Chapter 17

Ginny spaced out in the back seat, one hand on her neck where twin puncture marks still seeped droplets of blood. Spike and Draco sat in the front, Spike speeding and Draco leaning back, arms crossed. In order not to alert Angel to their stronger spells, they were driving at night. This way, if it all came crashing down around their ears, he wouldn’t be expecting Spike to jump through a window into the sunlight. And then they could all run like bunnies. Scratch the bunny comparison; Anya doesn’t like bunnies. Anyway. . .

They drove up in front of the Hotel Hyperion and Spike sighed, fingers clenching and unclenching around the steering wheel. “Well, let’s get this over with. Pet, wake up, pet.” Spike reached over and shook Ginny’s shoulder. She lifted her head from her arms and blinked dazedly. “We’re here.”

“We are?”

“Yep.” Ginny fumbled for a brush and ran it through her hair, before taking her hands to it and messing it up into a thousand little spikes. She put her hand out and Spike put her bag in it. She reapplied her black lipstick and tightened the laces on her combat boots.

“Let’s go then.” Draco grinned nastily as he got out of the car, black robes falling to the ground in graceful folds. “Ready to play, girls and boys?”

“It’s gonna be game, set, match, dragon.” Ginny rolled her head around on her neck, eyes gleaming. “We’re new players, and we don’t play by the rules, but he has to.”

“Downfall to having a soul,” Spike quipped as he slammed the door shut and took one last drag on his cigarette. Ginny closed her door a bit more sedately, and set a seal of protection over it. “You are right handy to ‘ave around pet.”

‘Thank you, Master William.” Ginny tugged the collar of her black shirt down a bit further, proudly displaying the collar and the bite. A slim silver band encircled the base of her throat, locked on the side with a small padlock. She glanced up at Spike through long lashes. “Well?”

“Let’s play the game, love. Draco?” Draco nodded at Spike’s question, and took his place at the vampire’s side. “Damn, but it’s good to be back.” Ginny smirked as they walked up to the door, and then blasted it open with a surge of wind. Draco’s robes flattened against his legs and Spike’s duster blew backwards as they walked in. “The prodigal son returns, peaches.”

“But with friends this time,” Ginny purred, rubbing her head against Spike’s side. “Let’s get this done and split. We have a Dark Lord to burn.” Spike lifted her head with a finger and kissed her, tongue lapping delicately at her lips before she eagerly opened to give him entrance.

Draco cracked his knuckles and regarded the room thoughtfully. “Damn, wolf is gonna be mad he missed this, flame.”

“You bet, dragon mine. Can we play now? But as much as I like watching people cowering in terror, we have a job to do.”

“Damn it, why do we have to be the good guys this time round?” Draco groaned.

“Cos the original ones are too dense to see in the dark?” Ginny asked facetiously before whistling. Azrael came stalking in. “C’mere, demon mine.” Azrael wound around her ankles, and hissed at the members of Angel Investigations. “Lose the stakes,” she snapped. “Chill, we ain’t here for much.”

“Just a bit of vampiric tradition. Sire, meet my Claimant, Virginia Weasley. Her friend, Draco Malfoy.” Ginny swept a curtsey as Spike introduced her, before spinning in a circle.

“Oh, flames! I can feel them here! Better then the Hellmouth, all burning and whoa!” She spun out and her hand flew up as a crossbow bolt hurtled towards them. It halted, and then burst into flames. “Hey, that so rocks. I didn’t havta use my wand or anything.” She squealed in excitement and clapped her hands.

“Yeah, real proud of you, pet.” Spike grinned, blue eyes dancing with amusement.

“Should we put this in terms they understand?” Draco sneered. “Prophecy. Meet the Guardians of the Phoenix, the Flame to Set the World on fire.” He indicated Spike and Azrael.

“God, we’re gonna watch this town burn!” Ginny laughed.

“We’re here to save the world, and not just this one, but all of them.”

“I’m the Dragon Prince, we’re accompanied by the Soul in Two Halves and the Seer of the Hidden Line. We don’t belong here, but if we don’t go home accompanied by Spike, everything ends. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

“Sodding PTB,” Ginny said before encircling Spike’s waist with her arms and leaning her head against his back. “Master, can we do this and go? They act like the Slayer. Self righteous.”

