thismaz | Taming the Muse Prompt 58, BoaS Part 42/44, To beard the lion, BtVS, PG

Current Mood: cheerful

Entry tags:

Taming the Muse Prompt 58, BoaS Part 42/44, To beard the lion, BtVS, PG

Title: To beard the lion
Part 42 of the Blood on a Sundial series.
Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: #58 - Straight from the dead guy's mouth
At:

tamingthemuse
Summary: Spike, Xander, AU in Season 2. We are talking slow burn here, people.
Disclaimer: here.
Rating: Pg
Word Count:
Some dialogue borrowed from BtVS and AtS canon, courtesy of http://www.twiztv.com

42. To beard the lion

Xander could see the moment Spike threw caution to the winds - he straightened, threw back his shoulders and strutted forward. There was no other word for it, that was definitely a strut. "Yeah, I seek you. William the bloody," he announced loudly. "You have something I want. I've come to get it." Stopping in the middle of the open space, he looked around as if taking in the decor for the first time and 'hmmm-ed' with measured approval. "You do the finger paintings?" he asked. "Nice work."

The demon stared down at Spike and, ignoring the artistic criticism and the attempt at provocation, addressed the meat of Spike's statement. "And what would that be halfling?" His voice was like the sound of a landslide, crashing and echoing around the cavern.

If anything, Spike puffed himself up even more. "I want your gem. And I challenge you for it."

The demon, Khalroth, laughed and it was as if the roof was caving in. "You have the audacity to crawl in here and demand challenge?"

Spike seemed all of a sudden to deflate and he sounded slightly doubtful, but indignant, when he answered, "Yeah!"

Khalroth considered him, then he took another step forward and Xander got a clear view of his legs, torso and arms, although his face remained in shadow. He was not as huge as he had appeared at a distance, but he still towered over Spike. His skin was brown and crusted, like the rock in which he lived, his hands were tipped by long talon-like nails that curved into vicious looking hooks and his legs ended in huge goat-like hooves. A stray flicker of light caught and reflected off what looked like long horns that swept around from the top of his head, down towards his shoulders. As silently as possible Xander operated the release button on his shotgun and began to expel the lead loaded shells, replacing them with lignum vitae, silver and iron from his pockets. Khalroth's eyes swung towards him, before shifting back to Spike. His voice was clearer now, although it still carried the undertones of earthquake. "I am Khalroth, known to the untutored as 'The Beast'. I may not refuse Challenge, halfling. You will face my champion and my gem will be my stake. While you, like all other challengers before you, will die on the first pass."

Spike threw a glance back at Xander, his face alive with vindication and the anticipation of victory. "Right! Champion to champion," he crowed and his face shifted.

But The Beast continued, "You have set my stake for me. What do you propose for your stake in this contest?"

That caused Spike to redirect his full attention back up at the demon in front of him, and he bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, rolling his shoulders. "What do you want?" he asked. Immediately his face screwed up and he turned his head aside, realising what he had said. Xander only just heard his muttered, "Shit!"

Khalroth also seemed taken aback by Spike's carelessness, but he answered quickly. "I will take the thing you value most."

Spike looked down at himself. "You want my coat?" he asked dubiously.

This time Khalroth's laugh was derisive. "That is not the thing you value most. The coat is just a coat. A memento, nothing more."

Turning his back on the demon, Spike began to dig through his duster, as if searching for something, anything, of value, looking everywhere except at Xander. Eventually he ran out of pockets, straightened and seemed to come to a decision. He threw back his head and gazed up at the dark roof of the cavern, speaking over his shoulder. "Okay!" he agreed. Turning around and stepping forward, so he was squared up, chest to stomach with his opponent, he glared up at the fiery yellow eyes suspended in the shadows, his own eyes a dim reflection of their burning malignancy. "I've got a favour from Black Wind," he said. "A nice big favour. How'd you like that? Is that valuable enough for you?"

"My thanks," Khalroth replied with ironic courtesy. "I accept the gift, offered straight from your mouth, but it is not your stake in this challenge." Spike took a couple of steps back and appeared about to burst into indignant argument, but the demon pre-empted him. "You took it upon yourself to name my stake, so I will name yours." The glowing eyes swung towards Xander, who closed his own eyes and shook his head in despair. Trust the dead guy to sound off, without considering the consequences. Even Xander knew better than to play chess with the devil; all the fairy stories and comic books agreed that demons could twist anything to suit their own ends. Where was John Constantine, when you needed him? The Beast's voice was heavy with contempt as he continued. "You reek of humanity, halfling, and the human who fights at your side; you share pain and anger with him. He will be your stake."

