will make Dru strong again."
"Eve," Angel insisted, "you don't want that to happen. Once Druscilla has her strength back, she'll probably kill you."
Eve smiled ironically. "That's what Spike keeps saying." She studied Angel for a minute before dropping to the floor and taking his shoes off.
"What are you doing?" Angel asked nervously.
"I'm 'anointing the sire.'" Eve answered unhelpfully.
Angel struggled in his chains as Eve rose and unbuckled his belt. "I didn't know about this 'til a few hours ago," she explained.
"Eve." Angel had nothing to say, but he knew he had to stop this. He had to get away and Eve was his only hope. "Eve, help me."
"How?" She tugged his pants down, respectfully ignoring parts of his anatomy.
"Unchain me. I'll take you with me... give you a place to stay. I can even send you back to Maine."
Eve chuckled half-heartedly. "You know I can't."
"Why not? Why are you so loyal to them? What did Spike and Druscilla do to deserve your love?" Angel felt very awkward in his nudity, but tried to be his usual tough self. Only, Eve had never really seen him as tough, so he was having problems.
"I can't unchain you because I don't have the key," Eve explained patiently, pushing an empty tub towards Angel. "Pick your feet up."
He stared at the girl incredulously. She expected him to cooperate?
Eve didn't mind when Angel refused to move. She just knelt down and bent his legs, placing his feet in the empty tub. Standing up, she looked around and grabbed a chair, placing it behind Angel. The vampire twisted in his chains, trying to figure out what was going to happen to him.
"Close your eyes," Eve ordered. Using a large cup, she scooped up some of the enchanted soap water and stood on the chair. Angel closed his eyes just before the lukewarm liquid was poured over his hair
Eve massaged the soap into his scalp silently. When she was done, she dipped the cup into a second basin, filled with regular water, and rinsed Angel off.
Angel let Eve wash his face and neck while he tried to formulate a plan. Her gentle hands felt good on his back; he hadn't been bathed by another person since he was a small human child.
When Eve was washing the vampire's arms, he finally spoke again. "You could help me. Find Buffy, tell her where they're bringing me."
Eve sighed. She didn't want Angel to die, and she didn't want him to think that she was unwilling to save him, but she felt helpless. "The last time I saw Buffy, she locked me in a cage, and then I shot her friend in the leg. I don't think she'd listen to anything I have to say."
"No. She knows what you are now. She'd listen to you." Angel insisted.
Eve considered this. If she could get away... but no.
"She knows? You told her?" She changed the subject, rinsing her captive's arms.
Angel tried to look over his shoulder, but he was still very weak, and he could barely hold himself up. "Giles told her. She said you two had a talk."
Eve nodded. "Makes sense. I never told him it was a secret."
"Is it?" Angel suddenly realized that Eve had changed the subject.
She hopped off her chair, walking around to face Angel. Using a soap sponge and a water sponge, she began to wash his chest and stomach. Very quietly, she asked, "If I wanted to talk to Buffy... where would I find her?"
Angel searched Eve's face, but she wouldn't meet his eyes.
"All right." They both looked up when Spike sauntered into the room. "I think I've heard quite enough of this." Spike casually pulled Eve back by her hair and swung her into the wall. She fell to the floor and stared up at her master in fear. Now she was sure she was going to die.
Spike looked down at his slave in disappointment, but said nothing. He backed up to the door and shut it. Leaning against the wall, he lit a cigarette, offering it to Eve. Timidly, she reached for it, but at the last moment, he lunged for the girl, shoving the lit end into her face. Eve turned away, unable to stifle a cry as the cigarette burned her ear.
Angel struggled uselessly, calling for Spike, but was wholly ignored.
"What do you think you're doing?" Spike demanded. "You know him? And the slayer? And the watcher. I bet you know the whole gang by now."
Angel stilled. Spike knew that Giles was Buffy's watcher? He had obviously been doing his research. Angel wondered what else his grandchilde knew.
Eve whimpered as Spike grabbed her injured ear and pulled her face towards him. He gazed at her tear-streaked face with contempt. He looked as if he was about to say something, but instead he tossed Eve away. "Well, finish him up." Spike leaned back against the wall as Eve climbed unsteadily to her feet. She picked up her sponges from where they had been dropped and worked on Angel's legs.
She moved his feet for him, taking them out of the now-full basin that he had been standing in. Eve moved the tub away and sat down, carefully washing Angel's feet and ankles. Her fingers moved between his toes, and Angel had to close his eyes. Sure, he was going to die at nightfall, but this luxury was the perfect finale to a strange life.
Eve finished too soon, and Angel opened his eyes to watch her move as she toweled him off. Eve met his eyes briefly in a silent apology, and Angel thought he should say something.
Spike beat him to it. "Eve, you missed a spot."
Eve turned toward her master, confused. Spike nodded at Angel's partial erection.
Eve was startled to see how she'd affected her friend, but hid it well as she reached for her sponges again.
"Oh no," Spike shook his head and said seriously. "Those are delicate bits. Use your hands."
Eve turned her face away from her master, hiding her confusion. She took a deep breath and cupped her hands in the enchanted soap water.
"Spike-" Angel started, but was interrupted.
"I think I feel like gagging you." Spike walked up to Angel and casually punched him in the chin. He turned, looking for something to use as a gag. Eve helpfully offered him a cloth she hadn't needed.
Once Angel was gagged, Spike gestured to Eve to resume her work. She returned to the soap basin, cupped her hands in the water, and poured it over Angel's crotch. Glancing at Spike, she hesitantly worked the soap into a lather, pushing it between Angel's legs. His erection had grown, and Eve feared what Spike would do next. She was pretty sure Angel didn't need to be whole when the ritual to save Druscilla was performed, and she knew Spike liked to cut bits of people off.
Spike didn't say a word until after Eve had rinsed and dried Angel. He was trying to decide if these two looked like they were sleeping together.
Once Angel was clean, Eve reached for his pants. She froze when Spike's authoritarian voice ordered, "Stop."
Eve turned to Spike, dread and confusion clear on her face. "He's looking a little unsatisfied, don't you think?" The blond asked, grinning when realization, surprise, and discomfort passed in quick succession across Eve's features.
Angel mumbled ineffectively into his gag.
"What..." Eve closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, she looked directly into Spike's clear blue eyes and asked, "What do you want me to do?"
He grinned, walking slowly towards the slave. She stood passively as he ran a hand over her cheek, down her neck, and cupped one of her breasts. When Spike pulled Eve's shirt up, she raised her arms, but made no other move. Spike fingered her belt for a moment before unbuckling it. He pulled it slowly through the loopholes, holding Eve's gaze the entire time. Once he freed her belt, the jeans slid down low on her hips, but Spike made no move to push them down. "Suck him off," he ordered, nodding at Angel.
Eve gulped and turned to her friend, falling to her knees before him. Angel made a few more unintellible protests as Spike snapped the belt, raining blows down on Eve's back.
***
Eve stood on the stairs as Spike gave Angel to Druscilla 'to play with' for a few hours until sunset. The blond turned to go, gripping Eve's arm, when Druscilla instructed, "Leave her. She wants to watch." She grinned maniacally, and Spike hesitated. But as usual, Druscilla got just what she wanted.
Spike released Eve, growling, "I'll be right upstairs."
"Sit," Druscilla commanded. Eve obeyed, shifting uncomfortably on her sore backside as she tried to make herself comfortable.
The vampiress turned her attention away from Eve, focusing wholly on her sire.
***
Eve thought she was going to throw up. No, she was sure of it. She could actually smell Angel's flesh as it sizzled off of him. Just as she began to look around for a bucket or a trashcan to puke in, the door to their room opened and Spike stomped down the stairs. "That's it then, off to church."
"He makes pretty colors," Druscilla cooed, admiring the wounds she had inflicted on the weakened vampire.
"I'll see him die soon enough. I've never been much for the pre-show," Spike said confidently, leaning in to kiss Druscilla.
"Too bad," Angel interrupted.
Spike ignored the dark-haired vampire's words and began untying him.
"That's what Druscilla likes best, as I recall." Angel could barely wheeze the words out.
"What's that s'pposed to mean?" Spike asked.
Eve shut her eyes. Why was he taking the bait? From what Angel had told her, he was the king of messing with people's heads. Whatever he was up to, Spike should know enough to avoid getting drawn into it.