“Spike,” Angel hissed. Spike raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, peaches?”

“Oh, did we mention that he’s all fang having again?” Draco asked in a tone of disinterest and studied his nails coolly. “Little bit of magic there.”

“You know, I’ve had evil in my head, but that was just obscene.” Ginny’s voice was muffled.

“That’s the reason why Spike needed to be unmuzzled. To contain Ginny when the great Dark Lord comes rampaging through her mind. Bastard,” Draco spat.

“Eh, I deal. Usually with pain, but you know. Dealing, really.” Spike tugged Ginny round into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head as she burrowed into his coat. “I want to get this cemented before he comes back.”

“So, peaches, will you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Act like my sodding Sire for once and fucking accept her. If you don’t, I’ll havta go find Dru. Her blood made me, but you taught me and my demon acknowledges yours as Sire, but I’ll just havta hope the bond is strong enough.”

“You know, it’s really interesting to meet Angelus, considering he’s dust in our dimension,” Draco said. “The whole Order was destroyed, in fact. Dusted by a witch, who by her blood helped seal the Hellmouth.” He tilted his head. “What? He is. Along with the whole Order of Aurelius.”

“Draco, cut the BS, and let’s get down to business,” Ginny sighed as she wriggled out of Spike’s arms. Draco looked at her, and she smiled before hugging him hard. She rested her head against his shoulder and he exhaled quietly, eyes catching Spike’s. The vampire smiled and slapped his hands against his thighs.

“Right. Let’s get on with it then. All you havta do is bite her, and bam, we’re done here.”

“Azrael, stop growling like that,” Ginny knelt to the level of her cat, and he mewed at her. “Go hunt, demon.” Azrael disappeared into the shadows of the hotel, and Ginny straightened up. “So.” Spike undid the padlock, and she massaged her neck as he stuffed the collar into his duster pocket. “We really don’t have a lot of time here. The portal is being prepared as we speak. Soon, we must go back through, but I am really considering coming back to this dimension. If for nothing else except to annoy Buffy. Damn, but that girl is blonde through and through. Did I tell you she argued with Spike while I’m lying on the porch, bleeding to death?”

“What?” Draco growled. “Bloody feeble minded chit.”

“Hey!” Angel said. “She’s not that stupid. If I remember she’s kicked Spike’s ass a few times.”

“That’s because I’m impatient, not because I’m stupid. My one failing that ruins a lot of my plans,” Spike said as he lit up a cigarette. “So, poof, are ya gonna do this, or not?”

“C’mon, soul boy.” Ginny grinned evilly. “Besides the blood of a witch, maybe soon to be more, you get one of those get out of jail free cards.”

“Did you figure out that bit?”

“Yeah, Blaise had a few more mind numbing visions, with the whole glowing eye thing. Narrows down the soul a fair bit. Oh, didn’t we mention that? The PTB have decided you should have your soul anchored. Aren’t you the lucky little vampire?” Ginny said sarcastically, and then her eyes widened in shock. “Heads up.” She got her wand out and threw it to Draco, before dropping to her knees and throwing her head back to keen in pain.

“This is what we were talking about,” Draco said tersely, indicating the spasmodically jerking body of Ginny as Spike wrapped her in his arms and crooned nonsense to her.

“So, who are your protectors this time, sweet Virginia?”

“We’re gonna come back and rip you a new hole with our-AAAAAHHHHHH!” Ginny cracked her head against the floor, and the slowly healing cuts on her back broke open. “Gonna come back and fucking kill you, you- AHHH!”

“I’m going to come and get you, you bastard,” Spike hissed. “She’s mine. You won’t have heard of me, pet, but you’ve made William the Bloody *very* angry, so I’d start digging your grave.”

“I’m the Dark Lord. You think I’m trembling in fear because of a *vampire*? Please.” Voldemort laughed scornfully. “If Angelus was still undead, he’d be working for me by now.”

“Excuse me, what?” Angel straightened up when he heard his former name mentioned. “Working for you?”

