Part 20
After listening to the minion, Angel wanted an aspirin. It had been only an hour since his Childe had left his bed, and in that hour, Angel had already received news that: Nic had gotten in altercation with some Aleator demons because of William's gambling debts, Damon was upset because he had disturbed the new Blood-Childe, and now a minion was reporting that his youngest had threatened the guards when they had stopped him from leaving the lair.
"And this is what he's like when he's slowed by poison and still wounded. What's he going to be like when he's one hundred percent?" Mumbling to himself, Angel stood up. "Go find my Childe and tell him to. . . ."
"Sire." Djoser entered the cave, Spike in tow.
"WILLIAM! What the hell were you thinking? Leaving the lair when. . . ."
"I know Sire." Looking at his feet, Spike tried to appear contrite. "I realize that I was wrong. I won't try to leave again on my own." Pausing a moment to let his apology sink in before he made his request. "So-o. . .since I can't leave by myself, can you take me to see the Slayer?"
"EXCUSE ME?" Angel was fast losing his temper. "Why must you go see the Slayer?"
"Wanna say hi." Spike appeared casual. "See how she's doing. See how little sis is doing. Say thanks for helping us. Don't you want to say something to her? After all, she was your lover at one. . . ."
"William!" Angel was now grinding his teeth. "What is this about you owing money to an Aleator demon?"
"We-ll. . . ." Spike thought fast, trying to find an angle that excused himself. "When I was down in South America with Alex, I was real depressed because. . . ."
"Never mind!" Angel knew when he was being snowed. "How much do you owe the Aleator?"
"Ah-hh. . . ." Looking up at cave's ceiling, Spike pretended to be thinking. He actually had no idea. "Do you want the amount in reales or dollars?"
"You don't know." Sighing, Angel rubbed his forehead while turning to a minion who stood at the cave entrance. "Go get something from the healer for a headache."
"Hey." Spike defended himself. "I made the bet in South America, so if you want to know the amount in American dollars, I would need to know the exchange rate and then convert it. And for an accurate figure, I would also need to compute the interest. Can't do all of that in my head. Need a bloody calculator."
"Djoser." Staring straight at Spike, Angel addressed his oldest. "Go ask Damon for whatever money he's got. And then tell him I want three of his best fighters. We're all going to take a little ride."
**
Top down, driving his beloved Plymouth convertible again, Angel felt himself regaining his equilibrium. His youngest Childe, who was now sitting next to him, angelic expression on his face, always did have a knack for trying his patience.
"Djoser." He addressed his firstborn who was also sitting up front. "I'm taking you to Willie's. If the Aleator demon isn't here, get Willie to tell you where to find him. Pay the demon his money and get proof that the debt was paid." Pulling up in front of the demon bar Angel stopped the car, and motioned a big, burly minion sitting in the back seat to get out. He was to act as Djoser's back up.
"And then give the Aleator a message from me. He is not to come near any of my people, especially William. If he does, I will be paying him a visit personally, and it won't be a social call."
Inclining his head submissively, Djoser got out of the car. He was still carrying the Tec-9.
"Yeah, and if he gives you any lip, just use your new gun." Spike leaned over the passenger door to shout this piece of advice to his brother.
Grabbing Spike by the back of his shirt, Angel pulled him backwards.
"WOT?"
"If. You. Don't. Start. Behaving. Yourself." Angel enunciated the words slowly. "I'm going to drain you into a comma." Starting up the car, he could feel his headache coming back.
"I'm a disgrace, aren't I? Such a disgrace that maybe you should be rethinking your decision of deeming me worthy to be an Heir Apparent."
Angel could feel his headache spreading downward, stiffening his neck and shoulders. Looking over at his troublesome Childe, he sighed. {Now what is this about?}
"Should disinherit me again. I'm not marked anymore as a Blood-Childe, so it would be easy enough to just start telling everyone again that I'm the Childe of Drusilla." Spike figured it wouldn't hurt to try and talk Angel into disowning him. Save him all the bother of trying to convince the Slayer over to his way of thinking.
Angel thought carefully before he answered. He had no idea where this odd conversation was headed. "William, what is this all about? I've given you your rightful place. Something I should have done from the very beginning. You're one of my Heirs. It's your. . . ."
"Would make a piss-poor High Master. You know me, no follow through. Have a good plan, then get bored, and the whole plan goes out the window."
"Being an Heir Apparent doesn't automatically mean that you'll be a High Master. Djoser succeeds you, and in all probability when he produces a Blood-Childe, you'll be. . . ."
"IF he produces a Blood-Childe. That might only happen if you can find a magic user who knows a spell that can render a machine gun capable of having a baby."
"WHAT?" Angel couldn't believe that the conversation was getting even odder.
"I think he's in love with that soddin' gun. You need to have a chat with him 'bout the birds and the bees. Has the man ever even had a woman?"
"Of course Djoser's been with wome. . . ."
"When was the last time?"
"Well. . .I-I. . . ." Truth be told, Angel didn't know Djoser anymore. Had no idea who he was, what he liked, or what he had been doing for the last one hundred plus years.
"If you want your Bloodline to continue, you'd better have a talk with him. After all he's what? 'Bout 200 years old? Past time for him to have a Blood-Childe. You were how old when you had Djoser?"
"About 50. . .but times were different then. And besides, I had the advantage
of. . .it's not been easy for him or you. And I admit, it's been my fault." Angel thought about his Childer's lives. The constant upheaval, the instability.
"So-o, you gonna talk to him? It's one of his duties, isn't it?" Smiling to himself, Spike knew he was planting the seeds.
"William I. . .now is not the time to be thinking about more Blood-Childer. First, we need to take care of. . . ."
"There never will be a perfect time. You know that. There'll always be some disaster, some terrible enemy, some apocalypse. But with so many of our Clan's Bloodline vampires killed by Snow and the Council, we need to be thinking 'bout our future, 'bout replacing them."
"And you were saying that you wouldn't make a good High Master?" Pulling up in front of the Magic Shop, Angel put the car in park while turning to smile at Spike."Worrying about the Clan, its future. Do you realize that it's one of your duties too? If you were to have a Blood-Childe before Djoser, that could move you ahead of your brother as Successor. Did you think about that?"
Spike couldn't help the startled look that crossed his face. He had never thought of that angle. Getting out of the car, Angel turned to the two minions who were respectfully awaiting their orders. "Recon the area, and if all is clear, then I want you to guard the perimeter. Any problems, bang the front door. I'll be right inside."
"Guard the perimeter. Heard that phrase a couple of times before." Spike spoke quietly to himself as he followed Angel into the Magic Shop.
**
Los Angeles
"FUCKIN' INCOMPETENT FOOLS!" Forgetting himself for a moment, Hawkins sat forward. "GODDAMN-SON-OF-A-BITCH!" The movement jarred his broken collarbone, causing intense pain. Swallowing a couple of times, Hawkins closed his eyes waiting for the pain to subside.
"Jack." Hawkins' second-in-command, Daniel Webster was going over what had happened in Sunnydale. "You were tied to a stake, unconscious. The Slayer said that the rest of the men had been killed. Told us to leave town or suffer the same fate."
"And you fucking believed her? She was bluffing! Fuckin' idiot!" Carefully reaching for a glass of water, Hawkins took a couple of sips. "We NEED to get Chris back. Every day that goes by, his demon gets stronger. Might not be able to bring him back to us."
"The Slayer ordered us out of Sunnydale. And since the Council reinstated her, she has some pull. We can't just go against her command without. . . ."
"I'll talk to Snow. See if he can have some of his 'boys' go into Sunnydale. Although he's our ally, he's not bound by the same rules and regulations that we are."
"Why would he help us get Chris back? He never bought into this whole 'Daywalker' scheme. His goal is to kill all Bloodline vampires, not save them."
"Yeah, but if I dangle a certain Blood-Childe in front of him. . . ." Hawkins carefully and slowly sat back in the chair. "Both of Angelus' Blood-Childer are in Sunnydale. Now we need Djoser. His blood is still untainted, but William. . .Snow's already fucked up his blood. He's no good to us anymore. Snow can have him now. Can do whatever he wants with him." Satisfied smile on his face, Hawkins contemplated. "Our vampire ally will send us an army if it means he can get his hands on Angelus' favorite Blood-Childe again."
"And the Slayer? What if she interferes?"
"The Slayer." Hawkins closed his eyes, concentrating. "What did Travers' report say? That there's this hell god in Sunnydale looking for a key. The Slayer has been deemed the protector of this key. And. . . ." Hawkins' eyes snapped open. "Didn't Travers mention something about some order whose purpose was to destroy the key?"
"Yes. It said. . . ." Webster grabbed the report and began paging through it. "Here it is. 'The Knights of Byzantium. An ancient order whose purpose is to destroy the key. We've discovered that these Knights still exist and are deliberating how we should proceed with them'."
"So since the Slayer is the protector, the Council debates whether these Knights are friend or foe." Looking up, Hawkins gave Webster a satisfied smile. Their Slayer problem was solved. "I think a message needs to be sent to those Knights, letting them know where the key is and who's protecting it." Forgetting his pain, Hawkins sat forward. "They should be able to keep that little bitch busy."
**
"Angel. Spike." Giles and Wesley, looking up from the books they were poring over, greeted the two vampires.
"Any progress?" Walking over to the two Watchers, Angel picked up a couple of the books, checking out their titles.
"Well the Council found some information on this Glory in the Book of Tarnis, so we've been. . . ."
"Gonna go say hi to Buffy." Spike could hear and smell the Slayer working out in the back room. Moving fast before they put a book in his hand.
"She. Kicked. My. Ass." Buffy was taking out her frustrations on the punching bag. "She kicked my ass without even tensing a muscle, Xander!" A final punch sent the bag and Xander, who had been trying to hold it steady, flying.
"Talking about that twat, Glory?" Entering the back room, Spike walked over to a prone Xander, giving him a 'you're such a loser' look while reaching down to help the young man up.
"Hey Spike." Taking the vampire's hand, Xander pulled himself up to his feet. "You're looking. . .less thrashed."
"The sure cure, Sire's blood and a good shag. . . ."
"We DON'T want to know." Buffy interrupted. Part of her knew what Spike was going to say, but she still didn't want to hear the words spoken out loud.
Grinning, Spike picked up the punching bag and hung it back up. "Soo, have another close encounter with that skank, Glory?"
"Yes. Three encounters and I've not been able to hurt her even slightly." Resuming her work out, Buffy began pummeling the bag once again, this time with Spike holding it.
"Buffy." Spike spoke quietly and seriously. "Stop fretting. You've got my Sire, my brother, uncles and the whole bleedin' Tremere Clan backing you up now. There's no fuckin' way that even a so-called god' gonna beat you with that kind of team."
Pausing for a moment, Buffy did have to smile. "I am feeling better now, knowing that I've got. . .all of you behind me."
"Course you feel better. Even a Slayer can't do it alone. Which brings me to another point. After we send slag goddess back to wherever it is that she came from, have you thought about the fact that that won't be the end? Since kid sis is this magical, mystical key, there'll be others who will be after her. Want her power. You're going to have to protect her the rest of your life."
Buffy gave Spike a startled look. So concerned with the now, the death of her mother and the protection of Dawn, she hadn't even thought as far as the then.
"The way I figure it, you need some permanent help. Someone who can help you with platelet and your Slayer duties."
"You think that Angel would consider staying?" Buffy couldn't help the flash of longing that shot through her.
"Don't start pinning your hopes on my Sire. Notoriously undependable. But then I don't have to tell you that."
"So just exactly who or what are you thinking, when you say permanent help?" Xander asked.
"A husband. What you need is a. . . ."
"SPIKE!" Buffy gave the punching bag a good shove, knocking the vampire backward. "I DON'T have time to be listening to such garbage. A husband is the last thing I need. Besides how would a husband be a solution to. . . ?"
"I'm not talking about a husband like your last boyfriend, Captain Goody-Two-Shoes. I'm talking about someone who's strong. Someone who has bite."
"You're not, by any chance, thinking of yourself, are you?" Xander couldn't help but say that with a smirk. {Spike with Buffy. That'll be the day!}
"Pfff. . . ." A scowl at Xander and then a disparaging look at Buffy. "Like I fancy spending the next fifty years getting my nose broke every time I leave a towel on the floor. No. . . I was thinking about my brother, Djoser."
"Spike! You are such an IDIOT!" Glaring daggers at the vampire, Buffy was wishing that he wasn't poisoned, so she could break his nose. "I'm a vampire Slayer. I slay vampires, not marry them."
A snort of contempt. "Right Slayer. So where was that philosophy when you were shagging my Sire's arse off?"
"Do vampires marry?" Xander's curiosity was aroused.
"I guess when it's a Slayer, we do." Spike grinned at Xander. "No seriously. Djoser is not so different from my Sire. Tall, dark, and boring. The way you like 'em. And he. . .he'll be there for you. Always. He wouldn't ever let you down. Help you with niblet. Help you slay the big nasties. And you know what else? He's a Bloodline vampire, so you could have a family with him."
"WHAT!" Buffy couldn't believe she was still having this discussion. "A family! You're talking about a family when I can barely look after Dawn, and I've got. . . ."
"I'm not saying that you'd have a. . .family right away. But come on. You've thought about it. Thought. . .maybe someday."
Looking down at the floor, Buffy didn't answer right away. She had considered it. A Slayer's life span was short and dangerous, so a family was something that she could never have. So she had thought about it a lot, wistfully, with longing. Looking up, she met Spike's eyes. "This ridiculous conversation is closed."
Opening his mouth, Spike started to say something more but was cut off.
"CLOSED, Spike." Eyeing the punching bag, Buffy began beating it. Wishing it were either Glory's head or the moronic vampire who was standing in front of her.
Watching the Slayer, Spike knew that he had hit a nerve and was trying to figure out how to continue the topic when luck gave him a helping hand as Dawn and Djoser walked in.
"Hey guys." Jumping up to sit on the pummel horse, the teenager greeted the room's occupants.
"Dawn. How come you're not with Willow and Tara?" Stopping a moment, Buffy was curious why her sister was here. The plan had been for Dawn to stay with her friends until her workout was done. Afterward, she was to swing by and pick up her sister at Willow's.
"They decided they wanted to go to the fair, so they brought me over here. On the way we ran into. . . ." Dawn gave Djoser an admiring look. "Him. And he walked with us the rest of the way. And while we were walking, my friends Marcy and. . . ."
"I guess we should go home then." Buffy interrupted her abruptly. She was uncomfortable enough after the nonsense that Spike had spouted about her and his brother. But now she wasn't liking the schoolgirl crush eyes that Dawn had when she looked over at Djoser.
"Already? So you're ready to take on Glory?" Dawn looked at Buffy with skepticism. "After she's beaten up on you now three. . . ."
"Having some problems, Slayer?" Djoser was staring at Buffy with a gleam in his eyes.
"I'll figure something ou. . . ."
"Punching a bag won't sharpen your skills." Djoser gave the bag a slight push. "You need an actual opponent. Someone to challenge you. To give you a real fight."
"Offering your services then?" Spike was elated. His brother showing up, calling out the Slayer. He couldn't have scripted it better.
"Yes." Turning to look at Buffy again, black eyes unreadable. "I'll give you a battle you won't forget."
"I don't think that I want. . . ."
"Scared, Slayer?" Voice deliberately taunting.
"Oh, come on sis. Fight him!" Dawn chimed in, not helping Buffy's position.
"She doesn't want to fight me because she knows that she just got lucky with you and with our Sire. But the third time will be no charm for her." Leaning close to Spike, Djoser said this in a low voice, but not low enough so the humans in the room couldn't hear him.
"I think that Glory has taken all the Slayer's stones." Spike played along with his brother. He knew sooner or later they would hit the right button.
"ALRIGHT!" Buffy knew that the two vampires were intentionally provoking her, but she couldn't walk away from the dare. "Fifteen minutes. In fifteen minutes, you'll be feeling all the pain that both Angel and Spike have felt at my hands."
"You're sure of yourself, Slayer. Let's see if you can put your money where your mouth is." Handing Spike his new gun, Djoser gave his younger brother a stern look. "Watch the fingerprints."
****
Part 21
"So. . .the key is. . .was living energy." Studying books and scrolls, the two Watchers and the vampire were making slow process.
"We really could use more pairs of eyes." Sighing, Wesley put his book down. Hearing voices coming from the back room an idea struck him. "Angel, can't Spike and Djoser help us? Don't they know ancient languages?"
"Djoser knows a few, but William. . . ." Angel shifted uncomfortably. It just occurred to him that he didn't know what his youngest knew or didn't know. "Years ago, languages weren't his strong point. Even if he's improved and has learned some since, I. . . ."
"Take it from me, Wesley." Giles interjected. "It doesn't matter what language the research is in; Spike will be absolutely no help."
"What about your brother. . . ?" Wesley had just gotten up the nerve to ask about Nic when a series of crashes and bangs from the back room caught their attention.
"What the. . . .?" Slamming the book he had been reading shut, Giles half ran to the back room with Angel and Wesley right behind him. The same thought ran through all of their minds, Now what?'
Djoser was strong, and Buffy found that she indeed was being challenged. A blow to her chin snapped her head back causing her eyes to water. Grabbing the second fist that was coming at her, she bent the wrist back while at the same time swinging her larger opponent around, crashing him into the wall.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON!" It had taken Giles only a second to assess the situation.
A raised voice from the normally soft-spoken Watcher caught everyone's attention. The whole room froze.
"Giles." Buffy explained. "Djoser here was just helping me with my workout."
"I can see that!" Ripping off his glasses, Giles was irate. "THIS IS BLOODY OUTRAGEOUS!"
"Giles. . . ." Buffy didn't understand why he was so angry. "Punching the bag was just not doing. . . ."
"Angel!" Cutting her off, Giles turned to the vampire. "I demand that you control your Childer!"
Spike sighed with irritation. {Bloody Watcher was ruining the plan!} "Listen Gramps, don't know why you're so wound up, but you're acting like a real prat."
"And you!" Giles now directed his anger at Spike. "I'm tired of your disrespectful attitude. Angel. . . ." He once again addressed the Father vampire. "Our deal is that you are to help us with Glory and in return we will help develop a cure for Spike. I'm amending the deal to include that you keep your family in check. In fact, now that I think about it, I believe it would be best if we only have contact when a situation arises. We can mainly communicate via the telephone."
"Giles." Now Wesley even objected. No one in the room understood why the Watcher was in such a rage. Controlled combat was a very common training technique. Nothing to get angry about. "That could be very inconvenient. Why exactly are you so irate?"
"We've got some hell goddess ready to end the world, and they're. . .they're here playing games."
"Giles." Again Buffy protested. "We weren't playing. Djoser just thought. . . ."
"I KNOW what Djoser thought! ANGEL?" Giles stared at the vampire, eyes demanding.
"Djoser. William. Let's go." Voice quiet, Angel didn't argue. He too didn't understand the Watcher's irrational rage, but he was willing indulge the human for the moment. He needed Giles for William's cure. "I'll take a few of the books to study. My brother Damon is also quite proficient with ancient languages. I'll have him help me." Appeasement for the Watcher as he motioned for his sons to follow him. "Oh, by the way, I'm moving the Clan back to the mansion on Crawford. If you want us, we'll be there."
Throwing his head back with disgust, Spike reluctantly got up to leave while grumbling. "Fuckin' spoilsport. Sire. . . ." Still protesting as he trailed Angel out. "We were just trying to help the Slayer with her workout. Nothing for anyone to get all t'd off about."