"No!" Spike shouted, while Xander felt his own body jerk with shock.

The Beast's eyes remained trained on Xander and he ignored Spike's punch to his stomach, which didn't even cause him to sway, although it left Spike staggering backwards, clutching his fist in his other hand. Recovering himself, Xander decided that he needed to be in on this conversation. "Hey!" he yelled. "Standing right here!" He took a few unguarded steps into the cavern and collided with an invisible wall. 'Fucking, tricky, bloody demons,' he thought angrily. Although unable to get nearer, he figured he could still make himself heard from where he was. "I'm not a possession! " he shouted. "I can't be gambled!" He tried to step back to go around the obstruction, whatever it was, but was brought up short by another solid wall of air behind him.

Stretching out his left arm parallel to the floor and swinging it in a circular motion, the beast demon laughed yet again. This time it sounded almost like a snigger, with a hint of giggle. If Xander hadn't been so terrified, he might have found it amusing, to hear such a sound come from such a body. "You have admitted your status," The Beast said, as a silver disc appeared, hanging in midair in front of them. It rippled, like the surface of a pond when a stone is thrown into it's centre and a picture appeared there, gradually expanding out to the edges, and they were looking through a window into the past:

Xander sat against a wall on the floor of Spike's old lair in Sunnydale, ropes and shackles around his wrists and ankles. Spike was on the sofa opposite, leaning forwards as he pulled a cigarette out of his pack. "My Sire gave you to me, the other day," vision-Spike said conversationally.

The picture flickered with interference, like the fast forward of a VCR, before it settled again. The scene was unchanged, except that vision-Spike was now smoking. Xander watched as vision-Xander opened his mouth. "Or you could just give me back to Angel. Think of me as a Sire's day present, or something," he said.

The disc disappeared taking the picture with it and The Beast focused his glowing eyes on Xander. "Condemned with your own words. You are the stake for which the vampire will fight." He turned back to Spike and the sneer was back. "You! A legendary dark warrior? Look at you now! You care for this human man-child."

"I am a warrior-" Spike began to protest.

Khalroth interrupted, "Yours is the lowest of all the half-breeds and your short ascendancy, beyond your natural status, is long past. You are a pathetic excuse for a demon, vampire. Half-breed!"

Shucking off his duster and allowing it to fall carelessly to the floor, Spike braced himself in a fighting stance and growled, "Yeah? Insult me, would you? I'll show you pathetic! You want champion to champion? I'll give you champion to champion. Just give it your best shot!"

Xander lifted his shotgun and using it as a battering ram tried to hammer at the invisible walls that confined him, yelling, "Let me out! You bastard, let me out!" The gun's butt didn't actually hit anything, it just stopped. Xander turned and tried another direction with the same results. He was well and truly trapped. Spike didn't even glance over and Xander got the distinct impression that although he could see and hear everything, Spike could no longer hear him. He dropped his arms and Khalroth's gravely voice whispered in the air behind him, "Yessss."

From behind The Beast, a new dark shadow appeared. Rushing into the cavern it charged at Spike, who only just managed to dodge to the side to avoid it. As he turned to face the threat, the creature appeared to bounce off the wall. In fact, Xander could have sworn that it actually climbed up the vertical face of the rock before it sprang back into the cleared central space. There it halted, pawing the sandy floor with one front hoof, its huge tusks dripping saliva on the ground in front of it. It looked like a cross between a wild boar and a small buffalo, but with long, needle-like spines protruding from around it's neck and along the length of its back. It also looked annoyed. Spike was bouncing again.

"Bloody hell!" Spike cried. "What the fuck happened to introductions? This your champion?" He glared at the creature. "You bloody attack without warning? I could get seriously annoyed, here." With the edge of his foot, he kicked his duster out of the way and settled into a fighting crouch.

Xander stood hard up against the wall of his invisible prison, hands braced on nothing, as the creature charged again. It was fast and Xander couldn't see how Spike would combat it. It didn't seem to have any obvious weak spots and its tusks were pointing straight at Spike's stomach. He gave an involuntary cry, useless warning or dismay, as it registered that Spike wasn't going to dodge this time. He just stood there, his slight bouncing the only sign that he was ready.

With his heart in his mouth Xander watched as everything slowed down, he could almost see the individual drops of saliva hitting the sand. Then with a rush the scene accelerated and Spike fell backwards to the floor, just before the creature reached him, grabbing at and gripping the vicious two foot long tusks as he pulled his knees up his chest. As the creature loomed above him Spike allowed himself to roll back onto his shoulders with the momentum, straightening his legs at the same time. He planted his feet straight up into the creature's soft underbelly, and the tips of the tusks hit the ground next to his shoulders and their tips dug into the sand, while the rest of the creature went over in a crazy summersault, crashing onto its back with a squeal of indignation, shock and pain. Spike rolled away and scrambled to his feet, wiping saliva from his face and Xander took a deep steadying breath.