“The Scourge of Europe were no one’s lackeys, boy,” Spike growled.

“They never met me.”

“I’m meeting you now, and I havta say, not very impressed.” Ginny’s struggles stilled and her red eyes looked him over carefully.

“You’re not Angelus.”

“No, I am,” Angel said, stepping up to Ginny’s side.

“Funny. I thought somehow you’d be…more imposing.” Ginny made a dismissing gesture with her fingers as she got to her feet. Spike and Draco watched her warily, seeing Ginny screaming behind her eyes, Voldemort’s malicious humour overwhelming her. “So…I have a new little body.” Voldemort looked down at Ginny’s body, and then looked up and smiled. “Isn’t this fun?”

“Last time I checked…um, no,” Spike growled. “She belongs to *me*.” Voldemort shrugged and then looked over at Draco.

“Come here, *boy*. Didn’t you learn not to cross me when I stripped the skin from your back?” Draco nearly flinched but met Voldemort’s red gaze with his own ice filled one of hate.

“Fuck off.”

“What was it for last time? Oh, yesssss,” Voldemort hissed. “It was your cousin. Quite the screamer, is Vortigern.”

“You shut up about him,” Draco growled as he took a step forward.

“Why should I? You are all my property, make no mistake. I don’t relinquish what I have claimed. And you *are* mine. Now, come here.” Voldemort snapped Ginny’s fingers like he would call a dog. “Or perhaps Vortigern would like my company once again.” A sneer curved her lips, and then she screamed, throwing herself to the floor.

“SPPIIIKKKEEEE!!” Ginny started to systematically beat her head against the floor, splitting the skin on her forehead open and blood beginning to flow down into her eyes. Draco stood there, white face highlighting his blue eyes as he tried to come to terms with Voldemort’s threats this time. By the sound of the blood roaring in his ears and the short gasping noises, he wasn’t doing so well. Draco wavered on his feet for a moment, then his eyes flashed. Damn it, he wouldn’t back down.

“I won’t. You do not own me, Tom Marvolo Riddle.”

“Do not attempt to fool yourself, Draco Malfoy,” Voldemort sneered from the floor as he picked himself up. “It is only a matter of time before this is my body permanently. And then…it will be easier to move into a better one. Of course, by that time Ginny will be utterly mad.” The body language of Ginny had changed dramatically with Voldemort’s possession.

“Dammit, peaches, you have to finish this!” Spike shouted desperately as he tackled Ginny’s body to the floor. Not her, not her, not her, he repeated to himself as she cried out in pain. He covered her body with his own, and Voldemort snarled at him, before trying to take a hunk out of his face. He jerked his head back and he was bucked off unexpectedly and Voldemort ran for the door, a little clumsy in his new body. Draco flew across the floor and grabbed Ginny around the waist, hitting the ground with an audible thud as he twisted so he was on the bottom.

“Let go of me, fool!”

“No. I won’t. I have my own demons to face here.” Draco’s voice was low and raspy. “I don’t think you’re going anywhere, at least not with Ginny. Ginny love, kick him out,” he pleaded. “Fight him, you can, I know you can win here. You’re stronger then he ever was.”

“Draco…” Ginny moaned, finally coming to the fore. “It hurts…”

“I know, love, I know.” He cradled her to his chest as she started to cry, in great sobbing gulps, makeup ruined beyond hope of repair by the blood, sweat and tears running down her face. “Shh, love.”

“Hurts, oh god, it hurts. Dirty, dirty, dirty,” she whimpered.

“Never.” Draco wrapped his arms about her tighter and buried his face in his neck as he started to slowly rock from side to side. She clung to him and wept. Spike sat down next to them with a sigh and Ginny pulled him into it.

“Gonna explain the comment about the blond nancyboy?”

“I don’t think it really requires that much explanation to a vampire who’s played dominant submissive games at least once, does it?” Draco kept his tone even. “I’m sure you’ve had the pleasure of breaking in a pet, once or twice.” He kept hoping he didn’t sound as close to breaking into tears as he felt. By the steadiness in his voice, he was thinking at least not yet. Not here.

Spike sighed a strange airless sigh as the red haired girl in his arms shuddered her way into quiet and a type of peace that comes at the far end of hopelessness. “Bloody hell. You lot are almost more fucked up then I am, and I spent a very long time with Angelus and Darla.”

“Oh yeah, the motherfucking Scourge of Europe. We did say how very impressed we were, didn’t we, Red?”

“Oh, very,” Ginny drawled, returning to at least a façade of her new self. “We were oh so awed. Holly gee, Mr. William the Bloody sir.” Spike chuckled at her sass, and ruffled her hair. “Can we get this over with and head back to merry old Sunnyhell?” She said tiredly. “Although, if Buffy says one more thing, the stake will go through her head. Especially if she tries dust the vampire again.”

“Oh yeah. See, that’s one thing that was bloody amusing that you may wanna hear,” Spike said mischievously.

“What?”

“Once upon a time, there was a broody vampire who went around eating rats cos he had a soul and he didn’t want to snack on humans anymore,” Spike started to say, eyes gleaming as he stared at Angel. “And then one day, he was given a mission to help a blonde haired bimbo, named Slutty the Vampire Slayer. So they went and fought and kicked much evil demonic arse, working up loads of sexual tension between the two of them until one day, the broody vampire actually managed to get into Slutty’s knickers.” Angel glared at his Childe, golden sparkles appearing in his eyes. Spike continued, snarky grin very prominent as he shifted slightly to let Ginny lay her head against his shoulder. “And then the soul went bye-bye! And what was a incredibly attractive blond vampire to do, when his sodding Sire, who had abandoned him and his other Childe, who was a raging loony, albeit a very attractive loony, comes back and shags said loony and former love interest of the handsome vampire.” Spike’s voice stayed light, but his eyes had gradually hardened to two hate filled orbs of blue steel. “Shags her into the middle of next week, while whipping and generally torturing her to a bloody mess while the blond vampire is trapped in a wheelchair and has to listen to it, along with playing fill in guy when she was unconscious and not able to scream any longer. And then, Sire was sent to hell, *with* soul and then came back, and became the nancy boy, pussy whipped, hairgel loving pansy you see before you today. Meet Angel, ducks.” Spike grinned nastily, voice very bitter as he concluded. “A spineless excuse for a vampire who refused to help his Childer in any way shape or form because he’s *ashamed* he created them in the first place, *ashamed* of what he is, which is a bleeding vampire, for Christ’s sake, and ashamed of the fact that he *is* a nancy boy, pussy whipped, hairgel loving pansy. Tosser,” Spike spat.

“Hmm, maybe I’m not the only one with a fucked up father figure then,” Draco commented, and shifted slightly. “Nice to know, in a pathetically sad way.”

“Am I the only one here who had an even relatively homelife as a child?” Ginny asked.

“Ah, that would be a yes, Red.” Draco smirked at her. “What with your parents actually being human and all. I’m pretty sure my parents are ice or something.”

“Lucius is a scarily evil bastard, but somehow strangely feminine.” Draco looked at her for a moment, and then started to laugh. “What?”

“I am telling him you said that. I can’t wait to see the look on his face!” Draco laughed harder.

“Something funny, pet?”

“You wait until you meet my father, and you’ll get it,” Draco gasped out between snickers.

“This would be the bloke I’m gonna torture to death for you?”

“As long as I get to help, vampire.”

“Fine with me.” Spike shrugged.

“Hey, don’t forget the girl with a major lust for bloody vengeance here! He’s the one that gave me the sodding diary that started this in the first place,” Ginny said. “Bloody evil snarky slimy bastard that they all are.” She stood up shakily, arms around Spike and Draco’s shoulders as they stood up with her. “So. Has soul boy come to a decision?”

Angel cleared his throat, and nodded slowly. “I’ll do it.”

“But you try anything else, and so help me, I’ll rip your head off,” Spike growled. “She’s mine, you tosser.”

“Oh please, Spike, like I could be vaguely attracted to him,” Ginny said with a laugh very clear in her voice. “He looks and acts *far* too much like Harry for my liking.”

“So, let’s get this show on the road.” Spike’s legendary evil bastard grin curved his lips.

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