Chapter 18: Lost in Translation
Margot bolted up in bed. “Oh no.” Urgently she shook the slumbering man next to her. “Rupert, wake up.”
“What is it?” He fumbled for his glasses as he felt her rise from the
bed. Locating them, he brought his lover into focus. “Margot, what’s
wrong?”
She was already belting the sash on her robe. “It’s my father. He’s dying.”
Giles reached for his pants. “I’m not sure I understand. Are you certain? Although tired, he seemed so much better.”
“That was only the spell that he and I performed at the hospital. We
both knew it wouldn’t last for long, although I had hoped it would be
longer than this.” Her voice caught. “The spell wrapped him safely in a
sort of cocoon, but it’s begun to unravel. I can feel it.”
She dug in the night stand next to the bed and tossed him an address
book. “Could you call Claire? Tell her it’s time to end the stay at the
apartment. She knows what to do about Ethan. Ask her to notify the
Council for me.”
She shivered. “I can feel the power starting to leave him and coalesce here in the house.”
“Of course I’ll make the call for you. But first, I’m going to make you some tea.”
Her eyes had taken on the haunted look again. “We’ve probably got about
ten or twelve hours before everyone arrives for the installation, and
even less to revoke the spell.”
“I’m sure Buffy will return with the Grimoire before then.”
Rupert?”
“Yes?”
“I’m glad you’re here.” She turned for the door. “I’m going in to say good bye.”
Giles nodded, but she was already out the door and didn’t notice. He grabbed his shirt and started for the stairs.
Hurry Buffy.
*****
“Take the carcass back to the hive and string it up in the central
meeting hall.” The Overlord nudged the dead Gashi Chieftain with his
toe. “I wish for all the Thesa Clan to look upon this sight and
understand that this is the result of living too soft. The Chieftain
had forgotten what it meant to be a demon on the Hellmouth.”
He folded his wings and spoke to his main three-mark. “The way is now
open for us to take control of the Gashi homeland. Go to the hive and
raise a platoon. Kill them while their Clan is in confusion. If you
locate the Successor’s book, bring it to me. We will show the wizards
that the Thesa know how to behave with honor. It will be to our
advantage someday to have them owe us this favor.”
*****
The arrow whistled past her ear. Turning around, Buffy charged at the archer. “Hey you jerk, that’s my bow!” She leaped across the pile of dead Gashi bodyguards lying in the
middle of the room and hit the demon hard in the temple with her fist.
Dazed, he slid down the wall and sprawled in the corner and the
compound bow fell from his paw.
Buffy picked it up and checked it over critically. “You damaged it!”
She turned a murderous eye on the demon, still lying in the corner.
Notching the bow, she shot it through the heart and glowered. “You’re
just lucky it’s fixable.”
“Yeah, because you could do so much more to him,” Spike drawled.
She turned to see him leaning against the wall, smiling, his sword bent
and a bloody smear across one cheek. She touched her hair self
consciously and looked around. “Where’d all the demons go?”
“I think we killed them all, pet.”
“Where’s Kyle?”
Spike grimaced. “That’s what I came to tell you. Sometime during our
little melee, some of the wankers booked and they must have taken Kyle
with them.”
“What are you saying? He’s not here anymore?”
“That’s what I’m sayin’. I can’t hear his heartbeat anywhere in here.”
“What about the Grimoire?”
“Well, since I’m not sure what it actually looks like, I won’t say for
sure, but I’d guess that when they grabbed the junior wizard, they
probably took the book.”
“Yeah, they kinda do go together. But if all the Gashi are gone, then what’s that loud noise?”
Spike peered out the window. “Slayer, we better find that escape tunnel fast.”
“Why, what is it?” Buffy joined him at the window. “Now that’s a seriously large amount of bug soldiers.”
“Yeah, it looks to be at least two platoons, maybe more.”
“Now, that’s just wrong. We kill off all the Gashi and then they show up.” Buffy was indignant. “What, now they get everything that’s here?”
“They can have it as far as I’m concerned, crab grass and all. It’s not
like we can take out that many of ‘em without some serious firepower.
Two swords, one of which is bent and a nearly busted bow won’t be doin’
the trick.”
“Well, if we have to, we can blend in with them again, I’ve still got
this.” Buffy held her wrist up, flashing the bracelet and Spike
suddenly experienced déjà vu for the second time that same week.
But this time the scene he was watching differed from the two previous
times as he watched the clasp open and the charm bracelet fall to the
floor. Before Buffy could reach down to pick it back up, there was a
burst of blue light and the bracelet disappeared.
“Oh my God, where is it?” Buffy clutched her wrist, staring frantically around the floor. “Spike, it’s not here anymore.”
