Graveyard - Leaving? Beware, this world has fangs!
ROGUE
(OOC: reply to what Spike said earlier has been added!)
Being close to the spot the vortex had been, Rogue stopped as did Kane.
On the way here, he hadn't noticed anything meaning imminent danger, however, his training didn't include a chapter labeled with "demons and how to sense them".... unfortunately.
Turning around to the others, he wondered whether this had been all. Walking to one spot, carrying a girl to another... as he had talked Riley into being allowed to join the "rescue team", Tempest had been thinking about situations giving him the chance to fight, try his powers on something living - or undead. He wasn't picky regarding that.
"Who's 'she'?" Rogue asked as the vampire carrying the t-shirt with his fangs had caught up to her.
"The one whisperin' to ya 'n stuff?" A slight frown crossed her face as she noticed his all in all animal behavior but didn't react to it.
SEAN
Sean walked quickly beside the one who called himself Tempest, he ignored the character, he knew little about him but chose to see him as someone who was here to help. Sean's deep brown eyes were focused on Rouge's limpish body, she hung loosly over Tempest's arms, and with his powers (which had been getting stronger through his stay in this world due to necessity) he stemmed the flow of precious blood from her body.
Bit in his deepest thoughts he hoped that the vortex could be reopened soon, his energy wouldn't hold out indefinately and as soon as Rouge was at the institute the better. Sean turned to the Rouge from his world and desperation filled his eyes.
"How long Rouge? It's great you've managed to come to get us an all but the Slayer here won't have much longer."
The light breeze of the ever night in Lost Angel's tassled Sean's hair as he turned back to concentrate on doing all he could to help his new found friend.
Behind them stood just out of the shadows of a large and ancient looking tree, it's huge branches spreding out far as if to grasp anything it could reach, was the figure of Matt Rosenberg. The young Warlock watched as these people fought desperately to save the Slayers life. He had one regret about levaing this world, and that was leaving Willow, although he knew in his heart of hearts it wasn't the Willow he had grown up with. That and loosing his vast collection of magic books in his 'home'. He hoped that this new world had a decent library.
Matt stood watching, he probably could help in some way, but Logan and the others had barely taken notice of his presence, let alone his offer of help, so he stood silently to the side, waiting to see if he was asked to help as he didn't want to get in the way.
ROGUE
Sean: "How long Rogue? It's great you've managed to come to get us an all but the Slayer here won't have much longer."
Rogue's attention was shortly distracted by the younger mutant's question. Hardly taking her eyes from Spike - not sure herself whether to make sure he wasn't attacked or attacked someone of their group himself, she replied
"Ah dunno. Riley's got the dimension travel thingy so ah'm just as much in the waitin' position as you are"
The southern belle threw a worried glance at the slayer.
"Jen" she whispered her eyes darkening fearfully.
Rogue noticed that what she had absorbed from Spike lingered unusually long in her conscious instead of disappearing into the deeper areas of her mind, locked away -forgotten as most of the rest she had stolen before - only to come back sporadically haunting her dreams.
"Poor gal... hope she'll make it"
SPIKE
(ooc-Everyone, feel free to NPC the vampires attacking you)
The vampire had his hands over his ears and the glass cube that was wrapped safely in his old torn shirt, rested on his lap as he crouched down and waited for the others to arrive.
Spike:"The light, it'll stop in the light, they'll stop screaming there, they always stop around the Slayer, jus' gotta wait, gotta wait for her to stop whisperin'.."
He mumbled under his breath as he nervously glanced about, but suddenly he stood his full hight, the item on his lap carelessly dropping into the dry dirt of the graveyard.
Spike:"Don't hurt her! Don't hurt her!"
He called out in a panic as he looked about, once again staying so close to Rogue his body brushed against hers, but he paid no attention to the contact.
Willow:"I'm not letting you leave me!"
The call echoed all around them like a signal for the demons to attack, they must have been hidden by a spell because from being an empty graveyard, it became full of vampires, the undead creatures grabbing at the humans.
There was a blur in front of Rogue for a moment, something rushing past her, a cold gush of wind quickly following before Spike seems to disappear from her side. One minute he was in the safety of Rogue's presence, the next thing the blonde vampire was pinned to the ground with his childe sitting atop him.
Willow:"I won't let you leave me!"
Her knees pinned his arms to the side of his body and her weight kept the exhausted vampire from sitting up. But Spike's eyes where more focused on Rogue who had been grabbed from behind by two of the demons.
Spike:"Don't hurt her!"
In anger Willow's hands pressed down into his chest, unaware of his wound, which caused him to cry out in pain. Instantly she released the pressure and instead her hands began to glow a pale white light as she spoke.
Willow:"Tell them you want to stay with me! Tell them you love only me!"
Spike seemed slightly dazed from the pain of his shoulder for the moment, aggravating Willow further as she clenched her fists tightly.
Willow:"I can give you anything you want! I can get you your soul back!"
Spike:"..Wonna earn it!"
He growled as he started struggling desperately once again.
Willow:"You'll never be able to earn it! Creatures like us can't earn souls! We take them!"
She pressed her glowing hands against his chest as the others where being kept busy by the attacking vampires, her eyes turning black as she began focusing her magic.
Willow:"I can turn you back into the demon you where!"
There was a loud yell that came from Spike that sounded somewhat like a 'no' but the panic in his voice and the fact he was also struggling against her had turned it into more of a simple yell then an actual word.
Willow:"I could lock away the memories that haunt you! I can protect you from anything! I can make you forget everything!"
Spike:"No! No! No!"
Vamping out in anger, Spike's golden eyes glare up at her stubbornly.
Spike:"NO!"
But Willow remained rather calm as she smiled sweetly down at him, her hands stopped glowing as she pulled them away from his skin.
Willow:"...Then I won't ask for you to stay with me, I'll demand for you to."
Returning to his human form, Spike seemed to instantly stop struggling, the red head smiled even more as she leaned down and gave him a kiss.
Willow:"See, not so bad now, you're going to be with me, not them, you don't belong with them."
Standing up and helping her sire to his feet, though he seemed to move rather slowly and weakly, she held onto his arm as he stared down at the ground. His head tilted slightly from side to side as he stood there trying to make sense of what was happening around him.
Once they where both standing, her eyes looked towards the mutant who she could smell upon Spike more strongly then the others. The Untouchable X-Men was being kept busy by the attacking vampires that struggled to keep her attention focused solely on the fight.
He looked down at the ground around his feet for a moment, his eyes searching for his discarded treasure, once he laid eyes upon it, he moved over and scooped it up into his cold hands. He seemed completely unfocused on what was happening around him as they all fought, as if he didn't completely register what was actually happening.
But then again, that was how Spike mostly acted recently, so he was used to this feeling, the scent of the Slayers blood wrapped around his mind as he turned and looked towards her. Slowly he slipped the object in his grasp into his pocket as he looked towards where Willow was, her figure moving slowly to sneak up on the distracted X-Woman.
Spike:"You did it to me again! You all always do it to me, why can't you stop, can't you all leave me alone, can't you stop hurtin' me, stay out of my head, stop usin' me, stop treatin' me like a bloody toy for you all to play with!"
Willow's golden eyes snapped back towards Spike as he stood with his hands covering his face, with a growl she gave up attacking the mutant and left her to the others. It was odd, the two vampires fighting with each other like a couple about to break up while everyone else around them fought for their lives.
Spike:"You used magic on me! I'm older, it doesn't work as well, and you should know that!"
He looked extremely hurt and confused as his hands kept stroking threw the short blonde hair on the side of his head.
Willow:"You love me! I'm not letting you leave!"
Spike:"I do love you, like family, nothin' more, jus' family! We're family! It's not your choice to make me stay!"
The emotional vampire shut his eyes as he tried to drown out all the yelling around him.
Spike:"And family always keeps hurtin' me, is that how it goes, are we such monster we can't care about each other? Aren't we allowed to care? Aren't we allowed to be kind....to not hurt each other, I can't cope, I can't cope any more.."
Willow:"Spike...you can cope, we'll cope together!"
Spike:"You just tried to use me, like...like them, like they do, you want the demon, you don't care what happens to the man! I'm only flesh to you all, only flesh, flesh to hurt, flesh that you want to touch and hurt! I don't want to be flesh any more, I want to be a person, I want more then flesh, I want a heart!"
Willow:"You can't have one!"
Spike:"I already got one!"
She grabbed at his arms and pulled them away from his face, pulling him down to the ground as they remained out of harms way and now on their knees.
Willow:"It's not a heart you have Spike, it's a conscious, and there's nothing else, you don't belong with them, you'll never survive in their world! You won't make it without me!"
Spike:"What makes you think I don't see how you made a fool o'me? I will survive! I'm gonna make it threw! Jus' gimme time, I'll get over you, I'll survive, no matter what you do, I will because I'm not alone, because they're goin' to help me threw it!"
With a growl he pushed her back, then rushed away from her, tackling one of the vampires who where fighting with Rogue to the ground. Spike's mind was all over the place, he felt betrayed by Willow, distracted by the powerful scent of the Slayer's blood, which wasn't helping since he was hungry, and he was also tired and confused.
The next few things happened so fast that Spike barely remembers what had happened. First there was a blurred motion of fists, then he was thrown off the vampire, then he was grabbed by the arm, and then Spike managed to have the other demon in a tight grip from behind. In the fight Spike had vamped out, an anger boiling inside of him over what Willow tried to do to him and what this creature had tried to do to Rogue.
