Prompt 102- Showdown - BtVS

[thismaz]

Title: Showdown
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 102 - Thus spoke Zarathustra
At: tamingthemuse
Rating: Older Teen/Adult
Summary: Part 41 of the ice cream 'verse. Set during the summer before season 1, Xander's life is changed radically when vampires invade it. In the meantime Angel and Spike have their own, separate agendas.
Some dialogue borrowed courtesy of http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/
Note: Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra) is a work by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It famously declares that "God is dead". Ref: Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thus_Spoke_Zarathustra
Note 2: Dates, phases of the moon, times of sunrise, etc, throughout this story, and the exact time of the new moon in this chapter came from http://www.sunrisesunset.com/usa/California.asp
Word Count: 3,890
Comments: Are greatly appreciated, loved and cherished.
Previous parts: In reverse order, in tags here In my memories.
Or, starting here with links to the next, at the end of each chapter.
Disclaimer: here.
Now beta'd by the wonderful laazikaat

Warning (highlight the white area to see the warning text):

Vamp Xander story

dark_amia made a wall paper and she turned it into a banner for me. Lookee here -


41. Showdown

Tuesday 13 August

The church had been empty for years, but no ruling body had come to reclaim the furniture. The stained glass was still in the windows, the statues of the saints in their niches, the pews had not been removed, even altar cloth was there, covered by a cotton sheet. But in spite of that, the place was in a state of severe neglect and disorder: the hymnals once used by the congregation were scattered everywhere, torn and moth eaten tapestries hung on either side of the entrance and lay across the floor, perhaps pulled down by some homeless person seeking material for a nest to sleep in, some of the pews were overturned, others pushed to the side of the space. At least it was dry, there was no smell of mould and decay, apart from in the corner by the organ where a large damp spot showed that the whole of the roof was not sound.

Dru managed to walk to the church, but by the time they reached it her weakness was apparent so Spike eased her down to sit in one of the front pews, while they prepared the scene. Angelus claimed the inherited memory of an altar boy, which made Spike smirk, but saved Spike having to deal with getting the charcoal and Frankincense alight. Xander busied himself placing the thick candles from the box he carried into their cups in the large candelabras to either side of the altar, while Jesse mounted the torches in the brackets set into the walls along the length of the nave. They looked as if they were originally intended to hold flags. Maybe it had been a church with military links, Spike thought.

Once it was all done, Spike opened the notebook into which Ethan had copied the final version of the ritual and checked that the details were all correct, counting them off in his head and nodding with satisfaction. Angelus handed Dru into position in front of the altar. He had to wrap his arm around her waist to help her to stand. Clasping her left hand in his right, he lifted them above his head, holding them there. Xander and Jesse took up position next to the front row of pews to act as witness.

Pulling on his heavy leather gloves, Spike picked up the censer and began to walk up the main aisle, away from the altar, swinging it from side to side to encourage the pungent smoke to belch out into the room. "Eligor," he intoned. "I name thee. Bringer of war, poisoners, pariahs, grand obscenity." He turned on his heel and began to walk back through the smoke to where Angelus and Dru waited.

*****

The dirty cream Citroen drew to an arthritic halt in front of the church and Giles gave the steering wheel a pat, half admonitory, half thanks for having made it. He'd have to take it back to the garage, there was something wrong. He'd had a Citroen before and, in spite of it being French, it had actually performed to perfection, but getting into this one with the aim of getting anywhere, was an act of faith. "Well done, Betsy," he said.

Willow glanced over at him with a tight smile before climbing out, pulling the grip bag from her footwell with her, stepping back and slamming the door. Giles got out too and stood for a moment taking a good look at the church. Twin square towers flanked the west front where a flight of shallow steps led up to the main entrance. The light in the street was sufficient to show that one leaf of the door was cracked and broken. That was where they would enter. No doubt there was a side entrance, through the churchyard gates, but the deep shadows under the trees were not welcoming. Giles knew that was a ridiculous consideration, in view of what they were about to do. The obvious entry might be a trap. Briefly he considered that alternative, but so might the side way, with less chance of an easy escape into the view of human passers by. With one last, almost affectionate, pat to the roof of the car he walked around to Willow's side, taking the bag from her. Together they climbed the steps and when they reached the door he placed the bag down, crouching next to it to open it.

Extracting his best crossbow he placed it down at his side. Pulling out the second, he handed it to Willow. He glanced at his watch. It was a quarter past eleven. "The exact moment of the new moon is 11.34," he observed, "so, hopefully we'll be able to stop them before they can begin." Looking up at Willow he noted the tension in her stance and hesitated. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

She shook her head but her voice was firm. "Oh yes, I'm sure! My friends are dead and those things killed them. I really want to do this!"

