Shadows of the Resurrection
By: Michelle
Notes are on Chapter 1.
Chapter 7
The town of Sunnydale usually rolled up its sidewalks a little after 10 pm. The denizens were unconsciously aware of the fact that the little suburb was definitely not normal. They had an almost instinctual urge to be indoors before midnight, though no one could properly explain it. However, the occasional stragglers sometimes walked the deserted streets, blissfully unaware of the town’s nature. Usually some poor unsuspecting citizen walking home after a late work shift. But other times, there were the casual morons, those whose survival instinct had never kicked in. People, who through sheer luck or fate, had avoided being victims of the energy of the Hellmouth.
The thing about luck? It always eventually ran out. Fate? She always ceased to care. It’s then that the causal morons meet their maker. Tonight, fate was focused elsewhere and luck decided that being ladylike was off the agenda.
The young couple ambling down the sidewalk of the closed down town were oblivious to the darkness that surrounded them.
“So I think that was a pretty decent movie, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I guess. I mean, the car chase was good, as were the explosions, but the love story just didn’t do it for me, ya know.”
“Aww. Come on! You never really like the movies I pick.”
The shadows stretched along silently behind them, stalking them, creeping up under their feet.
“That’s cuz you always pick guy movies. You never make an effort to choose something I would really like. You should know by now what kind of things I like, you know.”
“One of the things I am always saying that I love about you is my complete and utter inability to predict what you will like. So, no. I shouldn’t know about those things.”
One finger of the darkness seemed to float about in the air in front of them settling quickly down onto the street, pretending to be the shadow of a street lamp.
“Did you just see that?”
“No. See what?”
The shadow moved forward slowly, steadily toward the couple.
“Oh crap! That!”
“No, really what? Oh my god! What the hell is that? Come on! Let’s get the hell out of here!”
It reached up, floating on the air and touched the boy’s face, circling his head and sliding down his back. It pulled him into its embrace, crushing him as his screams were ripped from his body.
“No! Get away from me! Get off me! What is this?! Let me go!”
She watched, helpless, as her boyfriend was strangled and absorbed by the darkness, his eyes frozen and staring in abject horror and pleading at her.
“Cameron! Oh god! Somebody help us!! No, no, don’t Oh Jesus!! Please no! Hel-”
Her screams abruptly cut off as the darkness filled her mouth, slipped down her throat and ate her from the inside out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xander woke up for the second time in his life, surrounded by vampire. This time, though, there were no bed clothes to separate them. Also, he and Spike were both deliciously naked. He frowned, wondering why he was naked with Spike pressed so completely against his back. He tried to turn over, but was assaulted by the ache of his well used body. Then he remembered the promise Spike had made as he drank his beer in the living room. The vampire had kept his word; Xander was sure he’d forgotten his own name in the middle of the night’s activities. He’d only known the cravings of his flesh, the beat of his heart, and the involuntary breaths he’d drawn from the vampire at his back.
Spike had been awake for some time. Pulled into consciousness by the increasing speed of Xander’s heartbeat as the boy slowly woke up. He felt the tension as Xander realized he was in bed with a vampire - again - then felt the release of that same tension a few minutes later. He heard the deep indrawn breath and felt the body in front of him stretch languidly. He smiled at the feeling of that warm skin stretching and moving along his own. He let out a purr and nuzzled into Xander’s neck, licking at the salty bit of flesh just under his ear.
“Mornin’ pet.”
Xander sighed. “Good morning.” He turned in Spike’s arms to face him. “You know? I could seriously get used to this.”
“What’s that?” Spike asked, nipping tiny kisses down Xander’s neck, nibbling gently at the warm skin.
“Waking up with you. The first time was nice. This time is better.”
“Glad you think so, pet.” Spike frowned. “You’re not, you know, hurt or anything are you?”
Xander laughed a little, reaching up to stroke Spike’s arm and shoulder. “Only in the best possible ways. There’s a little ache right,” he took hold of Spike’s hand and lay it on the small of his back, “here. And well, maybe a bit lower. But it’s a good ache. I feel well used.”