He was so tense that his grip on the weaker demon caused it to yell out in pain.
Spike:"They have to stop yellin'! They have to stop yellin!"
He growled as he pulled the younger vampire into a tighter restraining embrace, refusing to release it so it could hurt Rogue again. There was an animalistic roar from Spike moments before his teeth dug into the neck of the vampire, a gargled cry escaped the demon before both he and Spike dropped to their knees.
At first Spike's fangs remained motionless in the creatures neck as he seemed to be in shock, but soon blood trickled down his throat, fresh - human - blood. Without thinking, the urge to feed over powering the unstable creature, Spike began hungrily draining the younger vampire of its stolen blood.
But unlike all of Spike's other victims, this one didn't remain in his arms once it was quickly drained of its life force, this one melted away into ash. As soon as he had stopped, as soon as he realised what he had done, the both emotionally as well as mentally unstable demon seemed to cry out in agony, even though he wasn't in pain.
Once again the vampire curled forward, it was the worse feeling he's ever felt, which was strange, because he actually felt really good..
Maybe it was the fact he wasn't in pain, maybe it was the fact he just murdered something like the monster he was and he wasn't being punished for it....but he knew deep down...it was also because he drunk human blood...and it actually tasted good.
His arms grabbed at his head with his hands, his demonic face hidden behind his arms as he started yelling out loudly in tears. As soon as he pulled his hands away from his face, he started clawing at his chest, his short nails scratching at his skin in a panic. He didn't care if it would hurt him, he wanted to get the blood out of him, he wanted to get it out, he wanted it to bleed out of him.
Spike:"Get out! Get out of me! GET OUT!"
His teary golden eyes had a slightly blood red tint to them as they darted across his scratched chest in his terrorized state.
CATHERINE
Stretching up, she grabbed hold of her hair, twisting it round in her hands wringing out the water from it, hearing it patter down onto the pavement. Keeping the pace she was walking just that little bit faster than the other three, she needed some alone time or she was going to throttle Dave, he couldn't stay in a watery puddle forever.
'Get out! Get out of me! GET OUT' She tried not to let the vampires voice concern her as she approached the graveyard, after all Riley had told her he was insane. But something slowed her footsteps as she passed the white pillars and stepped onto the dusty soil of the graveyard, her keen eyes adjusting to the darker blackness of the graveyard which was lit by no street lamps.
Something warned her she should wait for the others, but she didn't want to, she didn't want to Dave to see he'd upset her. Trying not to shiver too much, she could warm up when she got home.
Catherine advanced into the dark, her confidence growing when she caught sight of Spike, the others must be close by, what was he doing ...
She didn't have time to wonder past that stage, she caught sight of a blur of movement out of the corner of one of her dark eyes. She tired to dodge backwards out of the way of the vampire but her muscles seemed almost sluggish from the cold which was invading her body. She stumbled feeling hands reach out and grab her arms, she was dragged and hurled against something, it gave way under her weight and she realised it was a door.
'Hmmmm. I'm used to my dinner putting up more of a struggle.' A male voice said it had an evil twist to it which hinted that he usually toyed with his dinner before he ate it, she found herself looking up into the yellow eyes and vamped out face of a vampire. He turned round and closed the door after him, turning and shooting the bolt home, plunging her into complete darkness. She wanted to scream but her voice seemed to be frozen in her throat. She scrambled to her feet, her breath coming in gasps, where was he?
'You shouldn't be wandering around in the dark.' His voice said from behind her, she span around her heart beating wildly. 'Alone in the dark.' The voice came from off to her left.
'Does your mother know your out?' his words had a dark resemblance to those ones she had heard uttered a year or more ago.
'Leave me alone.' She managed to choke out, she wasn't brave, she couldn't do this where were Bekki and the others, weren’t they meant to stick by her ... wasn't this the part in the films where a hero would bound in and save her ... but the door remained shut and the only sound was that of her own breathing. She could feel panic building up in her stomach, knowing he could see her, knowing he knew exactly where she was, knowing any second he was going to pounce upon her. Her hands were shaking and it had nothing to do with the cold.
She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, trying to inch her way to the door.
'Leaving already.' His voice hissed from right next to her right ear, she flinched and stumbled off to the side, knocking into something, stumbling, almost falling over in the pitch black. 'Aren't you going to even stay for dinner, you are my quest after all, it's very impolite.'
She backed off further from the voice, felt the wall bring her up sharply, the next second feeling his hands clamp onto her slender arms.
'I'm lonely.' He whispered his face close to hers, 'your pretty, I think maybe I'll sire you, you can stay here with me then.' His voice silky in the darkness. 'Your lonely too ... I can sense it.' His body lightly brushed against her, she jumped as if she'd been touched by an electric shock.
'Please let me go.' She said whimpering, this was bringing back memories she'd rather forget, she tired to push him away, forgetting that she had two guns in her pockets. Her muscles felt like lead, fear freezing through her veins, this wasn't happening, it wasn't.
He was crushing her against the wall, her hands which were trying to push him away uselessly pinned between them, she didn't want to die ... not yet, there was so much she hadn't done yet, she wanted to go back to England, she didn't want to live here, and she wanted her house by the beach and maybe she even wanted a boyfriend, she didn't want to live here in this dark world forever and she didn't want to die here.
His lips were against hers ... was this the only way of kissing? everyone who kissed her always seemed so demanding. His lips were at her neck now, one of his hands drawing her wet golden hair from her neck. She wasn't one for screaming but she couldn't help it, as his teeth broke the surface of her skin. Not her ... why her ... she could feel her blood running down her neck, warm against her cold skin, could feel him tasting her. Her scream ended in something of a strangled sob and she hung rather limply in his arms, admitting defeat.
DAVE
Dave was walking just behind riley as they approached the graveyard, he saw cat suddenly disappear, he was about to follow when he heard a noise next to him in the darkness. He turned his head as he walked, trying in vain to see through the thick dark that encircled them, seeing just in time as a creature jumped out of the darkness towards the group.
Instinctively he changed to his watery form meaning that the attackers blows went right through him, although he hoped it didn’t produce any electrical weaponry, if so he was at a distinct disadvantage. “Kinda stupid aren’t they” he mumbled loudly as the creature stood trying to hit him but failing repeatedly, its fist making sloshing noises as it passed through his body
He clenched his fist, concentrating on making that part of him solid then punched hard, the vampire stepped backwards stunned that he had attacked something and it had fought back “my turn” Dave growled through watery clenched teeth as he followed the surprised creature, sending it backwards again, he watched as it looked him over in surprise and started to scurry off, annoyed that it hadn’t stayed around to fight he turned to riley “find out what happened with cat, I’m not letting that thing get away with that” he said angrily, running off before anyone could say anything
He caught up with the creature, it was obviously not very bright as it had now stopped, he stepped a little closer, looking for something to stab it onto, the only thing he could see was a nearby tree. “Hey” he yelled smiling, the creature turned round as a powerful jet of water hit it, sending it flying into the tree, a broken branch penetrating its chest.
With the fight over his eyes searched out for cat, he couldn’t see her any more, in fact he couldn’t see anyone any more, in his eagerness to pulverize his attacker he had strayed away from the rest of the group and was now alone, in the dark. He began to walk slowly in the direction he thought he had come, a sudden tired feeling creeping over him.
“Hey slow down a little, you don’t want to tire yourself out” it was last year, the words of Sam had come as a surprise to him, he had never thought of that before, he had always believed that mutants could use their powers continuously. He had been practicing for an hour in his watery state and was feeling pretty tired, only then it didn’t matter if he collapsed or not.
The words came back to him now, echoing in his mind as the world began to slowly spin around him, the darkness closing in, he dropped to his knees, returning to his normal state, he wished he had not run off like that, it was stupid, as if it were in slow motion the ground seemed closer as he fell forwards into unconsciousness
ooc: my appologies for the length, i kinda blabbed a bit in the middle
RILEY
The scent of the girl that had shot him drifted passed him as he scratched at his chest, but he ignored it, along with the other scents of everyone else.
Dawn and Riley glanced nervously about as Dave ran off, but with Dave's attitude, Riley didn't trust the boy on his own.
Riley:"Dawn, stay with him!"
Dawn:"But Ril-"
Riley:"No! Stay with him!"
He pulled away from her, showing her that he was able to stand on his own, that he didn't need any help, but Dawn knew he did, he was just being stubborn. However she did as he asked her to, hurrying off after Dave in hopes of helping aid him in his fights.
It was hard to find anyone in the darkness that wasn't moving, which was basicly the reason Dawn almost tripped over the figure by her feet. It was like everyone was collapsing around her...She bent down and grabbed hold of his arm.
Dawn:"Dave? Dave wake up! Get to your feet! Someone help us!"
In the distance Riley was busy with his own search.
Riley:"Catherine?"
He took a few steps forward, but there was no reply, not even an 'I can handle myself!' or 'I don't need your help' like he had expected, and this worried him even more.
Riley:"Catherine!?"
He called out with even more worry in his voice as his eyes searched the shadowy figures around him, dammit, was she ignoring him?
'Catherine'...Spike's red tinted golden eyes peered wildly over towards Riley who was looking about franticly, Spike could sense Rogue was looking over towards him. But he didn't want to see her, he was a monster, he just proved it, god she must be disgusted with him...how could he have done what he had just did?
Riley:"Catherine please! Please respond!"
The vampire let out a loud snarling sound as he dashed off towards where Riley was standing, his mind was focused now only on the girl, the one who had shot him...the one who had punished him for being bad..