“I think it just broke for good this time. Is this where I get to say
again that I hate bloody magicks?” He grabbed her hand and pulled
urgently. “Come on, Slayer, that door will never hold against all those
soldiers, we’ve got to find that escape tunnel.”
*****
One of the Gashi prodded Kyle in the back, urging him to move faster
through the tunnel. He couldn’t be certain if it was one of the same
two that had opened his prison door earlier because the demons were all
dressed exactly alike in some sort of uniform.
The loud noises had turned out to be a horrendous fight somewhere else
in the house. He could hear it better once the demons threw open the
door to his prison and Kyle was almost certain it had to be the Slayer.
Before he could get his hopes up for a rescue, two demons grabbed him
and the Grimoire and dropped them both through a hole in the floor
hidden within a kitchen cabinet.
The demons had dropped down after him and now they were all walking
single file away from the house through a fairly narrow, two story high
tunnel to an unknown destination. Kyle clutched the Grimoire and looked
around cautiously. He counted four other demons besides the two that
had grabbed him.
One of the demons seemed to be female; she was dressed differently and
sort of reminded Kyle in a vague way of a lioness from some really
bizarro nature channel. He assumed the rest were male. None of them had
spoken, so he wasn’t sure if any of them spoke English.
The only good thing so far was that he hadn’t seen the older mean
demon. Kyle fervently hoped that they weren’t going to meet up with him
either. He didn’t have the spells finished and those teeth along with
that riding crop made him really nervous.
*****
“Father.” Margot stepped into the bedroom and felt the tendrils of her
father’s personal power floating freely within the room. The time had
come.
She moved to the bed and leaned over. “It’s Margot.” She touched him tenderly on the forehead. “Can you hear me?”
The elderly man, his face ashen, opened his eyes. “Daughter.” He
coughed briefly. “I’m glad you came quickly. I wanted the chance to see
you one last time before the transfer.”
Margot took his hand in hers. “I felt you calling to me. I love you.”
The elderly wizard smiled briefly. “I love you, too. Finally, I shall see your mother again. I’ve missed her for so long.”
Margot smiled softly. “Tell her hello for me.”
“Has the Slayer returned with the Grimoire yet?”
“No, but I’m sure it will be soon.”
“Everything will work out. Margot, you will make a fine Imperial
Wizard, just trust in your instincts. I’m so very proud of you.” He
grimaced. “It’s time.” She bent down and kissed his forehead.
The Imperial Wizard waited until she stood back up and spoke loudly. “This gift of power is freely given.”
Margot felt the release of an enormous burst of power. Closing her eyes
to shield them from the bright light throughout the room, she held her
arms out in front of her and opened her hands, palms up. Speaking
loudly, she replied, “This gift of power is freely accepted.”
The power floating around the room coalesced, streaming through
her open palms. She opened her eyes and lowered her arms to her side.
It was done. She had absorbed her father’s personal power. The only
thing that remained was her formal installation where she would be
given a token gift of power from each individual wizard on the Council,
insuring her ties to each.
She took one last look at the empty bed where her father had lain and whispered,
“Good bye father.”
Walking back down the stairs to Rupert, she fervently wished for Buffy
and Spike to come charging though the door with Kyle. Time was running
out for them all.
She could smell the tea before she entered the kitchen. “That smells wonderful.”
Giles stepped from the stove and hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry about
your father Margot. I only knew him briefly, but I respected him and
sincerely enjoyed the chance to know him.” He inspected her face. “Are
you alright? Do you want me to take care of the details for you?”
Margot looked confused. “Details?” Suddenly she understood. “You mean with the coroner or something, don’t you?”
When he nodded, she smiled. “That’s very thoughtful, but there’s
something I guess I should explain about the post of Imperial Wizard.
You see, after awhile the power pretty much consumes a person’s body,
that’s the reason most of us don’t live a very long life. When my
father died, his body, at least what was left of it after all those
years, disintegrated and the power was the only thing left. His spirit
left to be with my mom and he passed his power to me. So in a way, he’s
still with me.”
“That’s certainly unexpected, but I would assume it’s very comforting.” He held out a cup.
“Yes, actually it is.” Margot took the cup and moved to the table. “I
would have thought as a Watcher you would know about this stuff.”
“I’ve never really delved into it, since our two Councils were not
really involved any longer. My emphasis has always been on Slayers and
for the past few years, the Hellmouth.”
“Of course, I understand completely.” Margot set her cup on the table.
“Rupert, as you know my father had hoped that both Councils could work
together again when needed and I’ve been giving it some thought. It is
time that we put the past to rest, so I’ve decided that the first act
of my tenure will be the reinstatement of our working relationship.”