While the creature was trying to get all four of its legs underneath it, Spike backed away instead of closing for the kill and Xander winced as he realised the reason. Spike's left shoulder was dislocated. Spinning quickly round in a circle, scanning the cavern, Spike ran to the entrance, braced himself for a moment, before crashing his shoulder into the rock wall. He screamed, but when he pulled back the joint looked like it was back in place, although he seemed to be cautious about moving it.

Meanwhile the four legged beastie was back on its feet and was already charging. This time Spike jumped, legs bent and clearing the creature's tossing head by a scant six inches, before crashing down to plant both heavy boots squarely in the centre of the creature's back bone, regardless of the needle sharp spines. The creature staggered under the blow, lurching to the side while Spike retained his balance on the unstable surface, bent his knees and sprang free, dripping blood from a long gash in the leg of his jeans. He landed awkwardly and tried to turn, but this time the creature had not gone down, its hooves scrabbled in the sand, but retained enough purchase for it to swing around and one tusk tore another gash across Spike's side, just above his belt, before he was able to lurch out of range. His feet were peddling madly, trying keep themselves under him as he staggered backwards and crashed into the rock wall.

The creature followed and while Spike's body was still reverberating with the shock of impact, it closed and Xander watched in horror as one tusk skewered him through the stomach pinning him in place. Spike screamed again and the creature backed up, tossing its head. Spike, still skewered on its tusk and flapping around like the proverbial rag doll, eventually came loose and flew across the room to land in an ungainly heap of arms and legs a good fifteen feet behind the creature.

Xander closed his eyes, thinking that he couldn't bear to watch, but snapped them open again when he realised that hearing without seeing was even worse. Spike was still on the floor, apparently struggling to get his hands under him, to push himself up and the creature approached cautiously, tusks down, ready to scoop him up and throw him again. It was within inches of slipping its tusk under Spike's body to do so, or possibly slipping them into Spike's body, when Spike's right arm came free from behind his back, the knife blade catching the light. He lashed out at the creature's face, scoring the point of the blade across its right eye and for a moment Xander thought it had penetrated, but the Beast's champion merely squealed again, pulled its head back and kept coming, knocking the hand and the knife away with its tusk and planting its left forefoot down on Spike's arm, pinning him down to the sound of cracking bones. It had already lifted its right leg above Spike's ribcage, when Khalroth interrupted its actions with a word of command in some guttural and probably non-human language. The creature froze, glanced back at its master and placed the foot down anyway, but more gently, just pinning Spike down, not crushing him. Another string of incomprehensible orders and the creature backed reluctantly away from Spike, to Khalroth's side. Khalroth lowered one hand and gently stroked its snout, before walked forward to stand over the fallen vampire. The creature followed, like a dog walking at heel.

And now The Beast's face came into the light. Somehow, in spite of the rotting flesh populated by maggots that took the place of the nose and left cheek bone Xander had expected, Xander could still read the expression of triumph and the sneer he directed at Spike. "Did you really think you'd win?" he asked. He glanced at Xander and smiled. "I claim your stake." Turning back he looked down on Spike and cocked his head in thought, and the smile turned sly. "But for all your lowly status, you have been a worthy adversary and in recognition of that, and in thanks for your earlier gift, I will allow you to live. I'll even do you a favour. The removal of all memories of humanity will free you, to be a true warrior for the cause, a real demon, fully and without pollution. No more halfling, in future you will fight for the darkness with an unclouded heart." His eyes flared, bright as fire, seeming to cast shadows of their own over Spike's pain-contorted face. "I will make you whole!"

Next Part

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Holy shit!!

That was some fight scene. I felt like I was right there with Xander, watching Spike from behind that invisible wall.

Now I can only assume that you had Xander change the pellets in the gun for a reason, so I'm not giving up hope just yet.

Great ending with a lovely twist on canon. I can't believe I've got to wait 'til the next part. Hmmm, considers getting in the car and driving up to see you with a large box of chocolates.

Bravo love, that was just stunning.

Hee, thank you, hon. I am so chuffed that you were rendered stunned. *g*

I admit that I do feel slightly guilty leaving it there, but I couldn't get more written yesterday, so a bit of a cliffhanger seemed the best thing to go with.

I'm not giving up hope just yet.
Because you trust me, right?