Riley:"Spike! I can't find Catherine!"
The vampire didn't pay any attention the boy who was in the distance, he paused for a moment, his eyes following the direction of the scent. His gave a loud wild growl as his eyes laid upon one of the crypts, much like the one he used to stay in while Angelus was trapped in his hell dimension.
Bounding towards the crypt on all fours, the vampire's fangs making him look extremely dangerous for the Agent who was watching him. But Riley didn't let that stop him from hurrying after Spike, there was nothing Riley could do if he couldn't see her, he needed Spike to track her down.
Patting down his pants, Riley remembered Cat had both weapons on her, rotten luck, how was he going to fight off any monsters in his condition?
There was a loud bang at the door of the crypt, the sound of something being tossed against it, the wild roars of the vampire on the other side desperately trying to get in. If she got hurt, it was all Spikes fault, because he tossed her here, he left her in the shadows to be hurt!
Riley:"Spike!?"
But Spike ignored the human, the palms of his hand thrashing against the door, everything seemed to go silent for a moment as Spike shook the images of what he had done to the vampire out of him. With another painful cry of guilt, the vampire slammed himself against the door once again, shattering the hold that held the bolt and locked the door.
The sight that greeted the vampire was something that came from the very pit of his nightmares, he was paralysed, surely this couldn't be real! This was just another trick on his mind, just another trick!
Riley:"Catherine!"
The agent's voice was soak in fear for her safety, it was as if as soon as Riley saw Cat, Spike new this was real, snapping into action, his hands reaching out and grabbing at the vampire. The younger attacking vampire released his hold of Catherine, the blonde vampire throwing the creature threw the air smacking into the wall on the other side of the crypt.
Riley's arms grabbed at Cat's body as she began to slump down the wall.
Riley:"No, no Catherine please.."
He weakly held her close to him, his strength to far gone to carry her to safety, the warmth of her blood trickling down his shouldesr as he rested her body against him.
Riley:"Stay with me, please, don't leave, don't you leave too.."
He pulled her close to him, pulled her into his embrace yet again, only this was more then a comforting one, this was one of desperation, this was one of pure devotion for her.
Riley:"Please don't leave me...I gave up everything to come and get you, please Catherine...don't you leave me as well.."
There was a shuffle behind them, the thud as the two vampires struggled, a gargled cry as Spike slammed the creature across the room yet again.
Riley:"I can't help her!"
The vampire looked over towards Riley cradling the girl, then back to the vampire who laid motionless on the ground.
Riley:"How can I keep failing her so many times? How can I do this to her? I hate the Initiative, look what they have done to me, Spike I can't even carry her out of here, I can't help her because of what they've done to me! I hate them! I wish I wasn't like this! I wish I was strong enough to protect her.."
The vampire hurried over to them, pulling his coat off himself and wrapping it around the girl as he picked her up, her head rested against his shoulder. Riley's hands pulled away some of her hair to see the wound on her neck, yet all he could see was a dark black pool of blood..
Spike moved away, but Riley stayed glued by his side, his hand reaching over and gently holding Catherine's as she had done for him earlier.
Riley:"Please Catherine, can you hear me? Can you stay awake...don't go...please respond, tell me you hear me.."
CATHERINE
As if from far away she heard roars, more vampires? where they coming to hurt her? she was dying wasn't she? A small part of her was glad, maybe she would get to see her mother and father again, she missed them so much.
Then the support of the vampire's body was gone, there was the sound of blood rushing to her head and her legs gave way under her. She tired to brace her body to meet the ground which rushed up towards her. But she felt soft arms encircle her, someone was holding her up, who ever it was seemed a long way away, as if he was touching another person and she was only imagining it
He was speaking, to her, he sounded worried ... who was he? ... Where were the others ... the ground seemed to be spinning under her feet. Why wouldn't he let her lye down, she just wanted to rest for a minute, she was sure her head would be back to normal then, she struggled weakly against him for a moment.
'Please don't leave me...I gave up everything to come and get you, please Catherine...don't you leave me as well..' Who ever it was knew her name ... she wanted to open her eyes but they wouldn't obey her. One hand closed over the front of his jumper ... everything .... she wondered what that meant, she stopped trying to weakly pull herself away from him, realising she didn't mind being held in who evers arms she was, she hadn't been held in so long, infact she wasn't sure if anyone had held her like this ... who was he. Why was he telling her not to leave, was she going somewhere? was that her blood she could feel on her neck?
She felt someone pick her up, the warm chest she had leaned upon was gone, they were wrapping her in something, her head was leaning against a shoulder, but there was no warmth in it, it was cold and lifeless. Her neck hurt, a dull throbbing pain that ran straight up into the centre of her brain. The boy who had held her was speaking again, she caught one word only "Initiative" Her eyes finally obeyed her, the face of the blond vampire swimming into view, she tried to struggle in his arms, but he easily held onto her. He was going to bite her too, she could feel blood trickling down her neck, hadn't she just cleaned blood off her, she couldn't loose any ... she needed it for Rogue.
She felt someone lift the damp bloodstained hair lying on her neck, letting out a suppressed murmur of pain as several strands of her hair caught in the edge of her wound, tugging at broken tissue, sending jolts of pain though her. Whoever had lifted her hair took hold of her hand..
'I don't feel well ... I want my mum.' She mumbled in a pained voice into Spike's chest, closing her eyes again, why did she have to stay awake, she was so tired, couldn't she just go to sleep, just for a moment. She wanted her mother, like when any child is hurt, they magicaly assume that their mother can cure anything. She didn't remember for a moment that she was an orphan, turning her head slightly to press her forehead against Spikes chest, letting out a muffled cry of phsyical and mental agony as she remembered.
MATT
Sean continued to hold Jen's precious life-giving blood from her wounds but he was getting tired, and now with the arrival of Willow and her Vamp friends things were getting desperate. Sean turned to Rogue, and then to Matt but they both looked stunned. But Matt started to move, he walked between Sean and Rogue and spoke softly, making sure that the one that had brought the Slayer here could hear to;
"Listen, I'll talk to Willow, you two watch Sean and the Slayer's backs if you can, don't let the Vamps get to them."
Slowly Matt walked forward, Willow was not far ahead of him but she was turned away, but he could tell a quaint smile formed across her face as she watched Spike and her Vampire friends. The breeze tosseled Matt's long jacket as he spoke and the faint smell of blood could e sensed on the air;
"Hello again Willow. It's good to see you again, please, talk to me. We need to sort this mess out....once and for all." Matt spoke quickly as he could see the circling Vampires slowly edging forward towards the ones he said he would help and protect, he had top get Willow on his side if possable, for the sake of these otherworlders.....
TEMPTEST
(OOC: *hrm* sorry... for the sake of character development, I needed to have it that long...^-^;
As the vampires began to attack from all sides, the redhead's voice almost drowned in their groals, hisses and roars. Rogue couldn't prevent a jerk of surprise but as the some of them jumped at her, she concentrated on the fight only.
Everything else would have meant immediate death or worse. Between sending one after another to the ground, the southern belle glanced at Spike, worry in her emerald eyes. This female vampire he seemed to know apparently meant trouble of psychological kind.
"Oh dust already, will ya?" Rogue shouted rather frustrated since whenever she had punched one demon brutally, after flying through the air landing some metres away, it simply stood up again and returned.
As to yet, she could only defend herself and Matt's request didn't really make it easier.
Matt: "you two watch Sean and the Slayer's backs if you can"
"Can't promise anythin' " she shouted back to him. In fact she knew there was only the choice between getting killed or defending herself.
*Wha' was it again? Fire, beheadin', stakin'... holy water... damn, should've made some shoppin' tour before*
"Geee... alrigh', ya asked for it!" Anger making her eyes flash dangerously, Rogue grabbed two of the vampires nearby and speeded high into the sky. Naturally, both tried to free themselves but only a second after she had lifted off, the southern belle hovered high enough to have a surrounding temperature of about 60 degress Celsius... sub zero.
Even those undead creatures experienced troubles moving which was just what the mutant had waited for. Her arms which had locked the two tightly around arms and hips changed their position now placed around their necks.
Using her supernatural strength, Rogue tightened the grip immensly. A tree of 1,000 years would have broken - the demons lost their heads and disappeared.
"Now tha's been somethin'!" With a satisfied smirk, the mutant speeded back to repeat the procedure. Maybe this would keep the vamps busy enough to leave Jen and the others in peace... relatively spoken.
By that time, Spike had already run to Catherine.
Soundlessly, Kane fought the demons surrounding him. The slayer he had laid carefully on the ground behind him. With Sean and some others nearby, he hoped the girl wouldn't get attacked even more.
It weren't much - only three - but contrary to the southern belle, he didn't have supernatural strength.
However, the years of martial arts practice came in handy but although his kicks and punches had apparently at least *some* effect, it wasn't enough to defeat his oponents.
As soon as he had realized that, the door that had been unlocked before when Riley seemed to be in danger opened within him again.
A growl of surprise sounded around him as a static field began to hum, forming a ball of electricity in whose center Tempest was standing.
It was anything but powerful - in fact it wasn't even able to really *hurt* the demons - but since it came along with an impressing light show, the vampires kept their distance for a moment not sure how to react to this new situation.
"Alright... I can do it..." Kane whispered encouring himself as he concentrated on the sky, his eyes flashing white-blue with electricity.
A strong wind occured as the weather controlling mutant tried to call enough clouds for what he intended to achieve but no matter how much he concentrated, he could feel it wasn't enough.