"Alright." Giles took a deep breath and pushed open the broken door a crack. There was another beyond the porch which was only slightly ajar. Pressing through the gap, he tiptoed towards it. Looking back at the young woman he added, although they'd gone over it a number of times already, "As soon as I've fired, I'll drop this one," he lifted the cross bow slightly, "then you pass me that one. Okay?"

Willow nodded. "Yes. Then I reload so it's ready for you to fire again. Like a Napoleonic infantry square."

Giles felt his lips twitch but he refrained from pointing out that between the two of them they hardly made up more than a point, let alone a square. He nodded. Turning back to the door and taking another deep breath, he burst through, into the church proper. And came to a shocked halt at the top of the nave. The space was empty, not a pew, not a cross, not a single statue of a saint. Their footsteps echoed hollowly as they walked tentatively forwards. Even the altar was gone.

Beside him he heard Willow sigh. "Oh, darn! I was sure it was this one."

*****

Walking back up the aisle, through the smoke of his previous passing, Spike continued to swing the censer. "Eligor, wretched master of decay, bring your black medicine," he read, from the book held before him in his left hand.

Up in front of the altar Dru seemed to be hovering on the edge of unconsciousness. "Black medicine," she echoed. Angelus adjusted his hold on her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. Her head lolled as if it was only loosely attached to her shoulders, until her forehead came to rest against his breast, then she was still.

Spike climbed the three steps to the chancel, set the censer down on the altar and put the book down next to it. Reciting words memorised earlier, he picked up the Du Lac Cross, peeling away the wrappings. "Come. Restore your most impious, murderous child."

Holding the cross carefully inverted he walked up to Angelus and Dru in time to hear her murmured echo of his last words, muffled though they were by Angelus' body.

Taking the head of the cross in his other hand, he pulled the ends apart, drawing out the dagger and laying the sheath back on the altar. Lifting the dagger high he added the next part of the ritual: the promise, "From the blood of the sire she is risen. From the blood of the sire, she shall rise again."

With one stroke Spike stabbed the blade through Angelus' and Dru's clasped hands. As Angelus gasped and Dru gave a small convulsive twitch, a bright, pink light encompassed them both from elbow to fingertips and Angelus' arm sagged, before jerking up again, rigid above their heads. The intensity of the light grew by pulses, then burst outward in a shockwave across the open space of the nave, before dying back to a glow at the point where the dagger joined them. Angelus' head slumped onto Dru's shoulder and their joined hands fell to rest on Angelus' shoulder, but they remained upright.

"Right, then!" Spike said in a more normal voice, grinning at Xander as he walked towards the steps to join him. "Now we just let them come to a simmering boil, and remove to a low flame."

A sound at the door gave Spike a moment's warning before it burst open and the watcher rushed in, crossbow held up in front of him, the little girl of the week before trailing behind. The sight that greeted him, however, apparently caused him to freeze. His eyes darted from Jesse to Xander to Spike and then behind him to Angelus and Dru. "Oh God!" he gasped.

Jumping down the three steps, Spike laughed. "God has nothing to do with it," he said. "In fact, as Nietzsche said, 'God is dead. And we have killed him.'" He looked around at the mess. "Well, either that or he's gone to visit friends for a while."

Spike's voice seemed to drag the watcher out of his immobility and he raised the crossbow. The little girl crept up close behind, second crossbow clutched to her chest.

Xander and Jesse had turned at the watcher's first words, but they waited to see what Spike intended. The watcher apparently intended war. As he released the trigger, Spike, who had expected to be the target and was ready to jump aside, realised a fraction of a moment too late that the bolt was actually going to pass to his left. With a cry he spun and shoved Xander, sending him staggering. Xander screamed as the bolt lodged in his right shoulder and he half fell over the end of the nearest pew. Spike pulled him back upright, grabbed the shaft below the fletches and tugged it free. Xander gasped again and Spike gave him another shove so he stumbled backwards and sat down hard on the seat of the pew.

Returning his attention to the watcher, Spike saw that he had dropped his crossbow, but had already swapped it for the other. The girl was on her knees, trying to reload the first one. The watcher was raising his new weapon, this time pointing at Jesse. That left Spike free to attack. He leapt forward, just as the second bolt fired and found its home in Jesse's chest. The minion froze, for a second his skeleton flared, then he was nothing more than a slowly settling shower of dust. Again the watcher seemed to have surprised himself and as a result he hesitated to take the crossbow the girl was holding out to him. The shock as Spike collided with him sent them both stumbling. Spike wrenched the crossbow from the watcher's grip and tossed it aside. Grabbing the man by his shoulders Spike pushed him back into the wall, forcing the air from his lungs.

Spike could almost taste the blood, it seemed to buzz with remembered power, although that might have been in his imagination - a result of Ethan's stories. He bent his head towards the watcher's neck. Behind him he was dimly aware of a shout from Xander, but he couldn't spare the attention and his childe should be able to overpower one small girl. Spike leant forward, as the watcher's hands came up in a vain attempt to fend him off.

A blow to the side of his head caused Spike to lose his grip and he fell to the floor. Looking up he saw the girl, Willow, with the second crossbow held like a club. She'd clocked him with the stock. He took all that in in the moment before the watcher fell on him, knees either side of Spike's hips and crossbow bolt raised like a stake. Spike shot out his hand, halting the downward plunge by grabbing the watcher's wrist, but unable for a moment to find the leverage to throw the man from his perch. They seemed to hang frozen, the watcher attempting to force the bolt down to pierce Spike's breast, Spike with his grip on the watcher's wrist holding him off.

Even as his feet scrambled for purchase on the floor, Spike was aware that Xander had finally joined the fray. He had the girl by the neck, against the wall. Although Spike was pleased to note that Xander's voice was calm, he wanted to shout at the boy for allowing himself to be distracted. "Not going to turn you, Wills," Xander said. "I may have been on the slow bus when I was alive, but that's not true anymore. I'm strong now. And smart. You want to know how smart?" He must have tightened his grip because the girl's only answer was a strangled squeal and he didn't wait for a better answer. "I learnt that lesson with Jesse." Xander laughed. "You're going to die," he promised.

It appeared that the watcher had also been half listening, because he suddenly increased his efforts to force the bolt towards Spike, but Spike had finally managed to plant his feet flat on the floor. Offering the watcher his friendliest smile, he asked, "Really think you have me?" He flicked his eyes to the side, towards the two figures up near the altar. "Every moment we stay locked like this, is one moment closer to my Dru being well again. One moment closer to my boy clearing away more of the mess of his human life."

The watcher's eyes widened with shock and his mouth hardened into a straight line as he redoubled his efforts. Spike laughed. Using the leverage his bent legs gave him, he humped his hips off the ground, unbalancing the man astride him. "Didn't know you swung that way, watcher." He smirked. "Oh wait, yes I did, what with your old mate crashing at our place and telling tales out of school."

"Shut up," the watcher gritted out between teeth clenched tight with effort.

Spike let out a theatrical sigh. "Bored now," he announced, giving one more thrust of his hips as he pushed the watcher's arms wide, causing him to overbalance forward onto Spike's chest and lose his grip on the crossbow bolt. Using his legs and shoulders for leverage, Spike arched his back and rolled, so that he was on top and the watcher beneath him. But the watcher was a good scrapper and he swung with the momentum Spike had created, attempting to continue the roll. Spike managed to stop them, before the watcher got into the ascendancy again, but when he tried to pull away the watcher lurched up, looming over him, left hand with his entire weight behind it splayed flat over Spike's chest as his right scrabbled across the floor after the dropped bolt. Spike rolled his head to the side and saw the bolt, just beyond the watcher's fingertips. He waited his moment and when the watcher released some of the pressure behind his left hand, to reach for it, he brought his arms up and shoved at the watcher's waist, sending him flying through the air into the wall next to Xander and Willow, where he stayed, winded and shaking his head to clear it.

Spike rolled on his shoulders, swinging up onto his feet. Xander was looming over the girl who had her back to the wall. At first Spike didn't understand what was holding Xander back, then he saw the crossbow jammed between them, the point of the bolt inches from Xander's heart. The girl had tears in her eyes and she was pleading, "Xander, please! Don't make me do it. I know there's still a part of you in there."

Xander cocked his head. He seemed unconcerned by the danger of his position and Spike made a mental note to have words with him later. "Of course there is, Wills," he agreed. "I'm still your Xander. I'm still me. I can do the snoopy dance, if you like?" he offered. "Would that convince you?" He paused as if thinking. "Or how about this - On my seventh birthday ... I didn't get the toy fire truck I wanted, so you burnt down the house next door for me, so the real fire trucks came, remember that?"

Blinking, Spike considered the girl. If she was capable of that... but she was shaking her head. "I didn't," she whispered. "I didn't do that."