She smiled at his surprise. “After all, haven’t you and I proven
that it’s not insurmountable to come from different worlds and have
some type of relationship?”
“Yes, that’s quite true.”
He took her hand in his. “Margot, I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but
since you’ve brought up the subject, I’d like to ask what happens now
with us?
“Unfortunately for the first couple months, I’ll be very busy.” She
gripped his hand tightly. “But I’ve always loved this old house and
going forward, I’d like to move here again, unless I’m the one being
too presumptuous.”
He reached across the table, placing his hand over hers. “That would be wonderful.”
“I’m planning to tell everyone after the Installation that provided
there aren’t any emergencies, I’m going to need at least a week before
I start my tenure to work out some personal details.”
“I assume I’ll be one of them?”
“Well, you know what they say; it’s all in the details.”
*****
“I can’t believe those big demons fit through this tiny hole.” The
Slayer, forehead wrinkled and hands on hips, stood in the tunnel,
staring critically at the small escape access they’d both squeezed
through.
She looked over at Spike in time to see him shrug. “What were you
worried about? You didn’t have any trouble wiggling through there.” And that particular memory will fuel my dreams for weeks to come.
“Well, you didn’t seem to have any trouble either, except for that moment when your coat got caught and you starting yelling.”
“I wasn’t yelling and anyway it wasn’t my coat that got caught.”
Buffy smirked. “Yeah, ‘cause the rest of you is just so darn big.”
“For you information Slayer, there are portions of my anatomy that are bigger than most.” He smirked.
Rolling her eyes, she rejoined, “Yeah, those boots are enormous.”
Spike ignored the quip. “Well, I don’t see ‘em fittin’ through there either, but I can smell Kyle’s scent down here.”
“We better get moving, no telling where they’re headed. Can you keep tracking them?”
“Yeah.” Spike nodded. “Kyle’s scared out of his wits and I can smell his sweat.”
“Ugh, Spike, TMI.” Buffy brightened. “Hey, I think I just figured out
how they got down here. I bet the Gashi are like some dogs. You know,
the ones that are all fur and not much body? I bet if we shoot them
with a water hose, they’d be really skinny underneath all that hair,
kind of like an Afghan or a Chow Chow.”
They started picking their way down the tunnel. “I dunno Slayer, when we slice into them with a sword, they’re meaty enough.”
“Oh yeah.” Buffy pondered the problem some more. “Well, then maybe we’re only left with a couple really little ones to kill.”
“That would be a nice change of pace, especially since my sword isn’t exactly in the best of shape.”
“What did happen to your sword?” She slipped her hand companionably into his.
“One of the blighters was wearin’ some sort of metal vest underneath that ugly uniform. Rather unsporting actually.”
“You should just cut off their heads, like I do. It works every time.”
She shifted conversations. “What do you suppose the Thesa were doing
there?”
“Taking advantage of a situation. Somehow they knew the Gashi were weakened, decided to pick the bones.”
Buffy flashed on the skeletons she’d seen hanging in the hive. “Yeah,
they’re big on the whole decorating with bones scheme. Their interior
decorator must have convinced them that they really go well with
slime.”
Musing out loud she continued, “I didn’t get the feeling that anyone
was really in charge back there. I mean, they just came at us, no one
was roaring any orders.” Buffy brightened. “Do you suppose Margot’s
plan actually worked?”
“Anything’s possible.”
“I can’t figure out why my bracelet broke either. It wasn’t supposed to come off unless this mess was completely cleared up.”
“I wondered about that, too, and I’m thinking that we’re not goin’
to like the answer.” Spike’s nostrils flared. “They’re up ahead, maybe
a mile or so.”
“Okay, we move quickly until we get within hearing range for you and we can figure out how many we’re dealing with.”
*****
The group had arrived at a split in the tunnel, the first that Kyle had
seen so far. The demons immediately began arguing over which direction
to choose. Even though he didn’t understand their language, it was
obvious to Kyle that there were two distinct factions. He leaned
against the tunnel wall and watched while the female and two of the
male Gashi tried to convince the other three to turn into the auxiliary
tunnel.
The other group of three, which included the demon that kept prodding
Kyle, obviously wanted to continue in the direction they were already
headed. The teen didn’t care which tunnel they chose; he knew that
neither would be in his best interest. The only direction that appealed
to him was back the way they’d just traveled. Back to the demon’s lair.
Whoever had been fighting with the demons in the house had obviously
won, causing these to bolt and force him along with them. Kyle figured
the winners would have to be an improvement over his current situation,
so he continued to lean against the wall and wait for his chance. It
came quicker than he could have hoped.
After a cursory look behind him to check on his prisoner, Kyle realized
that his guard was no longer paying attention to him, having become
embroiled in what was rapidly escalating into a very heated argument.