Even if he had focused his powers using an incantation as Circe had advised him, it would have been of no use. The storm remained beneath the sky's layers in which clouds normally formed themselves.
Although noticing that, Tempest stared stubbornly - almost in an accusing way - at the incredibly dark dome. What he had accomplished by accident before obviously didn't work by will.
"You wanna be next, sugah?"
Rogue felt great. Not only that everything worked without planning, thinking about strategies for hours and discussing - no, in addition, those vampires were incredibly dumb!
Whenever she grabbed two of them and ascended to dust them, the rest would simply stare after her and their "relatives" apparently thinking she wouldn't survive.
After returning unharmed, they would start their attacks again which made is easy for the southern belle to get hold of another pair of demons to kill.
As flew up again with another delivery for hell, she felt something strangely familiar. A buzzing had begun to sound in those higher layers of the sky and Rogue could feel her hair erect lightly.
*Storm?* she thought almost forgetting about the struggling demons whose movements were rather slow and weak due to the coldness.
Confusion made her frown. She had fought uncountable times with Ororo and this was exactly what she had always felt shortly before her friend had started to call bolts.
Nonchalently, the southern gal beheaded the vampires her eyes searching for the source.
Some moments later she had found it. Surrounded by a crackling white aura, the young man that had been introduced as Tempest slowly hovered upwards.
Curiously, Rogue approached him. His head thrown back, the white-haired mutant stared as if in trance into the sky. Suddenly, a mixture of surprise, shock and understanding appeared on his face as saw her.
After some time in which the vampires had almost decided to try another attack, a thought had occured to Kane. Maybe it was just the distance. If only he was closer to where the storm's center was supposed to be, he could be able to...
Why was Rogue hoving that near to the ground? Why was it getting so cold?
"I'm... flying?" he whispered in surprise and slowly looked down. He better hadn't. Before he had himself back under control, the shock of seeing how distant the ground actually was cut the connection to te winds his subconscious had created and he fell.
Before Rogue was close enough to catch him, he had understood how flying worked and managed to stop his fall, even ascended again.
A smile appeared on his features. He could fly!
After a minute of simply enjoying the feeling, the southern belle's words made him snap back to reality.
"Hey! Wanna do somethin' or what?!"
"I'll try..." he replied and concentrated again. It was hard to keep on flying and call the clouds at the same time but shortly before a dark grey curtain covered the tinted sky, Kane knew how he could leave this task to his subconscious. It wasn't difficult at all.
"Come, violent thunderstorm, I command you!" he shouted over the raging winds around him not bothering whether Rogue heard the dramatic voice or not. It was just easier to focus this way.
Immediately followed by deafening thunder, lightning began to strike. First far out of harm's way about a kilometre away but as Tempest felt its present, he knew.
Raising an arm, Kane looked down at the fighting crowd gathering the power of electricity in the clouds right above them. From their wild movements, the white-haired mutant could locate a group of vampires at the eastern side, apparently waiting whether they would be needed or not.
"Thanks for bein' my trainin' objects"
Staring at them, something clicked within him. Aiming precisely wasn't as difficult as he had feared.
With a commanding gesture of his formerly raised arm, he could feel the elements' power rush all around, through and within him and at the same time as horrifying thunder growled again, a bolt splitted the sky.
The group of demons was on fire and only a moment later, not even ashes reminded of their existence.
Making first one and then another reinforcement group of vampires combust this way, Tempest laughed whole-heartedly. Everything was so easy. He didn't need to force himself staying calm anymore. The weather-controlling mutant understood how to vary the intensity and power of his heavenly weapons and thus knew how to use them without endangering those being on his side.
A well-aimed shot of lightning sent a vampire near Murray to hell and Kane still laughed.
Realizing there was still work to be done, Rogue left the higher spheres again. This Tempest reminded him of Storm... and it wasn't only the name. Landing, a quick glance around made clear that at least nearby, there was no one to attack anymore.
Searching for someone of their people needing help, the southern belle speeded towards the graveyard's center.
Up in the planet's atmosphere, Kane Munroe was closer to insanity than he thought.
"FREE! FINALLY FREE!!!"
RILEY & SPIKE
(ooc- After accidentally slapping Tempest, ^^" *Apologises once again to him*...I'm now in a slapping mood..*Slaps everyone who apologises for doing long posts* Stop that! The longer, more detailed posts you do, the more amazing they are! ..*Quickly hands out icepacks again* ^^)
Willow stared at Matt with tears and anger.
Willow:"They're taking him away from me! He's all I have left and they're taking him away, I've got nothing, I don't want to talk about it Matt, I just want him back!"
She appeared too distraught to actually be bothered attacking him, but rally she didn't want to hurt him...he was the only human family she had left....she wasn't ready to lose him as well.
'I don't feel well ... I want my mum.'..It's like something 'clicked' inside of Spike's mind when she had said that, his face returned to normal, not wanting to frighten her, he wanted to say something...anything...
He wanted to get her home to her mother, he wanted her to...why was she crying like that? No...he knew why...anyone who's lost their parents knows why..
Spike:"...You got a soul Pet, she'll always be inside there with you....keepin' you strong.."
Why couldn't he be more human? Why couldn't he - for her - at least have the body heat she needed to keep warm.
Riley:"We're going to get you back to the school, we're going to make sure you're alright, you're not going to be alone Catherine....not any more.."
Spike's hazel eyes darted across the battle scene, part of him wanted to go fight, part of him was terrified to fight and another part just wanted to protected the girl who he had caused so much pain by throwing here..
Spike:"I hurt her Riley, I did this to her, I can't cope...I'm not gonna cope, it's all too much, I'm not used t'all these feelings, there's too much guilt. I can't handle any more....I can't, if she....if she doesn't make it I'm not gonna...I'm not gonna make it threw, I'm not gonna survive this time.."
Riley:"You didn't hurt her, look Spike, you're helping....focus on that, don't focus on anything else but the fact you're helping her."
Spike:"I can't focus..I can't....it's too hard....to much...too much is happening, all around, inside o'me, outside, all around.."
Riley:"Spike, please, you're the only thing that's protecting her right now.."
But Spike's mind was already filled with more thoughts then he could handle, even if he continued to hold Catherine close...was she going to die in his arms like so many other girls her age have?
Riley:"Spike, Spike I want you to talk to me, anything and everything that pops into your head, get it off your chest, we need you to remain focused, I need you to protect her."
They stood, Riley readying to open the portal, it'd take a moment for the device to open the vortex into their world, but he was nervous about doing it while everyone was scattered about fighting.
Riley:"...I don't care if you're insane, I'm a psych grad remember, I am qualified to nod my head along to anything you say, and I won't tell anyone else, I swear, please don't lose focus while Cat needs you."
The vampire's eyes stared down at the girl in his arms half dazed, but then he shut them tightly and tried to focus on which thought to start on...there where so many things on his mind all at once..
Spike:"I'm afraid of this world Riley, I'm afraid of the shadows and what they've done to me, I'm afraid if I stay here any longer I'll become an even worse monster then I am. I'm afraid of the demon inside o'me, I'm afraid the Slayer's goin' t'die, she's the only one that was willin' to help me when everythin' started to change."
Riley stood in front of Spike, making it easy for himself to hold Catherine’s hand, trying his best to keep her warm in Spike's coat. As Spike went silent Riley looked up sternly, as if ordering his wondering eyes to focus on him and continue talking.
Spike:"Home, I want to go home, I haven't seen England in so long, I jus' want to see it, jus' for once I want to see it, Angelus destroyed it here, he destroyed it because I loved it. I know that's the reason, it's always the reason, he always tries an' hurt me. I had a decent life in England, everyone but mum seemed to hate me, they hated my poems, because I love her and I'd write her poems..."
Once again he shut his eyes, shaking his head to signal he couldn't go on.
Riley:"Keep going, come on, look, you're doing fine, nothing's happening while you're distracting yourself."
Opening his hazel eyes once again, Spike simply kept blurting out whatever came into his head as Riley fretted over Catherine's well being.
Riley:"Hang in there Cat, we're almost home.."
Spike:"Mum used to sing, whenever she was sawing, or when I was jus' a baby, I remember the words, only the first part, it always made me feel safe. I can still hear them, echoing inside my mind, it was her favourite song, you'd always hear 'Early One Mornin'' bein' sung in the house when she was happy."
The vampire looked off towards where Rogue was, his keen eyes keeping watch over her.
Spike:"She promised to stop me, if I ever got bad again, I don't want to get bad, I don't want to be like that again, I don't want to hurt anyone like that, never again.."
Riley:"I'm sorry Catherine.."
He gently stroked the side of her cheek, ashamed for having left her alone to be harmed like this.
Spike:"...Riley, why don't you stay?"
Riley looked up at Spike, slightly surprised he had stopped mumbling and was now giving the agent a serious - yet quizzical - look.
Riley:"I want to...no one understands...I want to stay so much, but it's more then I just don't belong, because I know no one would care if I was human or not. But Spike, if I stay, I'll be putting everyone I care about in danger, they're coming for me, and if I don't go, they'll never stop coming for me."
Spike frowned, wishing he could do more for the girl and the slayer and everyone who was all around him.
Spike:"There's so much blood.."
Riley:"Spike didn't even think-"
Spike:"No, not that...it hurts...I can't stand the sight of blood.."
He closed his eyes and looked away, but that didn't stop him from being able to smell it in the air all around him.
Riley:"Everyone hurry over here!"
