“Just the way my fangs itched, I knew something was up. At first I thought it was you. Parading around in my tee-shirt, just begging to be ravaged. Should’ve known it was more than that. This was stronger. Different. More, I don’t know, primal.”

“So what, this doodle is like some vampire’s calling card or something?” Buffy paced, her eyes alternating between Spike and the symbol.

“No. Not some vampire, Slayer. Aurelius. As in the Order of. My Order.” Spike lay the book down, stood and approached Buffy, stopping her in her tracks. “Look, I know you’ve faced and beaten both the Master and Angelus. Hell, you’d given me a run for my money back in my Big Bad days, but Buffy, you’d never truly came face to face with the Order. For centuries, they were all powerful. Over the top traditionalists that mainly kept underground, only coming topside to feed or grow their ranks. And they were big into worshipping the Old Ones. Bunch of noise if you ask me.

“Now Darla was the Master’s pet. He made her in every sense of the word. And for over a century she’d worshipped him and everything the Order stood for in kind. Well had, until some drunken, whoring layabout Mick caught her eye. Then just like that, she turned her back on the Order and the Master, and focused all her attentions on molding her childe into everything her twisted littl’ heart desired. What she hadn’t counted on was getting exactly that…and then some. And around the time Angelus set his sights on Drusilla, the student had far surpassed the teacher.”

Towards the end Spike’s voice dropped low, now having a distant sotto quality. Buffy waited, torn between needing him to stop and wanting him to continue. He did the latter.

“Believe me, I hated that syphilitic whore through and through, but I have to give her, her due. When Darla wasn’t running back to ol’bat face after she and Angelus had some lover’s spat, she savored the blood of the rich and loved her views. And Angelus indulged her. Indulged us. No more making like fanged moles or kissing the Master’s wrinkly arse. We four defied the Order by living among the sheep and striking out on our own, making names for ourselves. And we never looked back.”

Buffy watched Spike’s eyes glazing over as he relived, for what she assumed, his demon’s glory days. Then with a shake of his head, like he was clearing away these thoughts, he pressed on. “Anyhow, fast-forward a century. With the Master trapped in a sunken church for a better part of sixty years, then you taking care of him all permanent like. And with me taking out the Annoying One and a few other poncy posers vying for the chance to be the big noise, plus Angel dusting Darla in some grand gesture for you, the once mighty Order was no more.”

“I never knew. From what I gathered, Darla was more like a pin-up vamp for the Master’s creepy Catholic school girl fetish then actually being all modern-day-woman breaking free from a centuries old boys-only club. The Council never really knew what a big part she’d played did they?”

Buffy thought back all those years ago when she so naïvely believed Darla was barely worth a second thought, never mind truly understanding who she truly was—a cunning master vamp who singlehandedly swayed the Master while creating, in one way or another, three notorious vampires, who were in their own right formidable, but the four together, nearly invincible. This new knowledge coupled with the facts that if it wasn’t for Angel, Buffy’s life would’ve ended in a hail of gunfire at the Bronze or even worse a year later, if Darla was there when Angel lost his soul, she would’ve been the ring leader keeping Mr. Arrogance, Mr. Impulsive and Ms. Crazy-pants in check long enough to bring forth the Acathla and the end the world.

All of these realizations had her mind spinning of what could’ve been.

But that was the past and she couldn’t go back. Not that she’d ever want to. All that mattered now was she was far more cautious, and she truly learned never to take anything or anyone at face value or for granted. Especially not the vamp standing right in front of her.

“Luv, you alright?” Spike’s voice broke Buffy from her thoughts, and brought her back to the here and now.

“Yeah, was just thinking heavy thoughts for a minute there.” With a cleansing breath, Buffy gave Spike a coy smile while walking her fingers up his chest. “So, I guess back in the day, you were like some kind of rebel without a cause, huh?”

“What’d I tell you baby, I’ve always been bad.” With a throaty chuckle, Spike wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her throat.

“Please.” Buffy clutched his forearms trying to keep herself upright. All breathy whisper, she sounded like she was pleading for him to take her right then and there.

Luckily, for the sake of research only, following a lingering kiss to her pulse point, Spike pulled away and returned to the couch. Leaving her standing in the middle of the room, all weak-kneed and trying to regroup and focus. With a few steadying breaths, she finally found her balance and voice to speak on far safer topics.

“Okay, so let’s review. This book is somehow connected to me and the Order of Aurelius, but how? Is this some sort of vampire version of the Slayer’s handbook, like an anti-slayer book? Plus, why can’t anybody or anything decode Little Orphan Annie’s message? And since I haven’t used up all my twenty-questions, I wanna know why I can’t get demon blood out of my favorite pair of jeans.” Dejectedly, Buffy plopped down on the couch next to Spike. “This sucks. I’m pretty much where I started over a month ago. Minus a really good pair of Calvin Klein’s.”

“Maybe with the book, yeah, but you’re not exactly where you were a month ago, are you?” Spike pulled Buffy onto his lap and enveloped her in his arms.

“You’re right. I’m in a much better position than I was.” Buffy melted into his embrace, relishing his affections.

“Actually, there are several more positions I’d love to get you in, sweets.” Buffy shivered as Spike trailed his hand up her thigh and slid his fingers under the hem of his tee-shirt.

“Mm…I know you do. And as tempting as what you have in mind is, I have work to do. And unfortunately, it requires actually getting dressed and going to see a layabout Mick.” Buffy placed a soft kiss to his lips and headed into the kitchen. “I’m heading over to Wolfram and Hart. I hate to say it, but if anyone has the answers it’s them. Despite me still being pissed at Angel, he’s my best chance of getting ahold of the secret decoder ring that I know they have. Stupid, evil guys. Always have the bestest toys.”

Buffy heard Spike following and taking position behind her while she stood at the kitchen table, taking her phone out from her courier bag.

“’M goin’ with you, Buffy. We’re in this together, right? Plus, I’d haunted the place long enough to have an inkling ‘bout the inner workings there. Far more than Mr. Corporate Talky-Talk, that’s for damn sure. And believe me when I say, the truest nature of man tends to come out when he thinks no one’s looking.”

Buffy turned to face Spike. “Fine, but you need a shower first. I know how you both are with the whole smelling thing and I’m not in the mood to break up another testosterone throw-down.” Buffy noticed Spike was about to say something and she cut him off with a wave of her hand. “This is not up for negotiation, Spike.”

She watched as his eyes narrowed and jaw tightened. She recognized this look instantly. He thought she was trying to keep them being together a secret. Again. Buffy placed her phone on the table and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Hey, it’s not like that, Spike. This is not me being ashamed of you. Ashamed of us. I don’t care if anyone, especially Angel, has a problem with us being together. Because it is exactly that, their problem. You’re my guy, and I promised you…never again. And I meant it.” Buffy pulled Spike into a kiss. One that was full of promises, trust and deep emotions. When the kiss ended, she gave him the flirtatious smile.

“Now, go get squeaky clean. And if you’re the good boy I know you’re not, when I get off the phone, I’ll help you with those hard to reach areas.”

Spike wagged his brows and dipped his head, bringing his mouth close to the shell of her ear. “Mm…don’t make me wait too long, sweetheart, or I’ll have to start without you.”

With blunt teeth he gave her earlobe a brisk tug before heading off to the bathroom, leaving Buffy with visions of naked, sudsy Spike dancing in her head. It took some time of deep breathing before she was able to pull her mind out of that gutter and making the call to Angel.

Pure evil

 

** ** **

 

Buffy hoped Spike was still in the shower. She spent way too much time on the phone. Between assuring Harmony she wasn’t going to stake her for having sex but not finishing said sex with Spike. Then being sent to a form of hell, AKA “on hold”, where she stayed for way too long and was held prisoner by one of the evilest mental torturer known to man—the dreaded earworm. And finally, last and certainly least, when she was finally pardoned from one hell and sent to another, where the rest of her time was spent listening to Angel apologizing for keeping things from her.

So to recap, of the total thirty-five minutes she was on the phone, she must’ve said about ten words, tops. The only positive thing coming from all this wasted time that she was never getting back was Angel agreeing to assemble his “Team” and helping her in any way possible. With a quick thank you, she hung up the phone and speed-walked to the bathroom.

Please still be in there

The bathroom door was slightly ajar and in an 80’s music video-esque flair, steam wafted from the opening and she heard the echoing of Spike’s deep baritone voice, singing.

“Well, I've heard that the devil's walking around
I sold my soul way down in the dirt
But stole it back and forever in debt”

Buffy quietly pushed the door open just enough for her to slip inside. Her gaze fixated on the blurred silhouette of Spike through the opaque glass shower door.

“And for a moment I don't even care
Until I feel his breath at my neck
And maybe even you can feel it too
He's on a strike and looking at you”

Her mouth went dry, while the juncture between her legs throbbed. She watched him running his hands over his body, and she was never more envious of a bar of soap and water before in her life than she was right now.

“Holding onto his words, but baby
I saw an angel become the devil
Still they look pretty good hand in hand

Well baby, I don't need any of them
Heaven nor hell”

 

On his last word, the door rolled on its metal track exposing Spike in all his naked glory.

“Enjoying the show, baby?” His voice was low and silky, holding all the promises of sin she knew only he gave her.

Holding his gaze, she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower, intent on showing him over and over how much she had.

 

** ** **

 

On the way over to Wolfram and Hart, Spike gave her the low-down about what he’d seen during his time there and how deluded Angel was in thinking he’d change this place while sitting in the belly of the beast. All in all what she learned was she had to stay on her toes at all times, and the walls had eyes and ears. The second part, most likely literally. Buffy then asked Spike about Angel’s “Team”. He told her what he knew about each of their histories with Angel and their roles at Wolfram and Hart. By the time she and Spike walked through the lobby, past Harmony’s desk where she was clearly hiding under and thought Buffy didn’t know, and headed towards Angel’s office, Buffy felt she had a better understanding what she was up against and who she could and couldn’t trust.

Inside the conference room several people stood around the large mahogany table. Some she knew, others she knew only of from what Spike told her. Buffy greeted Wesley and Gunn with a handshake, and reserved her brightest smile for Lorne. Then when she was introduced to Fred, Buffy ignored her outstretched hand and went in for a big hug.

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for Spike. I know he’s not easy vamp to get along with, believe me. But you’ve made at least two people very, very happy. Just…thank you.”

Fred returned the hug, and whispered in Buffy’s ear, “You’re welcome and good luck. Got your work cut out, a charmer that one.”

Buffy giggled before she and Fred broke away from one another. Buffy then moved to the head of the table while everyone took their seats. With a deep breath, she opened her bag and slid the book onto the table.

“Okay, this is it. Now, it doesn’t look like much, but believe me, looks are deceiving. There’s beaucoup power here. And I, we, need to figure out what it is.” Buffy’s gaze moved from person to person, then her brow furrowed. “Wait. Where’s Angel?”

Just then, the vamp in question stepped into the office and headed over to the conference area. “Sorry everyone, my power lunch ran longer than expected. Buffy, I’m glad you’re here. I hope I haven’t missed too mu—”

Angel stopped mid-word and in an instant, his demon slid to the forefront. With a turn of his head, his focus shifted to his desk on the other side of the room. Or more specifically, on Spike who stood in front of his desk. Then with a low, possessive growl, Angel charged full speed at a grinning Spike.

“Angel!”

Buffy rushed over and pulled a severely pissed off, fully-vamped faced Angel off a now chuckling Spike with his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. Spike slid off the desk top and stood, making a show of brushing himself off while seething Angel remained off to the side with a balled up scrap of black cotton in his clenched fist. In the brief scuffle Angel managed to rip off Spike’s entire tee-shirt without him removing his jacket.

With a heavy, I-don’t-have-time-for-this-bullshit sigh, Buffy struck her no-nonsense pose and eyed the two brawlers.

“Okay, care to explain what the hell that was all about?”

 

---

 

Whew! I know a lot happened in this chapter but I'd love to read your thoughts on even a wee bit of it! Thanks!! Help get those creative juices flowing!!

Here is a pic of the Order of Aurelius’ symbol: http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Order_of_Aurelius?file=Aurelian_symbol.jpg

“drunken, whoring layabout” was from the BTV episode Amends. I just absolutely loved that line and now I had a chance to use it!

The references to Little Orphan Annie and secret decoder ring (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_decoder_ring) was a homage to A Christmas Story (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Story ) a 1983 film classic (one of my favoritist X-Mas films). There is a scene in the movie when the main character has been waiting forever to get his decoder ring so he could figure out Little Orphan Annie’s secret message was. After all this anticipation and waiting, it only said “drink your Ovaltine”. Needless to say, he was pissed.

Earworm: for those who are not familiar with this term, it means a catchy piece of music that stays in your head long after the music stopped. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earworm

Now I took some poetic license with the song Spike was singing. The song is called Heaven nor Hell and it’s by Volbeat and was released in 2010. I just felt the lyrics fit so well, and I’ve had this scene in my head for a while. I’m so glad finally being able to put it up on the screen and share the naughtiness with you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDuO7tcVag0