The teen leaned over and surreptitiously dropped the Grimoire into his
shirt for safekeeping.
When one of the Gashi suddenly punched another, Kyle seized the
opportunity. Straightening up quickly, he pivoted and bolted down the
tunnel.
*****
“So why isn’t it a planet anymore?”
“I have no bloody idea. The last I heard they’d downgraded it from a
planet to an asteroid; something about it was too small or in the wrong
place for a planet or some such bollocks.”
“So it’s big enough that its a planet all this time and now it’s too small? And it needs to move closer or something?”
“Uh huh.”
“But that’s just wrong. There’s even a Disney character named after it.”
“It just goes to show, Slayer, you wait long enough and almost anything can change.”
Spike had continued down the tunnel when he noticed he was talking to
himself. Turning around he saw Buffy standing in the middle of the
tunnel with an odd expression on her face.
“What’s the matter pet?”
“What did you just say?” she whispered.
He walked back to her side. “You mean about waiting long enough and
anything can change?” Spike couldn’t quite pinpoint her expression, but
the term gobsmacked crossed his mind. Surely surprise over Pluto’s
newfound situation wouldn’t justify all of this.
Buffy placed her hand on his arm and stared in his eyes. “Yeah, cause
it’s so very true and everything points to that very fact.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I’m afraid you lost me awhile back, pet. Just what are you tryin’ to say?”
“I love you.” She’d spoken so loudly that her voice echoed in the empty
tunnel. It came out as I-I-love-love- you-you. She lowered her eyes
embarrassed.
In rapid succession her thoughts were: Oh my God I really said it. Damn that was really loud and finally blech, of all places why did I chose this tunnel to tell him?
She’d been walking along, enjoying another of their weird conversations
and she’d just felt so good, and then she’d heard that sentence and
knew it was an omen. She had to say it. Right here, right now.
I love you. Well, to be exact I-I-love-love-you-you. She
suddenly realized that the silence was total; Spike hadn’t said
anything since she’d blurted it out. Cautiously she lifted her eyes.
Spike was standing stock still with an expression that could only be described as gobsmacked on his face. Suddenly a huge smile blossomed; he pulled Buffy into his embrace
and kissed her with another one of those mind shattering kisses, a
mirror image of the one at the bridge. Her knees started to buckle.
Pulling away, he gazed at her. “Don’t know what reason you had for sayin’ it right here and now, but I love-love you, too.”
He touched her face. “Aren’t we just the romantics? Tellin’ each other
something as important as this in a ruddy tunnel of all places, but the
location doesn’t matter. It was wonderful just to hear you say the
words.”
“It’s feels good just to get the words said.”
He pulled her gently to his side. “Why now pet?”
“I don’t know. When you made that comment about Pluto, I suddenly needed to say it.”
“Well, in that case, I’m going to put Stephen Hawking on my Christmas card list.”
She laughed. “Even I know he didn’t have anything to do with that poor
wannabe planet, besides vampires don’t write Christmas cards.”
“After this, I’m very tempted to start.”
****
Kyle was losing his breath and he could feel a stitch in his side but
he refused to give up now. No matter which of the two demon factions
won the argument, he knew that he’d never be allowed to go home. He had
also known the minute this idea had popped into his head that if he
seized the moment, he’d have to see it through. This bid for freedom
was it.
He could feel the book slipping. Never breaking stride; he reached down
and pushed it back up inside his shirt. He could feel his lungs
beginning to burn and his heart felt like it was going to burst from
his chest. Flirting momentarily with the idea of trying to find
somewhere to rest briefly, the knowledge that he hadn’t seen anything
in the barren tunnel and the sound of heavy demon feet somewhere back
behind him continued to propel him forward.
He fervently hoped that there was some real reason to be running
this way because Kyle already knew he’d get caught before he could find
a way inside the house. There weren’t any ladders to climb back out of
the tunnel; he was running toward a dead end. If no one was in this
tunnel except his jailers, he was well and truly screwed. No, way worse
than that. He was dead.
*****
After Buffy’s impetuous confidence, the couple continued to move
forward through the tunnel until Spike slowed and finally stopped.
Buffy watched the vampire listen intently, the smile he’d been sporting
thinning to a line.
“What’s going on?”
“Slayer, it sounds like Kyle, running this way from the tunnel
ahead and there are at least two, possibly more, demons chasing after
him.” He hadn’t completed the sentence before Buffy sprinted down the
tunnel. Gripping his bent sword, Spike rushed after her.
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enigmaticblues . J-I
just don't know where you find the time to edit my little attempts while putting
out the spectacular fare you grace us with every day. Thank you.