His voice was still shaky, but his desperation to get Catherine home was giving him a little strength to pull threw this nightmare.
CATHERINE
Why did it have to hurt like this? she didn't like being in pain, she had enough mental pain to cope with it didn't seem fair that she had this on top of it. She didn't hear what they were saying the words seemed to wash over her and around her.
She let her stressed muscles relax, realising that Spike wasn't going to hurt her. Her eyes opened again as she felt something touch her cheek, someones hand, but his face seemed very blurry and far away, was that the same person who was holding her hand ... who was it?
Her eyelids were growing heavy, she blinked heavily and looked wearily infront of her, her breath was warm against the bare shoulder her head rested against, warming the cold skin. Her body was shaking slightly from shock and cold, why wouldn't they just let her go to sleep, Spike's arms weren't particularly comfortable. Wasn't he insane, why was he holding her, hadn't she tired to kill him? Everything was so confusing, none of it made any sense ... was she dying? Pain smashed through her head in weakening waves, where had the vampire who had attacked her gone, was he going to come back and finish her off.
'Take me home.' She whispered almost desperately, her eyes closing again as a wave of sickness swept over her, but her eyes suddenly opened again, if someone was holding her hand then she wasn't holding the bag anymore, she couldn't go without the photo's. She tried to struggle out of the vampire's grip, trying to pull her hand away from whoever was holding her, her head span crazily.
'I need my bag.' She said. 'Lemme down, I have to get my bag.' Her voice almost frantic, Rogue couldn't go home without them.
SEAN
Sean felt the emotions before he heard the words of Riley calling. He felt desperation, worry, fear, all negitive things that he had to try to push out away from him so that he could consentrate on helping the Slayer was now bombarding his conciousness.
He had to shut them off, the voices, the feelings, they couldn't stay with him for Jen's sake. He fought hard with himself while trying to continue to hold her blood in her body, but he was weakening with this unprovoked attack on his senses, and what made it worse was that it was coming from his allies and they didn't even know.
Sean's face grimaced as he fought it, but it was getting harder as the people got nearer and now with the increased weather volitility caused by Tempest he was finding it harder. He cursed himself, You should of tried harder to develope your psychic abilities! Then this wouldn't be a problem. But now that was no good, and as his face screwed up more, forcing him to keep a grip of his powers, what light was being enveloped by his eyes was starting to fade.
Matt stood infront of Willow, the tears streaking down her pale face. Matt wanted no more than to run to her and hold her close to him, comfort her in this time of crisis, but he couldn't he knew that wasn't the right thing to do now.
"Will, it's me your talking to, don't hold back, attack me if you want." Matt spoke softly and he edged towards the young woman, the sound and actions of screaming, dust-ridden Vampires around them seemed as faint as an echo. He was completely focused on Willow and although the action around them unfolded quickly and savagely, to him it seemed as slow as that of a reflecting in a quiet rippling lake.
"Will, that's not the Spike you know is it. Remember back, the Spike that didn't have to live off of rat blood, the one that killed for fun and was as bad as they came. (Slowly Matt edged forwards a little more, he was just out of grasping reach of his Vampire reletive, but he wasn't going to try anything) You can trust me Willow, we grew up together."
Matt stepped a little closer, he knew this could be dangerous, but he didn't care now, he trusted Willow as if she was fully fledged human again. Matt stared deeply into Willow's eyes and mouthed quietly;
"You could come with us." His tone was low, and only Willow could hear him, but just as the words passed his lips, and although he was inviting a demon to this other world with him, they felt right.....
SPIKE
As the girl struggled and the vampire was forced to restrain her more so she wouldn't fall from his arms, the fact he was holding her against her will caused a flicker of pain to strike him as his chip activated, the burst of pain hitting the creature by surprise.
The vampire staggered backwards slightly as he shut his eyes and desperately tried to keep hold of her, his arms eager to hold her, but everything else was screaming for him to release the girl so the pain would stop.
Riley:"I'll get it for you Cat, I'll get the bag, I'm sure it just fell back there, please relax, please use your strength to get better, I won't leave this world without the bag....I promise.."
Riley quickly took hold of her hands once again, placing them safely over her stomach, one hand held them there gently, the other hand once again reached for her forehead to help keep it still.
Riley:"Please Catherine, if you struggle Spike can't hold you, he can't help you if you fight him, please Catherine, he's all you have right now. I'm going to go grab the bag, I'll be right back, please don't sleep, talk if you have, just fight to stay awake."
As he hurried off, all Spike could do was listen, a soft whimper escaping him as he realized he was alone with the girl, his breathing coming in quiet sobs.
Spike:"Stop...Stop...I can't, can't cope alone any more, I can't.."
Slowly he sank to his knees, gently allowing the girl to rest against him as they sat on the ground. He tried to remain as still as possible for her, but as he held her with his right arm, his left hand pressed against his forehead.
Spike:"Can't cope, don't have a soul, don't have a soul to keep me strong.."
His breathing began to quicken its pace as he tried to continue to drown out everything happening around him.
Spike:"You all lose your family, but you'll see them again, a life time isn't that long, you'll see them again, I can't, I can't, I'll be forever here. And if I die I'll never see them because I'm a terrible animal, a terrible son, I have no right to cry, no right, I'm terrible, terrible...."
In a panic he looked away towards Rogue, his hazel eyes easily seeing threw the dark.
Spike:"Rogue! Rogue! It's all inside o'me and I can't get it out, I can't get it out, please get it out o'me, please! She's bleedin', bleedin' over me, please....please no more blood, I can't cope, no more, no more blood on my hands! Help me! Help!"
His left hand wrapped around the girl more protectively as a vampire hurried passed them, though he was more focused on getting away then on fighting.
Spike's deep breathing soon died away into an eerie silence that only a creature who had no need to breath could do, but soon a soft humming came from the vampire as he closed his eyes. He could hear the words echoing in his mind as he hummed along to the song that'd haunt him for the rest of his existence.
As he repeated the song, his humming became soft whispers as he now stared at the ground, his mind drifting off to the only place he ever really felt safe.
Spike:"It says 'Don't deceive me, never leave me' because there's always lie, always half truths and hidden secrets, and they always leave, always...no one ever stays, not forever...not when you live for an eternity..."
He gave a humourless chuckle, more one of a longing desire then anything else, he looked around, just talking to himself, anything that popped into his head he just said out loud.
Spike:"It's what makes humans so special, they're ability to spend a life time together, to create a family, to grow old, to die together. There so lucky....because....when they die, a bit of them always lives on in their family, but when I die, it'll be the end, I'm all that's left of mother, I'm all that's keepin' her alive.."
He looked back towards Rogue, his voice was kept at it's normal tone as he called for her, as if he had lost the energy to yell.
Spike:"Rogue....Rogue can you help me...please...there's something wrong with me...."
He had to choke back another sob as he finished the sentance, his eyes yet again staring down at the ground.
Spike:"..I'm a monster.."
He could feel her blood seeping down his chest, the gentle warmth that escaped her body slightly warming the scratched flesh on his chest as well as his arms. Once again he began breathing, but it was very shallow and faint, he was just too tired to really bother any more....he wasn't in the mood to pretend he was something he wasn't.
CATHERINE
She stopped struggling, more because she felt to weak to rather than because she was obeying what they said, she could feel a hand pressed against her forehead. Relaxing when she realised that they weren't going to put her down.
'Please Catherine, if you struggle Spike can't hold you, he can't help you if you fight him, please Catherine, he's all you have right now. I'm going to go grab the bag, I'll be right back, please don't sleep, talk if you have, just fight to stay awake.' She didn't want to talk, it hurt to talk, her neck felt like it was being constricted, now really wasn't the best time for her to have a panic attack she half thought. Her breath coming a small painful gasps, Your going to die ... her brain screamed.
She felt him sit down, why was he doing that, wasn't he meant to be taking her home, feeling his arms close a around her a little tighter.
'It's what makes humans so special, they're ability to spend a life time together, to create a family, to grow old, to die together. There so lucky....because....when they die, a bit of them always lives on in their family, but when I die, it'll be the end, I'm all that's left of mother, I'm all that's keepin' her alive..' She heard the vampires words, spoken in something of a broken tone.
'You can only spend a life time together if someone wants you.' She managed to gasp, her cheek resting against his shoulder.
'I'm a monster..' Why were they letting a monster hold her ... and where was Dave ... he'd been here hadn't he? Her eyes were still closed, she made no effort to try and open them, it was just as dark when she had them open so why bother?
SPIKE
The vampire was silent, if she could see his face he'd do anything to hide it away from her, it was filled with the look of feeling abandoned and left alone.
Spike:"...Am I alone because no one wants me...am I unwanted...? Of course I am, I'm a monster, I have nothing to give anyone...I only have flesh...no heart...no soul...jus' an empty an' cold...lifeless creature..."
He was extremely silent after that, he tried to choke back the sobs but he could feel his tears escaping him, which made him even more depressed.
Spike:"Why does it hurt so much, why does it hurt so much inside...how can humans cope everyday like this, how can they cope.."
He gave a soft growl as he shut his eyes tightly.
Spike:"They left me, they left me alone, they didn't even came back to get me...how did you find them, how did you find people who would come find you when you're lost?"
He looked down at his chest, his eyes hovering over her and all the blood, he could feel it all over him, he could feel the warmth of her blood..
Human blood inside of him, human blood all over him, it was everywhere, everywhere, all around, he had to get it off of him, he had to get it out of him, he had to get away from the blood!