Trust you? Oh yeah, sure... was that convincing enough? *g*

I hope you didn't strain anything there *g*

OMG. No. Shit. He's removing the humanity from Spike? He's taking Xander? Oh holy shit... this is so incredibly not good. Write faster! WRITE FASTER! I'm dying to know what happens!

Ummm. Sorry? *g* Not really.
Honestly? I do feel a bit bad, leaving it there, but the next bit was too long to include here. It will reach a conclusion next week (it has to, it's the last chapter).

And that is so incredibly sad because I am not ready for this ride to end. But *heavy sigh* the muse goes where she goes

*pets you* 'S how I feel when reading your stories.
And I do promise an epilogue.
Goes off happily to read the next chapter of Experience Curve, because that still has a long way to go.

*comes back, dragging feet, because it's the chapter from Friday*
*sighs*
*g*

I'm hoping you have a trick or two up your sleeve! What an exciting chapter!

*peers up sleeve* Ummm... there's an arm there, will that do? *g* It is my writing arm, if that helps.

Thank you for reading and commenting, I'm so pleased you found it exciting.

Well, I'm fairly stunned. Damn. I anticipated the early bits, but not the ending. Serious twist of plot, maz. Damn.

I just... *shakes head*

As always, the movement here is flawless. You are unparalleled with that and, so far as I can see, will remain so.

Turning his back on the demon, Spike began to dig through his duster, as if searching for something, anything, of value, looking everywhere except at Xander. Wonderful. Showing Spike's need to "overlook" Xander and his desperation to find anything else to offer, this was really well done. The action was so much more persuasive than narrating this could have been. Really, really nicely done.

Now, damn it, where's the new prompt???

Heee, I stunned you, both you and sparrow. *grins madly*

As always, I am chuffed to bits by your expressions of praise. Thank you. I am so pleased the fight worked. And you picked up the 'don't look at Xander' thing. *g*

I am just praying the next prompt isn't something too light and fluffy. I would hate to not finish the action part of this next week. *crosses fingers, toes and other extremities*

I actually am very pleased with this week's prompt. Hope you are, too!

Heee, I stunned you, both you and sparrow. *grins madly* You should be pleased then!

Yeah, I think I can live with it *smiles*
Now all I have to do is make sure I catch all the loose ends and tie them up in a logical knot. *g* It would be easy, except they keep escaping.

Holy crap!!!

Eeek. This is not good. *Seriously wide eyes & gulp*

Woah.

*grins* Thank you. That response has made my morning.

Wow, like wow! He's going to take Xander, that can't be good. And Spike! He's Spike-a-bob! Ouch! And whole demon....he won't remember Xan. What a way to find out you care about someone. Just to have them taken away. Yikes!

Hey, Sharvie. You are very good - as always you pin down the important point.
Trust me, though. There is another chapter to come.

OMFG!!! Awesome...

*grins* Thank you.

oops. Spike's going all demon and Xander's been won by the Beast? Oh noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Yeah, oops. *shakes head* How did I let that happen? *grins*

Thank you for reading and commenting.

That was an amazing fight. You do realize you've got me biting my fingernails down to nothing now, don't you? I don't see the way out. I'm not sure there is meant to be one and that really scares me. Bravo!

*g* Thank you so much. Sorry about your fingernails.
*does Kaa impression and sings* Trussst in meee, jussst in meeee, close your eyessss and trusssst in meeee.

O.O .. oh oh..who is he the Judges lil brother? Burning the humanity out of Spike. Poor Xander in a box. Great Chapter. *spanks for the cliff hanger* lol I too say write faster. :D I wonder if the scoobies have stopped looking for Xander. I dont think hes called them in a while now. hmm..

*g* He's kind of a mixture of a number of canon demons. I took bits of his speech from a load of places in BtVS and AtS because I wanted to suggest all of the bads I could think of from the series.
No, it is a while since Xander phoned Sunnydale. I'm sure they are still looking for him, but I suspect they also have other things taking up their immediate attention.
More on Saturday. Thank you for reading and for commenting.

Spike being so easily played by The Beast was an unwelcome surprise. He went into the battle half beaten by the loss of his favour and the possibility of losing Xander. The fight was vivid and brutal, and I'm reeling at The Beast's proposal. Spike losing his memories of humanity would mean losing himself. Off to see if he chooses more wisely this time.

Yes, Spike stopped thinking there and made his common mistake of speaking anyway. It made the whole encounter more difficult than it should have been. But I don't do bad endings, so... well, you already know *g*

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Taming the Muse Prompt 58, BoaS Part 42/44, To beard the lion, BtVS, PG

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject