28 March 1999 (con't.)

As you imagine, I was shocked to find the legendary William the Bloody AKA Spike in front of me. There had been no reports of him living on the Hellmouth. In fact, the last I heard, he was in Brazil. I tend to keep myself updated on the locations of powerful demons.

I immediately put Willow behind me. Spike was known to be unpredictable and deadly. The Savior's death is something I thought he would probably aspire for. We bantered for a while. Most demons, as you know, enjoy a good exchange before a fight. It gives you a way to distinguish one opponent from another in the long string of opponents most of us have. (Demons do so enjoy fighting each other.)

It was during this exchange that Willow heard of my *fight for the good,* shall we say? I have no doubt that she will research my history on her beloved computer. I have tried to hide my past from her. She doesn't need to know what I did...how many I killed and tortured for vengeance. She has burdens that weigh down her shoulders enough without adding my troubles to them.

Then, the Savior asked why Spike was in Sunnydale, again. His admission was rather shocking. He had heard about the Savior and figured out that Willow was the one. He also revealed the information that there was a bounty for the Savior. I had hoped I would have more time to train Willow before something like that happened.

But then something even more shocking happened. Spike offered his protection. He had no desire to see the world perish... At least, that was the reason he gave. I suspect that there is something more behind his decision but I chose not to pry. I knew through my contacts that Drusilla, his consort, had perished. Maybe he needed a new person to take care of. Maybe he likes Willow. Hell, I don't know.

I digress. I shouldn't question his motives. In light of the new developments, Goddess knows that we will need him.

*****

I looked up from my book to watch Spike and Kaleell spar. They had become accustomed to doing that while I studied since Spike had offered his protection. I think that they do it to maintain their sharpness. They get something from fighting each other that they cannot get from me. I'm not strong enough or skilled enough yet to withstand Spike or Kaleell's tactics, but I have made a lot of progress. Or at least, that is what Spike and Kaleell tell me.

It is an amazing sight to watch the two of them duel. Their moves are almost like a choreographed dance, smooth and practiced. Both of them are skilled and swift. There is nothing more mesmerizing. Except for the times that one of them falls, losing the match.

You would think that it would be Kaleell who is the loser of these matches, but that is not true. More often, it is Spike who is loser. It's hilarious. The look on his face when he loses is unforgettable. Spike is used to being the top demon. Very few will challenge one of his reputation, let alone match him in strength and skill, as Kaleell does. One might even dare to say that Kaleell surpasses him, but I will not. Both of them bring things to the table.

With a sigh, I forced myself to go back to reading my book on demons. Kaleell insisted that I familiarized myself with several different types of demons. And the ways to deal with them. I guess it's important... But this book has to be the most uninteresting thing I've ever read. I don't see how Giles digested books like these. Then, a thought came to me and forced me to chuckle softly to myself. Of course, there were always his naughty books that he kept locked up to break the monotony of the dry drivel.

I suddenly heard a thud and looked up to see Spike fall to the ground, hitting his head against a wall. Kaleell quickly moved to the stunned Spike. Flipping him over effortlessly, she sat on his back. Capturing one of his arms, she twisted it painfully. Spike bucked in an attempt to throw her off but Kaleell merely moved in sync with his body.

"Beg for mercy?" Kaleell asked flippantly.

"Never," Spike said. Lightning fast, he turned over and maneuvered so that he was straddling her.

"Mercy?" he asked in the same tone she had used.

Kaleell brought her leg up over his head and hooked it over his neck, showing off her flexibility. She pulled, forcing him down, and rolled out from beneath him. And the battle began again. I rolled my eyes. Those two could go on forever.

"Hey," I called out softly. The two opponents stopped and looked at me. "Save some of that for when we help Buffy."

Kaleell smiled. "You're right." She gestured to my book. "How far have you gotten?"

"Only to the part about the Setians," I replied, crinkling my nose. "They're rather disgusting."

"You have no idea, luv," Spike said, mimicking my expression. "No books can capture their hideous looks. I met up with one not all that long ago. He was one nasty bloke..."

I was soon caught up in Spike's tale. He was a master story teller. Every one of his stories were told with tons of charisma and vivid detail. I swear, he should have been an actor. Even Kaleell allowed herself the luxury of being caught up in his tales. By the time he was finished telling us about his encounter, I was clutching my sides as my body was racked with laughter.

To my surprise, Kaleell even issued a few soft chuckles. Kaleell was not a very happy person. She never laughed. I think in the few months I had known her, that might have been the first I had heard her do so.

Kaleell seemed plagued by the past. After hearing her full name from Spike during their first encounter, I had done a bit of research on her. There is not much that is known but after breaking down and asking Giles for help, I learned that she had been a rather brutal hunter of all that was evil...especially vampires. Giles told me that in one account of Kaleell, it says she was seeking vengeance. For what? I don't know. I don't even know if the account is true.

I have often caught Kaleell staring off into space. During the night, I am awakened by the sound of her having nightmares. Spike often goes into wake her. He doesn't let me do so because he's afraid she might lash out at me unintentionally and according to him, I'm a lot more important than he is. Kaleell often lapses into silences. Typical signs of someone with some problems.

I have stubbornly tried to get her to open up but she sees through my disguised probing and firmly and swiftly shuts me out. Kaleell feels that she is only here to train me to the best of her ability and fight alongside me when the Enlightenment comes. True, but she could get so much more than that out of life. The student learns from the mentor but the mentor also learns...Or something like that. I don't claim to be that insightful.

Suddenly, Spike broke into my revere by laying a hand on my shoulder. "You ready to go patrol with the Slayer or do you want to stay here and keep pretending that you are reading?" he asked me softly, offering me a couple of stakes.

I threw my book down next to me and took the stakes. "Let me go get my coat."