A dull pain was still in his left hand from the wound on his shoulder, but he didn't care, his right hand was holding her steady, his left hand was all he had free. His fingers returned his chest, the trickle of warm blood tickling his skin, lowering his head, he placed his fingers over his face, he just wanted to pretend this was another nightmare..
Spike:"Bad Dru, bad, no, no touching, am I jus' flesh? Jus' flesh to you? I loved you, and did, not any more, not like this, you're not allowed to touch, not allowed....you jus' want to hurt me, jus' usin' me.."
He gave a whimper as his fingers grabbed at a fistful of hair short bleached hair.
Spike:"It's not love, it's not, can't you see, it's not, it's rape, you're rapin' me, stop it, please...please stop it..."
He shook his head slowly, another soft cry was desperately being forced back as his mind wondered off.
Spike:"But I'm not allowed to cry, not allowed to, I don't have the right, not a right....not a right...monsters can't cry...we don't have the right.."
He pulled his hand away from his hair, his eyes lingering on the stained fingers at met his sight, blood, her blood, on him, over him, touching him..
Spike:"Get it off...Rogue.....get it off me....Rogue....Rogue..."
ROGUE
"Farewell!" With a now routined movement, a pretty cheerful Rogue ended the last ordinary vampire's existence. At least she thought it was the last one since her eyes didn't tell her the opposite.
Spike: "Rogue... Rogue..."
Her slightly increased senses caught what sounded like a faint whisper and a quick glance towards where the southern gal expected the sound's source to be, she noticed Spike holding a bleeding girl.
No, not a bleeding girl but one of their people... Catherine. As if that wasn't worse enough, the vampire seemed to be close to a total breakdown.
"Are y'alright?" she shouted approaching the two as fast as she was able to. It was an unnecessary question but what else do you say in situations like that?
Using her headband, Rogue tried to stop the bleeding as effective as possible and searched Spike's eyes, her hair deciding to partly cover her face.
"D'you need help?" Soft - almost loving - her voice sounded over the raging elements' noise.
"Bored now!" Kane stated still hovering far above the others. He had killed every group of vampires in sight and now that the lightning around him didn't reveal any more demonic creatures, he felt like a child from whom the favorite toy had been taken.
In an attempt to find some more of the undead kind, the weather-controlling mutant descended a little approaching an area which was full of trees. It was no forest, not even enough for a small one, but enough to hide from flying enemies.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are" Kane muttered wearing a lightly mad grin. This was so fun! Finally, he wasn't the one being hunted... but the hunter!
*X-Man named Rogue, girl that shot the vampire bitten by one - now that's ironical, vampire who was shot by the girl...* He flew past them the thunderstorm still raging violently. Kane didn't care to send it away. It felt good!
A worried expression in her eyes, Rogue looked up as Tempest flew past them. Storm used to look like that as well some years ago as she lost control over her emotions.
This could mean trouble!
"Now what do we have there?" Overjoyed, the white-haired boy spotted three vampires running soundlessly away from the graveyard's center.
Only accompanied by the storm's howling, Tempest speeded after them, close enough to see there faces but unnoticed. Apparently, they didn't expect someone to attack from above.
"Mmh..."
One of them had blood around his mouth, a few drops running down towards his chin. The decision whether to do it fast or slow was made.
Tempest didn't know the girl and in fact, he didn't even care much about her... but now there was a reason to be brutal.
With an animalistic yell - almost sounding like a roar - the mutant let lightning strike right in front of the three vampires forcing them to stop.
Balls of electricity in his hands, Kane landed where it had hit the ground, a smirk on his scarred face.
"I say we party, who's in?"
CATHERINE
'Bad Dru, bad, no, no touching, am I jus' flesh? Jus' flesh to you? I loved you, and did, not any more, not like this, you're not allowed to touch, not allowed...you jus' want to hurt me, jus' usin' me. It's not love, it's not, can't you see, it's not, it's rape, you're rapin' me, stop it, please...please stop it...' Those were the only words that permeated through the thick fog which seemed to envelop her, she could feel rain hammering down onto her head and the crack of thunder so loud around her. But even that seemed distant, like she was standing inside, instead of out here in this tempest of a storm.
She wanted to say something to make him feel better, but she wasn't sure what to say or even if the words would come out. Instead she lifted a shivering hand to lay it upon his cold chest.
Cat felt someone lift something upto her neck, applying pressure to her wound, her head exploded in pain. Her hand slipped from his chest as her mind escaped to somewhere free of pain.
SPIKE
There was a slight twitch in the movement of Spike's head even though he continued to stare back at Rogue's eyes, his own seeming to not really register her presence before him - even though he was staring directly at her.
His gaze dropped down to the warm touch of the girls shaky hand, then - to Spike's shock - her body went limp in his arms, like all so many other girls before her...only this time it wasn't a demon's mind that was watching her die.
Spike:"I-I can't, ok? Ok? Not ok...right...read her a poem, read her....can't stay, fright-frightfully sorry...c-can't..."
He shook his head as if he was refusing something, his left hand stroking across the top of his head, the blood leaving parts of his blonde hair with a red tint.
Spike:"Per-Perhaps, perhaps anoth-another time? Wh-when....when...mo-moth-mother is...is...isn't unwell, she is, un-unwell. She...sh-she..."
He shut his eyes tightly before he gave a frantic cry and looked about at his hands and then at everything that was happening around him.
Spike:"Rogue! Rogue! Rogue! Wh-where...where am...where am...wh-what...what.....ok? Help? Need help? Ok? Ok? No, n-no! Ok? Help? No!"
Although he sounded scared and frantic, he let out a laugh and reached for Rogue's hand, his fingers desperately wrapping around her arm.
Spike:"C-can we go to the park? Alex-Alexander had whispered Cecily was to sing today, please? It's such a wonderful day...I shall walk you there, an'...an' I can write you a poem...and she can see....she can s-see me pretend...pretend that...that...she didn't hurt me..."
His eyes swelled with yet more tears but he smiled at the southern belle with such a warm-hearted smile that - had it not been for the tears and blood - he would have seemed so human and very sane.
Spike:"B-But that's what luv is....pain. They....they hurt...me...they do...do...things....I don't...don't like, they say...say things th-that hurt... Bu-But I don't care an-any more, it do-doesn't hurt....I....it doesn't...I-I won't let it.."
He let his fingers slip from her arm and returned to holding Catherine, holding her as his mother had so often held him, a soft humming coming from him as he stared ahead at the ground. Everything around him seemed to grow so distant, he didn't pay any attention to the others nor Rogue who was so close to him. His eyes had a distant look in them, to any noise that might have normally caused him to look about startled, he simply ignored completely as if unable to hear it.
CLAY
(OOC: Wow sorry guys, I don't post for a few days and look what I miss! **eyes glaze over from reading posts** Lots of activity at Spirit all of a sudden so I've been over there. Back though )
Clay was later than any of the others as he came up on the graveyard. He had been dragging his feet some of the way, not in any hurry simply because he had still been in a state of shock. Clay was the type of guy who didn't take news and just deal with it, he was constantly surprised by the smallest things. He suposed that was what happened when you grew up being told never to assume or expect anything. That way you were always surprised, whatever the result and never disappointed.
He found that as everything digested along the way he was thinking more and more of what he had left behind. In particular Nalani and Tessa. Tessa was good in stressful situations, if she had been here maybe he wouldn't have frozen up like a deer in the headlights.
The Nullifying mutant felt better now though as his walk came to an end and he entered the graveyard at last. It was as if the night had somehow cleared his mind and the long walk, even when through such an awful world, had helped. He was less surprised now when something popped out or a strange thing happened. Maybe, and the thought was startling, he was starting to get used to things here.
It wasn't hard to pick out the mutants and the others he had come to know. They were there and at last so was he. Clay walked up to the group and for the first time both felt and appeared entirely calm.
"Sorry I'm a bit late, what did I miss?" he asked, a general question addressed to the group.
CHRIS
he was back home lying face down on his bed, the curtains were closed and the whole room was bathed in the light from his television, he must have left it on. as his eyes flitted around the room he observed the familiar objects around him, his training kit, the posters on the walls, his guitar covered in stickers of his favorite bands. *was it all a dream?* he thought as he looked around *did i imagine it all?* it all seemed so realistic, the sights, the sounds. he sat up wincing as pain shot across his forehead, slowly he raised his hand to where the pain had originated and moved it down again, his fingers were red with blood, it felt so strange. as he looked in shock at the blood on his fingers, realising it had all been real he could hear someone yelling.
suddenly his room faded as his eyes opened and he knew where he was, everything was blurred, he could feel someone holding his arm, there was a distinct pain running through his whole body, he had overdone it a bit this time. "who...who are you?" he said weakly as he did his best to roll onto his back.
He lifted his head slightly and saw the blurred figure of a girl bending down next to him, the pain in his head growing as he moved it, realising that he had probably hit a stone or rock when he fell, what else could have caused the bleeding. he reached up to his forehead as he had done in his dream, only the pain was more real now "aah" the quiet exclamation of pain forced its way out of him as he touched the cut, he hoped it was only small but he couldnt be sure it hurt like hell and had bled too much for a small scratch
CATHERINE
The rain fell heavy upon the young teenager, a pedestrain scurrying along glanced at her mentally estimating the girl to be no more than fifteen, he wasn’t far wrong. He looked ahead again and forgot the girl instantly. Girl with the golden brown hair meanwhile pulled her denim jacket closer around her, but she was sodden, she shifted her position slightly as a few drops found their way down the small of her back
It was dark but there was a nearby streetlamp that threw her face into dark relief, dark eyes, smooth skin, the curve of her cheek bones, heart shaped face. Her eyes glanced down at her wrist, trying to check the time, but remembering in the same instant that she didn’t have a watch anymore, she’d learnt the hard way that if you lived in a half way house you didn’t leave anything around and expect it to still be there when you returned. Her face was sad, and she glanced up at the rain her heart heavy in her chest.
