*Spire Building, WRH offices, London, UK, late August, 2006*



Mark was so happy he was humming to himself. Since the troublesome souled vampire had fled in the previous Thursday, Giles had put him in charge of all operations relating to his surveillance. This meant five days of daily reports to the man himself and three cases that were solved by those who he could now safely call his underlings. Yes indeed, Mark Pendelberry had arrived. Under the Senior Partners, he had been more of a second-rate asset for the firm, but since their decapitation, his true potential started blossoming. Fingering the plain looking ring on his right hand, he strode in Giles’ office, something nobody but Mark dared to do anymore.



“What news, Mark?” Giles asked, motioning slightly for the other man to take a seat. As usual, the elderly Watcher was deep into studying the papers left behind by the previous management, as well as having several of the tomes from the downstairs library strewn about the table.



“Well, sir, the vam- Spike has gotten off the train and is heading to the Slayer Castle as we speak.” Mark barely avoided playing with his ring. Whatever happened, the boss wasn’t supposed to think twice about the single employee wearing a wedding band.



“I guess I have to make a call, then. Thank you, Mark, that will be all.” Dismissing Mark from his presence, Giles began dialing the number he knew by heart.



Mark got up from the chair and calmly walked out the door, taking a seat on the couch next to Giles’ secretary, at an angle that almost allowed him to look up her dress. No reason not to be entertained before Giles called for him.



~~~***~~~



*Slayer Castle, Scotland, UK*



Buffy’s cell rang, a gloomy organ playing an ominous tune. “Hi, Giles.”



”Hello, Buffy. I trust everything is in order?”



“Yeah, everything’s good. Well, as good as it can be with Kennedy as our latest casualty. I had to send Rona’s team to Rio to search for her.” Buffy wasn’t entirely sure how much the young Slayer’s death was affecting her. On one hand, Kennedy had been one of the members of the Sunnydale Crew, braving the First alongside the rest. She was also the head of the South America Division and had fought bravely there for almost three years. Last, but not least, she had been Willow’s girlfriend for almost two years, until the dark haired woman had pushed the redhead away with her jealousy.



On the other hand, Kennedy had always been a thorn in Buffy’s side, ever since she had arrived as yet another wide-eyed Potential on the run from the First’s minions. She had led the coup that had thrown Buffy out of her own home and she had been constantly challenging her elder’s orders. However you looked at things, Kennedy had always inspired mixed feelings in the longest-living Slayer to date.





”Indeed. Well, I dare say we are all stretched thin right about now.” There was a pregnant pause, neither fully at ease with the other, not after everything that they had gone through over the years. Buffy no longer saw Giles as her superior and he knew and resented that.



“So, how’s the evil law firm managing going? Everything all right?”



”Yes, well, that’s what I actually called you about. I felt you should know that Spike is alive and has recently visited me on his way to, well, to you, really.”



The news hit Buffy like a punch in the gut. She felt a knot in her stomach and her knees threatened to buckle under her. Staggering, she got to the nearest chair and sat down, her vision blurry from her inner turmoil. “Is-” Taking a deep breath, she tried to control the tremor in her voice and hands. “What did he say?”



”Not much, really. He seemed to be in a hurry. I must warn you, though, Buffy, that he has changed.”



Barely managing to keep her mind from jumping to the worst conclusions, Buffy herself was surprised by the strength of her voice as she asked, “Changed, how? Is he… evil?”



”I’m not entirely sure. He ran off after overpowering the building security and he threatened me. It could be that he is soulless again, despite his boasts of still fighting against demons. I would advise you to be careful.”



Her blurry vision cleared a bit when she blinked and the tears pooling in her eyes coursed down her cheeks. Her heart almost broke with the possibility that Spike was something to be staked again. The part of her that had found solace in his arms wouldn’t allow her to give up completely on him, though, despite the larger part that considered all her former lovers capable of betraying her.



“Did he say anything about m—” Catching the sob that threatened to choke her, she amended her question, “—about where he was?”



A brief pause only made her contemplate the worst. ”He said something about a parallel world, a hell of some sort. He claims he was fighting there alongside Angel and some other beings.” Giles’ words brought a sliver of hope to Buffy’s mind. ”He also claimed they were responsible for stealing the Sighisoara artifact, although he denied all knowledge of the current whereabouts of said artifact. He said it was instrumental in their ultimate victory over the Senior Partners.”



“So he’s fighting for our side?” Inside, Buffy was telling herself repeatedly that maybe Spike hadn’t betrayed her.




”Yes, well, it remains to be seen. It is still possible that he only did it to take over Wolfram and Hart for himself. Whatever his reasons or plans, I do believe that you should either stake or contain him upon his arrival, until his allegiances can be verified.”



Giles’ matter-of-fact tone made Buffy see red. She had sworn to herself never again to take orders from anyone regarding her responsibilities. She would be the one to decide what to do, not the man who had forsaken her time and again because of his single-minded ideals. Composing herself and using her coldest tone, Buffy cut Giles off, “Thank you for telling me. I will take care of Spike. Goodbye, Giles. ” Not waiting for anything else the older man had to say, she clicked shut her mobile and let her hands drop to her knees, her fingers lax.



He’s really gonna be here. Please don’t make me stake him. Please!