"Ask her," Angel looked up into Druscilla's eyes, "she knows what I mean."
If it was at all possible, Spike's body tensed up further. He turned to his lover, "Well?"
Druscilla ignored Spike and shhh'd her sire. "Gruff. Bad dog."
Angel was only encouraged. "You should let me talk to him, Dru. Looks like your boy could use some pointers." He turned to Spike. "She likes to be teased."
Eve shook her head. Spike looked like he was about ready to forget the whole ritual and just kill Angel immediately.
"Keep your hole shut," the blond ordered. Eve wondered why he didn't gag Angel again.
"Take care of her, Spike," Angel taunted. "The way she touched me just now, I can tell when she's not satisfied."
Spike reached for Angel with vampiric speed, clutching the older vampire's neck and hauling him to his feet. "I said shut up!" Spike shouted.
Unperturbed, Angel continued to provoke the blond. "Or maybe you two don't have the fire we had."
"That's enough," Spike hissed, breaking the wooden bed frame, creating a makeshift stake.
As he raised his arm to kill Angel, Eve and Druscilla both protested, "Spike, no!"
He brought his arm down and Eve sighed in relief. She had never had to see a friend die, and she certainly didn't want to start now.
She stood to help Druscilla change into her dress.
***
Eve paced the length of the bedroom. She was locked inside, waiting for Spike and a now-strong Druscilla to return from performing their ritual and dispose of her. It had been a long day, and a longer night. Of course, Eve didn't mind; if it was going to be her last night, she wanted it to be long.
The door to the bedroom burst open, and Druscilla walked down the stairs, carrying a severely injured Spike in her arms. She laid her lover on the bed and turned to Eve. "Fix him."
Eve looked at Spike, then at Druscilla. Quickly surmising the situation, she explained, "Dru, he needs blood. A lot of it. I need you to go-"
"No," Druscilla said flatly, and then leaned in to whisper to Eve, "I'm going outside to play."
Eve's first instinct was to follow the vampiress and watch out for her, but the slave had a feeling that all the old rules had changed. "First, I need you to-" Eve stopped, flabbergasted, as Druscilla swept out of the room.
The slave turned to the bed where Spike lay. She removed his jacket to examine his wounds. There were some fairly serious burn scars, but nothing that wouldn't go away with the help of Spike's vampire healing. Eve couldn't understand why the blond was even unconscious. She slapped his face gently a few times, with no effect.
Glancing at the stairs, Eve wondered if Dru went to get blood for Spike, or if she was out 'playing.' Eve stalled, washing and wrapping Spike's wounds, but the vampiress did not return.
***
Okay, Eve trembled slightly, she was going to go get some blood for Spike.
She exited the warehouse timidly; she had not gotten permission to leave. The air was unnaturally light on Eve's shoulders as she hurried to Angel's apartment. She was outside on her own, and she could do anything.
Eve stopped abruptly outside the apartment building. Buffy and her crowd of friends were... What were they doing? Then Eve saw the body. Angel. They were carrying him into the apartment. Angel was still alive.
Eve turned away, heading back to the warehouse. She felt like she was going to be sick; her legs shook and her lower lip trembled. A block away from her home, Eve sat down on the curb and broke into loud sobs.
When she managed to get herself together, she descended back into the bedroom she shared with Spike and Dru.
Eve had planned to take Angel's store of blood to Spike, but that was clearly not an option. She wished she had thought to ask her friend where he bought his blood. But Angel didn't talk about his present situation very much. He mostly talked about his past, giving Eve minute details about the way he had hunted-- seducing his prey, luring them into a private place, and draining the life out of them.
Eve glanced around the bedroom. Druscilla had obviously not returned, and Spike was starting to look ashen. Without blood, he had an hour at the most before he was dust.
Clearing her mind of all rational thought, Eve undressed, putting on the white slip-dress that Druscilla had been wearing earlier in the day. The slave applied her mistress's make-up, and shook her hair out of its ponytail. She ran her fingers through the blonde locks for a moment, and then slid into her sneakers. She only needed one more thing...
In Druscilla's little box of treasures, there was a tiny silver knife. Eve only hesitated for a second before snatching the weapon and using it to put her hair into a half ponytail. Taking a deep breath, she rushed out of the warehouse.