The rain thudded down with renewed vengeance, giving her all the appearance of a drowned rat, but there was something sweet about the make up of the face. Her body hinted at the woman she would one day be, a fleeting expression in her face, childish palms that were developing into the delicate hands she would one day have.
It was a dream, blended with memories … memories that she would rather have forgotten …and Cat … she was standing in the rain, watching the younger her, across the street, on the curb.
The young Catherine, looked up at the bus shelter, it should have offered her shelter from the rain, but the glass roof was missing, smashed in by vandals. Both girls swiftly looked up the street as they heard the sound of tyres on the wet tarmac, through the rain on the surface of the road.It was a bus, not a red double decker ones like in the city centre but a sleeker silver one with blue lines that ran along the sides.
The girl stepped forwards, indicating that the driver should stop … the wheels slowed and the bus ground to a halt, the doors opened with a hiss and the young Catherine struggled on board, hefting the bag after her, a determined glint in her eyes. She had something clenched in her small fist, money, green notes. She said something to the driver, holding them out, she couldn’t hear what the girl said but she remembered the words, she’d asked for him to take her as far as he could. She shouldn’t run away Cat thought desperately, it didn’t do any good, you couldn’t run it caught up with you, it always did … maybe it was time she should stop running herself. But it was so hard by yourself, no one seemed to fully understand, her friends were there but they didn’t really want to help her … not like that … but maybe if she tried really hard, she didn’t like who she was, perhaps she could change, if people just stopped leaving her, if they gave her a chance …
Re: Graveyard - Leaving? Beware, this world has fangs!
ROGUE
Helplessly, the Blue Strike Force's co-leader watched Spike hiding even more behind his wall of insanity and illusions.
It was just then that she fully realized what it was that made him slip back to it over and over again.
The need for protection; protection against a world he could neither stand nor wanted to life in - not as he was... and maybe not even as he had been.
Hesitantly, Rogue stretched a gloved hand out to this man she sometime might be able to love
"Will? Fight it! Ah know you can... ah'm here, ah'll do anythin' t'help ya just... come back"
Before she touched the vampire's pale skin, a familiar voice pulled her back from the semi-trance state she had been in.
The tears she had just been about to allow flowing, the southern belle forced back again turning to Clay.
Her position demanded of her to give hope and support, be a good example for others and never appear desparate.
*Why does it have to be so hard?!*
Clay: "Sorry I'm a bit late, what did I miss?"
Faking a smile, the streaked mutant replied getting up from her kneeling position.
"Just a group o'vamps decidin' they needed somethin' to eat...." She threw a look around grinning.
"Seems like they ain't no problem anymore"
Sometimes, it is better to tell only half of the truth. This redhaired vampire seemed to be taken care of so why worry this boy?
Thunder reminded her of something. Something important. Something she had seen in this young mutant's eyes.
"Zippo listen! Ah needa look for someone before we get in even bigger trouble than we've been in before. If it gets dangerous, try your best but don't play the hero!
Spike!"
Shortly focusing on the vampire only, Rogue squatted down again forcing him to look into her eyes.
"What happened to Cat's not your fault! But if ya don't help her now it WILL be yours so spare the whole mopin' bit for later and fight!"
She left it uncertain whether she had meant his inner struggle or possible danger from outside and got up turning to Clay again.
"Good luck... although ah don't think there're anymore vamps keen on fightin' around after..."
Rogue left the sentence unfinished as her eyes wandered towards the direction Tempest had disappeared to.
Almost hastily, she threw herself up into the sky speeding to Kane.
Meanwhile, the weather-controlling mutant had a good time. Two vampires lay motionless yet still "alive" on the ground, their bodies burned, either missing an arm, leg or more.
The third vampire - the one that had bitten Catherine - backed off in panic, his eyes flickering of fear as he realized he would be next.
They had tried to attack this stranger. Of course they had. But how do you attack someone who is surrounded by pure lightning?
The shield Tempest had instinctively built around himself earlier had been nothing compared to "version 2". In fact, most of the burnings those two demons were covered with had been caused by this static field but the rest...
It was fascinating how effective strong, yet extremely thin gusts were - almost like razors.
"Now... what do we do with ya? Oh... there're so many ways to mutilate someone, it's hard to decide, don'tcha think?"
"Tempest!" A demanding voice sounded from above as Rogue showed up realizing what was going on with a short glance at the three demons.
"Stop playin' around, will ya?"
Something close to relief but mixed with uncertainty appeared in the still unharmed vampire's eyes. It disappeared at hearing the following words.
"Get it over with fast"
Rogue's presence - or more her voice directly addressing him - broke whatever had gotten hold of Kane.
The part of him trained to follow orders without thinking made him rise a last time to summon the power of lightning.
Three times it hit the ground.
Three times a demonic yell of pain and fear sounded.
One time he screamed himself in agony realizing what he had done - what he had turned to for several minutes.
One last time, thunder rolled.
Then silence was everything that remained.
"Just wha' we needed... another wacko" Rogue lifted herself and the unconscious boy from the ground.
Shaking her head lightly, she left the burned area carrying him with both arms.
"Watch him for a moment, will ya?" Flashing an apologetic smile at Clay, Rogue put the white-haired mutant on the ground next to Spike and Catherine.
Quickly, she lifted herself up again searching the area for the other Rogue.
There she was!
She picked up Jen carefully and let her eyes wander around checking for others of their small group...
SPIKE & RILEY
"Will? Fight it! Ah know you can... ah'm here, ah'll do anythin' t'help ya just... come back"
His eyes slowly pulled from the ground, looking over her sadly, she seemed too distraught, he just wanted to reach out and take her hand. Anything to comfort her, why was she upset?
But someone else took her attention away from him, and he's own attention span was far to short to linger on her, instead his eyes drifted off towards some of the gravestones ahead of him.
"Just a group o'vamps decidin' they needed somethin' to eat...."
He shook his head slowly, shutting his eyes and leaning it forward so his cheek could rest against the top of the girl’s head.
Spike:"I-I didn't mean to feed, I don't know how, I was...was...and then...mother would be so ashamed.."
"What happened to Cat's not your fault! But if ya don't help her now it WILL be yours so spare the whole mopin' bit for later and fight!"
Help her, Cat...who was...right, the girl in his arms, he was holding her, he had to protect her, he didn't want her to die, not another one, he wouldn't cope with another one.
As soon as Rogue disappeared, the vampire's face vamped out, but his golden eyes still stared ahead at the gravestones, he had to protect her, he had to...
He heard the shuffle of feet beside him, his eyes slowly turning towards Clay who stood nearby, he gave a threatening growl at the boy, warning him to back off. The vampire's fangs easily seen as he stares at Clay's feet, Spike had no idea who was friend or foe, so they all had to stay away...Rogue said he had to protect the girl....he didn't want her death to be his fault..
Besides Cecily would probably tell everyone what a failure he was, he didn't want to prove her right, he may be a failure but that doesn't mean she has a right to tell everyone about it. But really....didn't everyone already know that? It's not like 'William the Bloody' was a nickname given to him from the kindness of their hearts.
"Will? Fight it! Ah know you can... ah'm here.."
He stopped snarling at Clay's presence and looked over towards something only he could see off to his right.
Spike:"Will? A-Am I man to you? I don't feel like one...I'm jus' an animal...I don't th-think...think I can.."
"...ah'll do anythin' t'help ya..."
Spike:"..Help? W-Will you? 'Coz I need...need...need help...but if you know-know what I am feeling...would you run? Would I-I be alone again?"
"..just... come back."
"..spare the whole mopin' bit for later and fight!"
He recoiled, bringing the girl closer into his protective embrace as her words yelled all around him.
Spike:"D-Don't be mad at me, please, I can't help it, I-I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me...Rogue....I'm sorry.."
His golden eyes flickered across the remaining creatures, his breathing stopped for a moment as he saw them, his teeth clenched together for a moment as he took in a deep breath.
As his jaws parted and he leaned forward, his left hand resting on the ground, he yelled out, his loud animalistic roar, causing all the other creatures to look towards him in a panic.
Once he knew he had their attention he shut his eyes tightly as he started yelling.
Spike:"Get out! Get out! GET OUT!"
He placed his hand over his face as they all hesitated.
Spike:"Before I tell him! You know the rules! Not allowed t'hurt me! Not allowed t'hurt who I own either, and they are under my protection! You have to GO, because you're hurtin' me! And only family is allowed to hurt me, not you, never you, you'll all be punished, he'll punish you all!"
He wrapped his arm around the girl again, he didn't need to watch the other vampires, they knew punishment by Angelus wasn't death, it was much worse, and they weren't going to risk the chance of such suffering.
Spike:"I-I just want to go...I don't...don't...can't....Rogue? Don't be mad at me...I'm tryin'...I am...I'm tryin'...."
He looked around at the ground directly in front of him.
Spike:"Please don't leave me...I'll try harder...don't leave me alone, don't be mad, I'll try harder.."
His left hand wrapped under her legs as he lifted Catherine up and stood to his feet, staring down at the ground in front of him the whole time.