With an internal shrug Spike abandoned the thought that had tickled at his mind. It was time to interfere. His heart was in his mouth as he edged forward. One false move and his childe was dust. The girl was obviously reluctant to fire, but accidents happened so easily. He placed one hand on Xander's shoulder and the movement caught her eye. Spike saw her finger twitch on the trigger even as he yanked Xander back spinning them both, bringing his right leg up at the same time and kicking at the crossbow. The twang of the mechanism was followed immediately by the whistle of the bolt as it skimmed between them, close to Xander's ear, but his boy was safe.

In his new position Spike could see Dru and Angelus. Angelus was struggling to pull the dagger free. Had it been enough time? Spike didn't know. He took a step towards them, still hanging on to Xander, but the watcher had reclaimed his faculties and had grabbed one of the torches from the wall. Advancing on Spike, he swung it from side to side, requiring Spike to jump back to avoid being set alight. He let go of Xander who also scrambled away. The girl stayed where she was. "Giles," she called.

The watcher looked over his shoulder and saw her. He threw his torch at Spike, who ducked. It flew over Spike's head, landing next to a torn hymn book and a length of moth-eaten cloth. Spike saw the first little flame as the tinder caught.

Giles rushed back to the girl, grabbing another torch from the bracket next to her. Turning, he threw that one too. It rolled across the floor and came to rest against a length of torn velvet curtaining. There was a whooshing sound and the velvet went up like it had accelerant on it. The flames spread rapidly to the hymn books and the other rubbish on the floor and in moments it was like a wall between the humans and Spike, who retreated backwards towards the altar and his sire. Above the roar of the flames, he heard the watcher shout that they needed to run but he didn't have time to consider them now. The fire was spreading towards the chancel and Dru seemed to be in a swoon and unable to save herself.

He almost tripped in his headlong rush, but he managed keep his feet under him and ran up the steps to Angelus and Dru. Grabbing Dru's wrist, he pulled the dagger from their joined hands and caught Dru is she collapsed. "Sorry, baby. Gotta go," he gasped, lifting her into his arms.

Angelus fell to his knees, sitting back on his heels and gazing glassily around. Spike searched the room. The fire had caught with a vengeance and was now licking up the walls. Up by the altar they were not only separated from the watcher and the girl, they were also cut off from the only way out. And Xander was trapped by the flames, forced back against the wall, his fledgeling instincts causing him to cower away from fire. As his eyes locked with his childe's terrified gaze Spike was vaguely aware of the watcher shouting to the girl that they needed to get out.

Turning to Angelus, Spike thrust Dru into his arms. "Get up! Take her!" he yelled. "The choir loft." He pointed to the narrow door half hidden in the panelling of the walls to the side of the organ. Waiting only long enough to see Angelus clamber to his feet and be sure he had Dru safe, Spike took five steps to gather speed and leapt over the flames trapping Xander, crashing into the wall at his childe's side. He took Xander's chin in both his hands, forcing his hypnotised gaze away from the roar of the fire. "Listen," he shouted. "You saw me do it. You can do it too. But we have to be quick." A quick glance around offered a possible route. "Come on!"

Xander nodded his understanding and followed Spike along the wall to where one of the misplaced pews stuck out towards the flames, which were lapping at its end. But the wood was old and worn smooth, so it hadn't caught yet. Jumping up on the seat, pulling Xander behind him, Spike pointed. "Follow me," he instructed. "Do what I do." He began to run along the length of the seat. Placing his last footfall on the armrest, he launched himself out over the rapidly spreading fire, coming to a running stop on the other side of the knave. Turning he watched as Xander came flying towards him and stepped aside as the boy landed in a sprawl which turned into a somersault, like a kitten that tries to stop too fast on its front feet.

Hardly waiting for him to get himself up, Spike grabbed Xander's hand in a renewed grip and started running again, tugging Xander back into motion. They headed for the door to the choir loft with the flames licking at their heels. Together they dashed through and slammed it behind them, safe for a moment. Taking a totally necessary breath, Spike pelted up the stairs into the choir loft. Angelus was standing in the middle of the space with Dru still in his arms. Relieved of one worry, Spike spared a moment to look down over the balcony rail. Below them the nave was engulfed in flames. Pulling his eyes away, he checked out the loft, there was no obvious way out. He turned to Angelus and noticed that his gaze was focussed on the big window in the back wall. He caught Spike's eye, a question in his own. Spike nodded his agreement.

Turning to Xander, Spike placed his hands on the boy's shoulders and gave him a little shake. "Follow me," he instructed, "and jump backwards, yeah? Angelus will follow through the gap."