~~~***~~~



*Sighisoara, Romania*



Dracula climbed the last steps of the old wooden staircase and climbed on the rock wall to take in the view. Behind him, Drusilla was nipping at Kennedy’s neck, the turned Slayer’s hands busy playing with her body in return. They both stopped when the Dark Prince, as he was sometimes called, gave a blood-chilling laugh. Turning to them in his vampiric guise, he licked his lips at their sensual display. Motioning with his extended hand behind him, he began speaking in a low, melodious voice.



“Behold, my Queens, the place of my mortal birth. It is here that I first saw the light of God Almighty and it is from here that I was ousted by those pagan witches of old and their mutts. It is fitting, no, that I start my new campaign from here? In a few months, everyone will bleed, demon and man alike, and we, my dears, will bathe in their blood and sing our praises to our Father.”



“Tell me again why we should care about God when we are evil incarnate?” Kennedy demanded, her fingers coming out from between Dru’s legs covered in her spendings and blood.



In a flash, Dracula had his youngest Childe by the throat, suspended in the air and fighting for air she no longer needed. “We are to earn His forgiveness. We are the whip of God, sent to this wretched Earth to punish the unbelievers. You will never question our holy mission again, or I will be extremely disappointed.” Showing off his elongated fangs in a chilling grin, he added, while releasing the gasping fledgling. “You would do well not to disappoint me.”



Regaining her composure, the former Slayer showed her own fangs. “I’ll do my job, don’t worry. I’m the best there is.” Shrugging, she added almost flippantly, “I just wanted to know what all the fuss was about.”



“The fuss is that we have started a war that will tear this world to pieces, only to forge it into a place worthy of His grace. Never forget that!”



“Naughty pixies, making the children be bad.” Slapping Kennedy’s ass, Dru scolded her. “Bad children get no tea. Behave and let auntie listen.” She let her eyes drift close, as the other woman bit her breast and began to suck on the wound. “The pixies tell me that the others are moving, we must not be tardy lest we run out of cake.”



Smiling benevolently, Dracula stepped behind the older woman and nuzzled her neck. “You’re right, my darling. We must start now, or risk the consequences of our failings.” With a nod, the other ten vampires that had accompanied them up the stairs retreated, going to carry out the plans he had prepared for the first step in his crusade. By the end of the week, the Balkans would be under his control. The thought of conquest made his lust grow tenfold, so he ordered both Drusilla and Kennedy to bend over while he freed his cock.



~~~***~~~



*Near the Galdhøpiggen mountain, Norway*



A group of twenty women stood on the ground chanting together. They were of all ages, although the majority was over forty. A few paces away, a young woman dressed mostly in white stood firm, receiving updates from the sentries that were posted throughout the area on a walkie-talkie. Her hair was pale blond, she had grey-blue eyes and her entire countenance demanded respect, despite her relatively small stature. One of the eldest women in the circle opened her eyes and stood, walking slowly to the white-clad woman.



“Erika, my dear, we must prepare everyone. The misguided fool has started his crusade and we must be ready for the night when we’ll end him.” Her voice was soft and soothing, a peaceful sound despite the dire warning it carried.



“We are ready, Auntie, as we have been all these centuries.” Erika’s voice sounded almost childish, but the steely glint in her eyes told a different story.



“Contact the others and let them know.” Turning halfway, the old woman seemed to get a new idea. “Call that mate of yours. He knows the chief Slayer, does he not?”



Bowing slightly, Erika maintained her calm. “Yes, he does. Oz used to go to the same high-school as Buffy, the Slayer.”



Narrowing her eyes, the older woman placed a hand on Erika’s shoulder. “Did he not know the witch that’s closest to her?”



“Yes, Willow and he were… romantically involved back then.” Raising her head, Erika’s eyes met the other’s. “Why do you wish to know, Maryun?”



Smiling cryptically, Maryun continued to hold her hand on the other one’s shoulder. “I think it’s time you met your leader.”



Erika seemed outraged and shook her head defiantly. “I am Wolf first, Slayer second. Do you wish me to resign my position and join the Slayer Army? I won’t do it. I am the rightful leader of the Wolf Guard and I won’t take orders from a Slayer, even if she is the longest lived.”



“Don’t worry, child. You won’t have to join the Slayers, you will just be giving them a message on our behalf and acting as liaison.” Turning around, Maryun started walking back to the circle of women. “Go get your mate and return for the message. It is time for the Wolves to make themselves known.”