Spike:"I'm in too deep...I've lost my mind...but I can still stand by you...I can still.....do what? I can't fight...I can't hurt people....what can I do? I can...I can't....I'm helpless...I should...should...maybe....if the chip was removed I could fight...but don't...don't remove it, it's all I have to stay good...it's all that's saving me from the demon's anger....don't...don't let the demon...the demon get-get me again.."
He looked towards Matt and Willow as they talked, he shook his head once again, as if trying to get the jumbled thoughts out of his mind.
Spike:"Get out, get out of me...didn't hurt her..gotta...gotta think, think...will someone...someone....please! Please! Someone talk to me...her blood...it's burning me, all of it, inside, outside, it's all burning..."
Before anyone could reply to Spike's plea, Riley appeared at his side, his eyes looking over Catherine with worry.
Riley:"I found her bag.."
Spike:"..You left me! You left me alone!"
Riley:"Spike, we're going back, relax, calm down and focus."
Spike:"No one...no one is punishing me for what I did.."
Riley pulled out the small sphere and placed it on the ground as he replied to Spike.
Riley:"Spike, you didn't do anything wrong, there's nothing to punish-"
Spike:"I did! I did! No one sees....I need to get rid of it, I need to get it out of me!"
But the agent wasn't in the mood - or condition - for his babble right now, instead he simply opened the portal and yelled for everyone to hurry.
Riley:"Get in Spike, hurry!"
The agent weakly pushed the vampire towards the portal, but he looked back at Rogue with worry.
Riley:"We'll be in there shortly, just get Cat safe."
Spike's face returned his its human form as he looked back down at the girl, slowly stepping into the portal for her sake.
TBC: Spike+Cat - Riley's Room - Good-Bye Cruel World
ROGUE
Although the southern belle noticed *some* effect of her earlier words, she wasn't really happy with it. True, Spike protected the girl as good as possible but his mind still seemed to be locked away behind a door only he himself would be able to open.
Her look shifted indecisively between Jen in her arms and Tempest on the ground but realizing that hardly anyone of those remaining in this world but be able to carry the white-haired mutant and not willing to leave the hurt girl to anyone, she simply decided to carry both herself.
Kane over her left shoulder and somehow managing to still use both arms to carry the slayer carefully, Rogue threw a requesting look at Sean, Clay and the others.
"Please hurry. Don't hesitate, 't looks odd but works... follow meh fast!"
Not wanting to endanger the other Rogue even more, the southern gal stepped through the vortex finally leaving this apocalyptic world.
Disappointed, its fangs snapped behind them harmlessly.
By now Clay was more than a little overwhelmed. Everything was going so fast. Sure he'd missed the vampires, which was in his books a good thing, but the white haired mutant he remembered from his own world had been doing God knows what and there was craziness everywhere.
At least Rogue seemed sane, he thought and followed her command.
DAWN
All she could do was help him struggle to his feet, giving worried looks over his cut and straining under the weight of his body.
Dawn:"I'm sorry, you're really heavy, I had to help carry Riley half way here...I'm really tired.."
They stumbled slightly as she tried to help him, but her eyes looked over towards where they had come from.
Dawn:"You're Dave right? Uh, look, there's a portal thingy open, we can go open, can you see it? Do you think you can make it there?"
Her worried eyes scanned over his face as she continued to try and hold up up on his feet.
In the distance Willow's temper had cooled, her eyes looking over her cousin with slightly uncertainty.
Willow:"....I'll go......but only to find Angel! I want to find him, I'm not staying in that world, I don't belong there, neither does Spike, I'll prove to him he doesn't belong there!"
She paused for a moment, staring at Matt's hands as they pressed against her shoulders.
Willow:"I'll get Angel's soul back.....I know Spike isn't who he used to be, but it's only been a few months since he got that chip. And he's been alright....I mean...he was a little different before...but he's still Spike...I don't care about anything else.."
THOMSON
He looked towards where she indicated, the portal was partially visible, if not a bit blurred. “Yea, I should be able to” he was grateful of her help as he slowly staggered towards the portal “are you from here…” he trailed off at the sound of cracking behind them, looking over his shoulder towards the direction of the noise. “If that’s another of those sodding creatures,” he whispered to her “then just run, I will hold them off”
The chances of him holding anything off were slim, but he would not admit he was incapable. A few years ago he was playing rugby for the school, it was the final, he had been injured in a bad tackle and could barely walk but he had insisted he kept playing and that he was fine, and he kept saying that “if it were broken I’d know about it”. It wasn’t till after the match when they managed to get him to a hospital did they find out that he had in fact fractured his ankle and could not walk for two months afterwards.
The fighting in the graveyard had drawn the agents from a nearby street. Silently they approached the outskirts of the graveyard, heading for the sounds of fighting around the interior. As they cautiously advanced they heard someone yell from close by, the voice sounded female. Johnson halted a few meters ahead of Thompson, his head turning to the direction of the sound.
“Perhaps we should check that out” Thompson whispered, his voice emotionless “very well, you follow the noise” Johnson’s reply was cold, he did not have the same level of feeling as Thompson, the other agent seemed to care about other people a lot more than was necessary. As they split Thompson could hear Johnson muttering under his breath, he knew what he was thinking. With a sigh he headed off in the direction of the noise.
The crackle of twigs announced his presence as he picked his way through the gravestones towards the two figures he held up his hands “don’t be frightened” his voice now showed some expression “I don’t want to harm you, I’m here to help” he didn’t hold much hope of them believing him, people don’t usually believe strange armed men with trenchcoats and Armour underneath, although he assumed they would not consider him a vampire due to the golden cross on his Armour breastplate
MATT
Matt looked at Willow, her face full of honesty and truth, something even the Demon that held her couldn't corrupt.
"Very well Will, I will help yopu in your quest on the other side of that swirling vortex. We will get Angel back, and I will do whatever I can for you."Matt spoke in the same honest tone as his cousin and as he gripped her shoulders, brought her into a close hug, a physical sign of his pledge.
"Come Will, we must leave now or never." Matt looked deep into Willow's eyes and a faint smile spread across his face awaiting her answer.
It was to much, Sean had lost his energy now, as much as he tried to hold on to the last drop of energy he held inside him it was slipping through his fingers. As his eyes closed and his body slumped next to that of the Slayers his telekinetic connection was lost and what helf Jennifer's blood in from the gapping wounds on her body disappeared and the last thing Sean saw was the swirling vortex which would take him home, but he could not quite reach, and the feeling of the Slayers warm red blood that oozed onto his clothing as he stopped preventing it's release. If he was to fall here, then it was an honorable way to leave the living world. And then darkness came.....
DAWN
With a look of uncertainty, Dawn stared at the stranger, but then looked at Dave and sighed slightly.
Dawn:"Help me get him threw that gateway...please.."
It was all she could say to him, her eyes hovering ovre the ground at her feet for a moment before she added.
Dawn:"I'm a portential Slayer, I can defend myself."
She warned with a more confident look in her eyes.
Willow cast a worried look towards the vortex, then slowly allowed Matt to guide her towards it.
Willow:"I just don't want to lose him.."
She whispered under her breath as she thought of Spike, but then closed her eyes and readied herself for the crossing over into the other world
Logan meanwhile scooped up Sean as the X-Men had taken the Slayers body, he watched the mutant disappear threw the vortex, but hesitated for a moment. Did he want to go to another world? His eyes followed the Untouchable mutant and who held both Tempest and the Slayer, he couldn't leave his Slayer alone. He looked down at Sean in his arms, right now he didn't really have much of a choice, with a deep breath, the Watcher hurried towards the portal, disappearing with Sean in his arms into the other side.
MATT
Matt squeezed Willow's hand and smiled again.
"Lets go."
Continuing to hold hands the two best friends and cousins walkked towards the swirling vortex. It blue silver glow irradiated onto their bodies, ironically giving them the look of a pair of angels up high. As the two stared at the odd phenominom they both squeeze each others hands hard before stepping through the portal. Unlike the others they walked gracefully into the new world, into the new life....
MATT
He looked towards the gateway thinking for a moment, the other agent could not be seen anywhere around. “I will help you” his voice was wavering slightly, he was not accustomed to making decisions alone, usually he had Johnson to help decide on important matters like this.
Hurrying over to them he took the weight of Dave away from Dawn and started towards the portal slowly, the weight of the boy seemed to get heavier as he slipped back into unconsciousness. Thompson sighed as he lifted him totally off the floor to stop his feet dragging in the dirt, he still looked around for the other agent, he could not feel his mind either, it was worrying.
Thinking hard he tried to locate Chris, telling him he was leaving. As they got closer the portal, he hesitated before it, “what should I expect on the other side of this thing” he sounded unsure, he did not want to walk into another world blindly. “should we ready our weapons” Johnson’s voice sounded from nearby, he walked slowly into view, his eyes scanning the portal in front of them.
DAWN
Dawn:"No weapons, on the otherside s my home, I think you'll like it there....we have a sun, it's a school, so you won't be in any danger, I promise."
With that, Dawn stepped into the portal, eagerly wanting to return home.
THOMSON
the agents looked at one another with raised eyebrows "a school" thompson sounded surprised, he didnt know what he thought was on the other side of the portal, but a school was the last thing he expected.
"lets get going" he was anxious to get the boy back to his own world, he needed medical attention by the looks of it, and he wasn't getting any lighter. cautiously the agents stepped into the portal, their weapons untouched by their sides.
END.
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