Xander nodded, although Spike doubted he knew what he was agreeing with. He'd see soon enough. Running towards the window, Spike turned at the last moment and crashed backwards through it, twisting in the air to land with a thump on all fours on the ground twenty feet below. A moment later more glass crashed down around him and Xander landed next to him. Angelus followed, still carrying Dru.

Getting up, Spike dusted glass fragments from his clothes. "If this didn't work," he growled. "I'm eating the wizard." He glared at Angelus. "And I don't care what you say."

Looking at the expression on Angelus' face as he gazed down at Dru, Spike wasn't sure he'd heard. But even if he had, he didn't think Angelus would object to the sentiment.

Concluded here.

Comments

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Whoa, way to build up the tension with Willow and Giles only for it to be the wrong church, you evil woman.

I know I should feel bad, but was rooting for Spike and co all the way here - but I didn feel guilty about it *g*

Very nice reflection of canon with Willow holding the crossbow bolt against Xander's chest. And you killed Jesse - well Giles did, but you put the smoking crossbow in his hand.

I'm quite breathless after reading that, but it was beautifully executed.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Whoa... that was seriously exciting! You do write a great action scene, and I was really afraid the building was going to collapse on Spike AGAIN. But they're out, and Spike has at least a passing interest in Willow and Buffy should be on her way. This is just so damn good

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Well that had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I felt sure we were going to lose one of our major cast in that fracas. Beautiful detailed fight sequence.

Now I'm wondering if Willow picked the wrong church on purpose since she obviously didn't like the idea of dusting Xander. I must say I didn't feel much at the loss of Jesse, except it increased my fear because we were officially out of cannon fodder at that moment. :)

Small fix. It's the Snoopy dance, not the Scooby dance.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

You were breathless? *g* I sat there while DJ checked it for typos and realised that the adrenaline was still pumping *laughs*
And if you weren't rooting for Spike, I'd be wondering what I'd done wrong *g*
Thank you, a Whoa from you is a great compliment. That was the climax, last chapter next week, I think.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Hee, two Whoas in two comment. This has made my morning.
A bit of fight action after all the interpersonal stuff was a necessity (and I do enjoy a good scrap *g*).
That was the climax, last chapter next week, I think.
I never intended to bring Buffy into this story. She is still five months off arriving. But I am so pleased you have enjoyed it. Thank you for all the encouragement along the way.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I am so pleased to hear it was exciting. Thank you.
No, Willow was full of determination. It was only when she was faced by Xander that she hesitated - theory being nothing when compared to the reality of a demon wearing his face. Poor Willow.
Poor Jesse, too. But he has gradually faded into being the shadow he named his human memories, so his death was the anticlimax that summed up his entire unlife. *g* /philosophical_stuff
That was the climax to this 'verse. Last chapter next week, I think.

And thank you for the catch. Fixed now.

[laazikaat.livejournal.com]

Poor unlamented Jesse. Beautiful chapter, loved them going to the wrong church, lol! I must be twisted, I was glad they'd got it wrong.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon. Yes, poor Jesse. Unlamented is an apt epitaph.
loved them going to the wrong church
*g* It just occurred to me that it was the sort of thing they would do. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And I'm pleased to hear you are behind the vampires - it's sort of necessary with this one *g*

[uncouthkitten.livejournal.com]

Loved the part about the arthritic Citroen and it being an act of faith to expect to get anywhere in it, your description was just perfect. It always seemed as if this was the point, in canon, when Spike was at his most powerful, able and confident just before being totally incapacitated and and mentally flayed so I'll be really interested to see where you take this story from here. Really looking forward to the next post.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. Giles was obviously not mechanically literate, but that car... *laughs*
And Spike at his height was such an attractive picture. Your description of him being at his most powerful, able and confident is exactly right. I have enjoyed exploring that manifestation of his character in this one. I hope you enjoy the conclusion. Thank you for the lovely comment.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

Damn it. LJ is confounding me today, and I can't post easily. :( First, I'm sorry for being so tardy to this. I really didn't mean to be. I'm awful. Forgive me?

This is wonderfully executed, but then I suspect you know that already. *g* You remain, as ever, brilliant at the execution of movement.

I have to throw in that I loved the description of drew to an arthritic halt. That was just lovely.

All around, an exciting and tension filled chapter, and I'm off to the next...

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*glares at you* Stop it! *g* No such thing as too late. There is no duty involved here.
That said, it's lovely to see you and thank you so much for the lovely comment(s). I really did enjoy having a proper scrap, after all the talking and agonising *g*

[smwright.livejournal.com]

I really did enjoy having a proper scrap, after all the talking and agonising *g* Yes, I can imagine you did!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*g*