~~~***~~~



*Near the Slayer Castle, Scotland, UK*



It was late evening and the sun was setting behind the hills. The old train station was empty but for five people and of these, just one seemed to belong. Spike was sitting in a dark corner, seemingly asleep. Across from him, three men were doing their best impression of not being together or interested in the blond vampire. They weren’t very good actors.



Just as the sky darkened after the last rays of sun disappeared, a car pulled up in front of the building. Quick as a spring, Spike jumped up from the chair he was sprawled in, grabbed his duffel bag, winked at the baffled goons and dashed out the front door and into the waiting car.



~~~***~~~



*Istanbul Ataturk International Airport, Turkey*



Dawn and Xander were left alone in the airport after they said their goodbyes to the resident Slayers that had accompanied them there. They were on their way back to the Slayer Castle, with a detour through Rome, where the Immortal apparently had some interesting information to share with them. As their flight number was called up, Dawn leaned over and whispered in Xander’s ear. “So, wanna join the Mile High Club?”



Xander’s face broke into a huge grin and he all but skipped to their gate, holding a giggling Dawn by the hand.



~~~***~~~



*Slayer Castle, Scotland, UK*



After giving Giles’ men the slip, Spike was driven by a friendly local up the road, closer to the Slayer Castle, where he got out of the car and set off on foot. The terrain wasn’t difficult for him, but he was adamant about not being discovered until he reached Buffy.



After evading a patrol and dodging a few hi-tech security measures, he got into the castle grounds, where he felt the supernatural detection trying to pinpoint him. Luckily, the charm he’d secured in London from one of his contacts allowed him to bypass it without any problems and finally he arrived at the main entrance.



Gambling on the fact that the door wouldn’t be locked, he opened the door and entered without anyone being the wiser. Shoddy work, their security. Thought the Whelp could do a better job at this. Shrugging to himself, he got ready to suss out where Buffy was, when a door opened to what seemed to be a ballroom. There, lit both by the lights in the main hallway and by those behind her, was none other than the Slayer he was searching.



Despite the length of time since the last time they saw each other, his ordeals in the parallel world and everything that had made them drift apart, seeing her stopped him in his tracks better than a brick wall would’ve. She was just as beautiful as always, her hair, longer than the last time he’d seen her, framing her face and cascading down her shoulders. Just the way I like it.



She was wearing fatigues, combat boots and a tight black tee, probably on her way to her workout, he decided from the lacking signs of exertion. Her eyes, vivid as always, were trained on him as they both stood there, like statues of the ancient gods opposite and archway.



Without a word, he let his duffle fall to the ground and straightened up, while she took a couple of steps from the door she’d just come through. They maintained eye contact, save from quick glances to size each other up, memorizing each other’s features and comparing them to that last time.



Spike could almost feel the heat of her touch from long ago, when their hands were clasped for the last time in that bloody cave beneath Sunnydale. He searched her eyes for the same feelings he had seen back then, the feelings he’d denied so that she could live. Perhaps he was deluding himself but just maybe…



So, how do you top that exit? He tried to say something witty, powerful, something that could match what he was feeling, only to come up empty and lose himself again in her gaze.



Unable to form any clear thoughts, his mind went on automatic and he found himself smirking at her. “Hello, cutie!”