“Used?” Spike frowned as he stroked the spot where his hand was put. “I don’t want you to feel used. That isn’t what I was about last night.”
“Well used, Spike.” Xander rushed to assure him. “This is the ache that comes from something enjoyed and actively participated in. Like white river rafting. The excitement, the thrill, the fun, but afterward, your body is well satisfied, but aches so much. Well used.”
Spike grinned evilly, “So it was like an adventure, eh?”
“Yes, blood breath. Your body is an adventure.” He leaned in to kiss the lips that were grinning wickedly at him, “One I’d like to go on again, if you don’t mind.”
“Thought you’d never ask, pet.” Spike whispered just before his mouth claimed Xander’s, and the adventure started again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tara woke up to Willow’s shuddering, quiet moans. She wrapped careful arms around the shaking girl and tried to wake her. Shaking her gently, Tara whispered Willow’s name. That didn’t work, so she whispered a steady incantation, warding off evil and waking Willow gently out of whatever nightmare she had fallen victim to.
“Honey? You alright?”
“No.” The shaky whisper let Tara know just how afraid Willow actually was. “Can we go upstairs? I don’t want to freak the others out with this stuff.”
“Yeah. Let’s go.” Tara helped Willow off the couch and walked up the stairs behind her. She followed her into their room and closed the door softly, the click of the lock catching loud in the deep silence of the night. “What happened?”
“I saw it ...kill... someone else. They were so young, just walking home after a movie. So normal then so terrified. It swallowed them almost whole. God. It was awful.” Willow collapsed onto the bed, folding herself in half, and wrapping her arms around her knees. “I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. It can’t happen to anyone else. We’ve got to stop this thing. I’ve got to stop this thing.”
Tara crouched on the floor in front of her. “No. You are what it’s after. You can’t feel responsible for what it does-”
“But I am! I called on it! It was my ... decision to do this....my faith in myself...my sheer arrogance that brought these things here. I have to be the one to stop it.”
“Not alone. Never alone. You don’t have to do anything alone again. We have to stop it, and I think the plan just might work.”
“No. It has to be me. They have to know that they can never have me, never come back for me, and the only way to do that is to confront them.” She cradled Tara’s face in her hands, “I have to do this honey. For myself if not for anyone else. This is my doing, and I’ll take care of it. You guys don’t need to be constantly cleaning up after me.” She folded the other girl in a tight hug. “I should have been the one to bathe Buffy’s hands when she crawled out of her grave. I should have been the one to help her. Now. I will be.”
“Ok. But it’s going to be dangerous. And you’ll need help. And nothing you say will stop me or any of us, actually, from helping. You should know that by now.”
“I do.” Willow pulled away to place tender kisses along Tara’s jaw, moving slowly to the full lips that waited to be kissed. “I know. Now. Make it all go away? Please. If only for a moment?”
“Ok. I think I can do that.” And Tara did her best to fulfill Willow’s request.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Where are Xander and Spike? I thought they were only going to find that spell at Xan’s apartment.” Buffy was up and pacing the living room. She’d been up since 6 that morning and had begun pacing. Now it was midmorning and her pacing had only grown more frantic. Her role in the battle against the darkness - that of spectator rather than participant - had her feeling anxious and useless at the same time. Two feelings she’s never been particularly adept at handling.
“Buffy, chill. They’ll be here. Besides the spell is here. They only went home to rest, I guess.” Dawn tried to calm her sister, but the distinct snort from Giles had both of them looking at him in question.
“God. What was that for, Giles?” Dawn sounded genuinely curious.
“If those two are ‘resting’ as you so supposed, then I am the May Queen.” Giles flipped through one of the books he had left at the girls’ house, as though looking for any helpful magics that could help them later that evening. He looked up at Dawn again, “What spell is here? And could you get it for me?”
“Yeah, sure. But, umm, I’m confused. What else would Xander and Spike be doing?”
At Giles’ renewed snort, Buffy walked over and punched him in the arm. “Cut it out. She’s only 15.”
Giles had the temerity to look properly chastised and regretful. “Of course. You’re right.” He cleared his throat. “Umm, Dawn, it is entirely possible that they are simply preparing for the spell they must perform. That is all. I don’t imagine any of us could get any real rest at the moment.”
Dawn, ever more worldly than her sister would like, simply grinned at Giles’ explanation. “Right. I thought you meant they were gettin’ it on like bunnies.”
“WHAT!?”
“Oh good lord!”
Buffy’s outraged shout drowned out Giles’ put upon sigh, but the sentiment was the same. Dawn just giggled. “I’m 15 Buffy, not 5. I can pretty much guess what Xander and Spike could be up to.”
“I don’t want to know this! I don’t want to know that my sister knows about this stuff!” Buffy stalked off into the kitchen muttering, “dang progressive schools. Teaching sex ed to freshmen!” at which Dawn burst into fits of giggling, and Giles stuck his nose further into the book in his hand.
“Oh you guys are too easy!” Dawn teased them both. “Hey.” She shouted, looking at the time, “Buffy! What’s for breakfast?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tara and Willow lay cuddled in each other’s arms, naked, sated and more ready to face what they had to face later that day. Willow traced her fingers down Tara’s arm, draped over her stomach, and smiled at the soft sigh she felt pass through Tara’s lips to land, whisper-like, on her neck.
“I love how you love me, Tara. I love how soft and gentle you can be. I need that sometimes. Especially lately. I’ve felt so...I don’t know... cold, hard...callused. Like my body is just this shell and I’ve ceased to live in it. You make that feeling go away. And it’s one of the hundreds of reasons why I love you.”
“You’re not those things, Willow. I’m soft with you because that’s how I see you. You are soft, and, well, willowy! The hardness is self defense. You’ve done some things, and are afraid that you’ll do worse, so you’re shutting yourself down. I’m not gonna let that to happen. I’ll always be here to bring you out, to show you who you are. You’re safe with me.” Tara grinned and pressed a smiling kiss to the back of Willow’s neck. “Now, tell me the hundred other reasons you love me!”
Willow laughed. “Ok.” She thought for a minute. A minute Tara seemed to think was too long, because Willow felt the kick her lover gave her leg and grinned. “Right, hundred reasons why I love you.” She turned in Tara’s embrace to face her. “Because you understand me. Because you didn’t leave me when all this crap started, or after I messed up so bad. Because you patrolled with us after she died. Because your eyes shine in the moonlight and tell me that you love me no matter what. Because you’re beautiful, though that is a plus, not a requirement. Because you’re gentle with everything and everybody and you’re insightful and thoughtful and stubborn. You refuse to relinquish what you consider yours and you protect yours with a strength that I will never have. Because you chose me.” She paused and looked thoughtful again. Then, “Because you gave me space to allow me to choose you.” The unspoken option, Oz, settled in the air around them, waking Tara’s insecurities again.
“I didn’t choose you, Willow.” The fragile whisper barely reached Willow’s ears.
“What?”
“I saw you, sitting in that group. Took one look at you and something clicked inside me. I didn’t have a choice, Will. I honestly don’t know that I’d have been able to choose you. I just knew, know, that we were fated to be together. Choice never entered into it. You were meant to be mine and I was meant to be yours.” At Willow’s questioning look, she said, “That’s just the way it works sometimes.”
“But you let me make the decision on my own. You never pressured me, or forced me in any way. You didn’t even influence me.” Willow smiled. “Baby? That was your choice. Rather than bind me with words of fate and destiny, you allowed me to make my own decision. We may have been fated, but you still got a say in how you live your life, by letting me make up my own mind. And I love you for it. Now,” she whispered, nearly touching Tara’s lips with her own, their mingled breath warm on her skin, “kiss me before I forget what it feels like.”
Tara felt the tears that had welled in her eyes spill out and down the bridge of her nose and the side of her face. She felt Willow’s tender fingers come up to wipe them off, then she felt the warm softness of Willow’s lips on hers, and surrendered to her choice.
A shout about breakfast broke their kiss, and they pulled away from each other, panting. Eyes dilated, lips swollen, they simply stared at each other a few minutes. Tara blinked first, saying, “Guess we’d better get back downstairs, huh?”
Willow nodded. “Yeah, but at the earliest possible convenience, I want to continue this. I love how you taste and feel.” She laid an open mouth kiss on Tara’s neck, licking a bead of salty sweat from the rosy skin. “Mmm, definitely going to get back to this later.”
Tara offered up a quiet moan, “Yeah. Mmm, ok.” She gave a little moue of disappointment when Willow climbed out of bed to get dressed. “Alright, breakfast. I just hope Dawn doesn’t want me to fix pancakes this morning.” She got dressed as well, and, holding Willow’s hand in hers, they went downstairs.
After a breakfast that consisted of waffles - Dawn didn’t want pancakes much to Tara’s delight, but waffles were almost as bad - fresh fruit and mugs and mugs of coffee, the subject of the evening’s events came up.
“Ok. So where are Xander and Spike? I thought they were just going to get that spell,” Willow rolled her eyes in realization, “and I should have known that wasn’t the case because Xander doesn’t keep that stuff at his house and the spell he was talking about is the one I almost did on us when Spike came back to get Dru. Wonderful.”
Dawn grinned evilly and announced, “Giles says they’re not resting.” Laughing outright at the Watcher’s chagrined expression and Buffy’s stern frown, she provoked them further. “I said they were probably home making like bunnies.”
Right then, Xander’s voice could be heard coming through the living room into the kitchen. “Who’s makin’ out like bunnies? Did I miss some hot girl on girl action?” He walked into the room with a huge smile, looking back and forth between all the girls in the kitchen.
“Eww, no, Xander. You did not miss anything.” “God, could you be any more gross?” “We, umm, no. You didn’t miss anything.” All the girls started talking at the same time, telegraphing their mild disgust at Xander’s antics.
Silence quickly fell as Spike walked into the room addressing Xander, “Bollocks, pet. That is one crap blanket you keep in your truck. I know I felt the sunlight through it, and look! My soddin hair is singed, mate!” He stopped his tirade when he notices the tomblike silence in the kitchen and all eyes on him. He frowned. “Right. What’s wrong now? I haven’t done anything, so no need for you lot to go all quiet now, is there?”
Dawn took a deep breath, and before Buffy could stretch a silencing hand over her mouth, managed to say, “You guys enjoy your rest?” Buffy’s mortified expression brought a wicked gleam to Spike’s eye.
“Matter of fact, Bit, we did. Slept right sound, not that that’s any of your business, you saucy minx.”
Xander nodded adding, “Yeah, was really nice. Actually rested again this morning before coming over.” Then totally shocked the whole room when he grabbed Spike by the back of the neck and planted a solid, groping kiss on the vampire’s smirking lips. Pulling away from the dazed vampire, Xander spoke to the room in general, “Anyone got a problem with what I’ve just done?”
Hearing nothing but audible swallows and the swish of shaking heads, Xander said, “Fine. Let’s move on shall we? Nothing to see here, just two guys, on the hellmouth, makin’ out.”
He heard a whispered, “that was so hot” from Dawn and nearly laughed out loud at Buffy’s even quieter, “Yeah.”
“Oh, ya git. Don’t be manhandling me in front of your friends! I deserve respect ya know!”
“Sorry. Did you want to handle the Slayer, the Key, the Watcher, and two witches?” Xander asked laughing. Then more seriously, “I know you do.”
“Ahh, umm. Right, then. But you should ask a bloke ‘fore you lay the tongue on.” Spike faked outraged quite well, but enough was enough. Or so Giles thought.
“Right! Well, now that we have everyone’s resting arrangements settled, can we move on with tonight’s agenda? And could you two please keep your hands to yourselves? There are impressionable children around, not to mention disgusted watchers who want nothing more than to never see the two of you clinched like that again!”
“Oh, Rupert,” Spike said, as he wrapped an arm around Xander’s waist, “you know you want to watch.”
“Spike!”
Tara was reduced to laughter and Willow just laid her head down on the island countertop, defeated. Dawn burst into giggles as Buffy growled and said, “There will be no teasing the Watcher! You two! Hands off. Everybody, into the living room. Strategy meeting now.”
“Party pooper.” Spike’s mumbled words were greeted with stony silence and a harsh glare. “All right, all right. I’ll behave,” he grumbled as everyone exited to the living room.
Willow, once everyone had seated themselves, stood up. “I know that we had a plan. I know that everyone thought that plan was the way to go. But, and hear me out here, it isn’t. This thing, these things, want me. They’re not going to come to Spike and Xander just because they decide to do a spell. They’ll know what Dawn is long before we get a chance to draw on the Key’s energy. I’m the one they want. I think I’m the one they should get.” She smiled evilly. “Only, not just me. Or rather, not me as they think I am.”
Giles was the first to break the silence. “Alright Willow. I can’t agree with this unless I know what you’re intending. What do you mean, not you as they think you are?”
“Well, remember the spell we did with Buffy when she had to go against Adam? The joining spell?” She waited for them to all nod, then continued. “Well, I think we can do something like that, only this time, it’ll be me who is the focus of the spell. Giles, you and Tara cast a spell that will combine our strengths in me. Then, I’ll be able to destroy these shadows and teach the forces that are out to get me that they can’t mess with what belongs to us. I really think this will work.”
“Tara, did you know about this?” Giles asked, cautious.
“No. I’m finding out about it right now. But I think she has a point. They are expecting Willow, the strong but inexperienced witch to surrender to them. Why not give them that, only give her your experience and expertise, my light and her strength?” Tara also was cautious, but could see how the idea had merit.
“Ok. That is definitely a plausible and even laudable idea. Where will it go once defeated? I can believe that this plan will work, but there must be a way to get rid of the things once and for all.”
“I can do that.” Dawn’s voice startled Giles out of his speech.
“What? I don’t believe that will be necessary, Dawn.” He shook his head.
“Why? I’m the key. You need a place to put uber evil, I can open a portal, you guys can shove big black and scary into it, then I shut it up tight and throw away the key. So to speak.” She grinned. “Oh and big plus: I don’t have to lose my mystical abilities like your plan called for.”
Buffy nodded. “This sounds like a better plan Giles. I’m all for Willow taking care of her own messes.” At Willow’s understanding nod, she continued. “What do we, I mean, Xander, Spike and I have to do?”
Getting Buffy’s vote of confidence perked Willow up considerably. She answered Buffy’s question with a bit of enthusiasm. “Well. We need to find where it holes up during the day. So you guys patrol. See if you can find a pattern to its manifestations. It seems - from what I can tell from my dreams - to manifest in the center of town mostly. Close to where people congregate. Movie theaters, bars, that sort of thing. So I’m thinking it may be in one of the alley’s in town? But I’m not sure. You guys can find out. Then Xander and Spike can set up a protected place to do the spell and open the portal. Then we kick “big, black, and scary” evil’s ass, and send it on its not so merry way.”
“Sounds like a plan, Wills.” Xander spoke up, finally. He stood and turned to Buffy. So I guess we need to skedaddle, eh, Buff? Get on the beat and find this thing’s hovel?”
Spike stood and joined them. “Yeah. Fancy a bit of a hunt myself, Slayer. Let’s get a move on.”
“Fine,” she said, turning toward Giles and Willow. “We’re heading out right now. You guys get what you need from the Magic Box. We’ll call when we find something and you can meet us there.” She turned to head out the door, saying to Spike and Xander, “Spike, you search the sewers. You find anything, give us a call. Xander you’re with me. We’ll meet back up at sunset and you two better keep your hands off each other. This is work, not playtime.” Spike mumbled something to which she responded, “I don’t care how hot he is, you pig! Just, god! Just behave yourself! I don’t wanna have to have my eye balls removed because you two get all gropey on patrol! Now let’s go!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They’d been on patrol for nearly six hours, and the futility of the hunt was getting to Xander. “Damn! We’ve searched the entire town, Buff. I don’t think we’re going to find anything! And you don’t know how much that pisses me off!” He gave a stray rock a frustrated kick.
“We keep looking, Xander. It’s got to be here. Just look for signs of darkness and evil.” She sighed, “I know. It’s the Hellmouth. Evil abounds! But you know what I mean.”
Since sunset, Spike been with them, having found nothing even remotely evil in the sewers. He followed them through the town’s quiet streets, lending his senses to the above ground patrol. He had been searching the latest alley when the smell of death and rot reached his senses. “Hey, Slayer, you might want to check in there before you leave this area.” He pointed down the alley and started toward it, Buffy and Xander behind him.
“Xander, you wait outside here. Here’s the phone, in case something happens.”
Normally, being left behind would irritate Xander, but in this case he was more than willing to wait in the fast fading light. “Right. Give a signal and I’ll call the cavalry.”
Buffy grinned. “Yeah.”
“That’s the spirit, pup.” Spike leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Me. You. Later.”
“Absolutely.”
Spike and Buffy started down the alley, searching the cracks and shadows of the buildings for any sign of the malevolence Willow had seen in her dreams. Suddenly, Buffy let out a soft moan. “Oh, god.”
Spike was right at her side. “What? You alright?” He caught sight of what she saw and Buffy felt the subsonic growl that rumbled through his chest. “That is just disgusting. Couldn’t it have got rid of the bodies? All good evil knows you don’t leave bodies just lying about to rot! And,” he scented the surrounding air, “these are fresh kills, Slayer. We’re talking maybe last night, or early this morning.”
“So why do they look like that?”
“What? All shriveled up and drained?”
“Yeah. They look like they’ve been here for ages.” Buffy’s wonder evident in her statement.
“They’ve been drained. Not just of blood, but of everything. Almost mummified.” He turned fully to her, “I think we’ve found its lair.” He took a good look around and noticed the actual angle of the streetlight coming in and the incongruous shadows along the far wall. “Oh yeah. And if I’m not mistaken, it’s right there.” He pointed to the black mass along the wall. It seemed to writhe in impotent rage.
“Oh wow. How could I have missed that?” Buffy stared at the writhing mass of shadows, eyes wide and a little fearful. So close to that which she had no power against. She didn’t know what to do.
“I think it was dormant when we started in here, but messing with its leftovers woke it up. We need to get the hell out of here, Slayer.” Spike looked around and noticed for the first time that they were completely enshrouded by the building’s natural shadows. “You’re gonna have to trust me to get us out of here, pet.”
“What? Why? We should just go back the way we came.”
“Can’t. That way’s blocked. We’re surrounded.”
“So how do you propose to get us out?”
He gestured to the arc of light that was cast along the building’s side. “Can you jump?”
“I don’t think so, not that high. And even if I could, I can’t scale walls, Spike.” She looked up at the brick face of the building. “We are stuck.”
Spike shook his head. “No. I can get us up there, to that ledge,” he indicated the architectural ledge that circled the building, “then on to the roof, and we can get out.”
“Fine. Sounds like a plan.” She climbed onto his back, her arms tight around his neck, and wrapped her legs around his waist to keep them out of the way of his. “Get us the hell out of here, Spike.”
“Right.” He jumped, and the shadows along the wall leapt out after them. He felt the cold touch of evil on his leg and gave a gasp as he fought to hang on to the ledge he’d caught. Pulling them up out of the dark, he said, “Hold on!” and launched them up toward the roof, leaving the darkness screaming and writhing below them. Turning on the safety of the roof, they watched as the darkness rolled up on itself like a tidal wave and made its way down and out of the alley.
Spike’s eyes took on a fearful feral gleam. “Xander!”
“Oh, God!” Buffy whispered as she saw Xander turned toward the alley, calling in after them.
TBC
Chapter 8
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