"My Queen, your husband waits outside." Angus reported his message with
an
air of obvious distaste.
Steeled eyes acknowledged the announcement with barely a blink.
"Really?" she
replied with a careless swipe at her hair. "Then bring him in. The
minions
too; I wish them to be particular witnesses to the...advantages of
having a
husband." Her emphasis on the word ‘husband' was issued as a challenge.
It
was no secret that her nuptial status was generally shunned by the
vampire
population. After all, marriage was a sacrament and demons wanted no
part of
‘the divine.' However, Angus gave no further offense before departing
to find
his master.
But he couldn't help ordering the sentries to latch the doors. With
William
the Bloody there was nearly always a scuffle. It would be most
beneficial-might even elevate his Queen's opinion of him-if he were
able to
control Spike's comings and goings.
-----
Slowly the throne room doors creaked open to reveal the Queen's
erstwhile
consort. His trademark jacket of sable black glared accusingly in the
light.
"You kept me waiting." he said. "Never used to." His tongue swiped
characteristically across his front teeth.
The Queen merely gestured across the expansive hall, calling attention
to the
decadent display of wealth. "Isn't that my right?" She watched him pace
around her throne, an action of such indifference to her rank that no
other
creature would attempt it. But Spike didn't fear her-nor did she resent
his
disrespect. Some part of her old self still needed their constant
conflict-it
prevented boredom.
"Cushy place you got here." His voice broke her trance. "Every time I
visit
you've got something new.
He noticed the carpet. "Did you steal this rug from the White House or
Versailles?"
"Buckingham Palace." answered the Queen in her usual tone of
disinterest.
Suspicion over Spike's sudden appearance had already occupied her
attention.
"Why did you come here, Spike? What's your motive?"
For a few moments he said nothing as his eyes seemed to longingly
search her
face...her minions thought perhaps he wanted a sign that the Slayer
still
existed. "Just wanted to see you, Pet. I missed you."
She rolled her eyes sardonically. "Gee, lover, you never wrote." She
watched him carefully, estimating her danger.
He approached her throne, swagger in his step and the minions prepared
for
the signal to attack as the vampire neared their queen. Surely she
would not
allow such a violation of her person. But then he did something
unexpected.
He knelt before her. Not as an offering or in order to beg (he wasn't
the
begging kind), but to look directly into her cold eyes and see the
demon.
Yet if the minions had the same courage they might have seen long ago
that it
wasn't there...
"What are you doing?" she asked hesitantly, already knowing what his
thoughts. His triumphant smile had alerted her.
"Do you know what they say about you, love?" he risked moving his hand
over
her cheek to caress her skin, ice and perfection. Still beautiful as
the
first day he'd seen her. Her hair still held the faintest glimmer of
his
forbidden sunlight, nor had her rose-red lips forgotten their color.
She moved closer to him as if engaged in a staring contest and
whispered.
"What do they say?"
His arms embraced his love and Spike removed a stake concealed in the
sleeve
of his jacket, waiting for the right moment. Soon she would kiss
him...that
was his signal. He felt a little nervous as the younger vampires
inched
closer with grim fascination for the love-scene.
"What do they say, Spike?" the memory of her breath warmed his cheek.
He leaned in closer to her ear and smiled as his face went vamp; ready
for
the kill. "You're ruthless; you're cruel. Your beauty would lure any
man to
his death...you'd kill a bloke just for stepping on your shoes."
She seemed to pout when he stopped. "What else?"
"Once you ripped off a fledgling's balls for looking at you too long,
shrunk
them, and forced him to wear it as a necklace."
She chuckled icily. "Nothing else?"
Spike pressed the stake into her back and held her tighter. "Some say
you
never killed your family...that your friends live under your
protection.
That you never lost your soul."
Laughing, Buffy ignored the stake and pressed her lips to his. It was
gentle, not demonic at all...repulsive to the witnesses by its show of
genuine affection. And somehow it drove fear into them all.
"Ready?" they heard her say.
"Of course, Pet. I brought Mr. Pointy." Queen and consort whirled
around
with fangs barred to face their minions, trapped in the room by their
own
locks.
Panic flooded through the room when the Queen's intentions were
realized.
She threw a stake at the strongest of her subjects and grinned
derisively at
the resulting dust. She was going to kill them all.
"Let us out!" screamed a few of the weaker minions, as death bore down
upon
them. From her throne, Buffy heard them with some degree of amusement.
With
shrug she pressed a botton on the arm rest, causing the heavy doors to
swing
open and reveal four archers with loaded crossbows.
It was over in less than ten seconds.
The former Slayer sighed and morphed back into her human disguise
before
greeting her friends. "Well, sure beats an entire summer hunting in
the
cemetary."
Her husband placed his arm lovingly around her shoulders and offered a
swig
from his whiskey flask. "Gotta admit, it's a bloody wonderful setup
that
goes with all this planning and deception."
Willow shook her head as she and Oz examined the entryway. "God, it
takes so
long to rig those doors. When will I ever find time to do something
like
this in New York"
From behind them Giles fiddled with his crossbow. "Well, I suppose we
could
hit a smaller town. I hear Sunnydale's re-developed some small vampire
population...Buffy what do you say?"
But the Slayer and her consort had disappeared, leaving the five humans
to
decided for themselves. And outside in the midnight fog Giles could
see
their silhouettes escaping into the shadows.
Xander groaned. "Good God, does anyone have their beeper number?"