**
Having settled everyone in the new lair, Damon now paced the floor. He was keeping an eye on his new Childe who was chained up on the sofa, watching television. Angelus had promised that he would bring home a human for his son with the hope that human blood would tempt the Childe to eat. Refusing any kind of nourishment, including Sire's blood, the 'baby' vampire was becoming dangerously weak.
Watching the clock, Damon hoped that his brother would hurry.
**
Back in the car, Spike was still feeling the need to defend his brother. He wasn't sure how much his Sire had discerned back at the Magic Shop. "You know, the Slayer has been having problems with that skanky whore, Glory. Djoser was just trying to help."
"It's ok, William." Glancing over at his Childe, Angel was taken aback by the defensive tone in his voice. "I think Giles is just a little. . .stressed. But it doesn't matter. As soon as you're cured, we're leaving Sunnydale."
"Going back to LA then?"
"No." Looking over his shoulder, Angel made a quick lane change. He had decided that he would head for the hospital. "We're going to leave the country."
"WE ARE?" Spike wasn't too happy about that. He hadn't particularly liked South America, either time that he had been there. "We're not going to South America, are we?"
"Germany."
"Germany!" Spike wasn't thrilled with Germany either. "Hate livin' in a country where I can't speak the bloody language."
Djoser couldn't help but look at his brother with disbelief. "You mean, you still haven't learned how to speak German? How many years did you live there and. . . ?"
"I CAN speak a few words. Understand some." Putting his feet up on the dashboard, Spike muttered this antagonistically.
Knocking his Childe's feet down, Angel glanced at him curiously. "How many languages do you speak now?"
"The language I speak is English. And that's the only bleedin' one I need. Understand a little bit of some demon languages, 'specially the phrase I'm going to kill you."
"But you can read some others, can't you?" Again Angel glared over at his youngest with curiosity. "Because I distinctly remember telling that Ventrue teacher to tutor you in the important ancient languages, including our native lang. . . ."
"He taught me to read and write English. OK!" Unintentionally both Angel and Djoser were making Spike feel inadequate. "And if it weren't for a couple of shirtlifters burning him up, he might have lived longer, and I might have learned more."
Spike's brutal point effectively put an end to the conversation, and the next few blocks were driven in silence. Nothing else was said until Angel pulled up to the hospital. "Wot we doing here?" Spike asked.
Contemplating, Angel put the car in neutral. "I was suppose to bring a human home for our new Blood-Childe, but with Giles being a little touchy, I don't think I should risk that. Even though I would have taken some criminal type."
"He gets a human when everyone else has to eat pig or cow's blood? That's bloody unfair!"
"He doesn't eat. Not even Sire's blood. A problem that you should understand real well."
Reaching out a hand, Angel gently touched his son's hair. "So we thought human blood might persuade him to eat. But since I don't want to upset Giles anymore, I guess we'll have to steal some hospital blood."
"It's not human blood that will do the trick." Spike knew what the new Childe's problem was. "Turn around and go back toward the Magic Shop. We don't need to steal blood. I know something that will make him eat."
**
"We'll leave tomorrow at dusk." The tall vampire whose face was mostly hidden by dark sunglasses barely acknowledged the human before him. It was hard enough to associate with humans, but an underling to boot.
"I want to understand the plan." Daniel Webster hated dealing with vampires, and especially Snow. Not only was he arrogant, but he was a lunatic as well. "We can't afford to make the slightest error. We're going up against Angelus AND Damon. Not to mention the other bro. . . ."
"YOU WILL NOT SAY THOSE NAMES IN MY PRESENCE! My ears bleed when I hear those names. We leave tomorrow sometime in the afternoon, so we will be there by dusk, and that's all you need to know." Abruptly said, Snow turned and left.
Watching him leave, Webster made sure that the vampire was well out of hearing range before he mumbled to himself. "Fucking fruitcake!"
**
Sitting on the sofa, Christian couldn't believe that so many found the television entertaining. It was utterly ludicrous. He tried to concentrate on the program that was playing on the telly, but its inanity couldn't overcome the feelings and cravings that were clouding his mind. Hunger, thirst. . .and lust.
His Sire was staying close to him. Never leaving the room. And his presence was causing Christian's groin to twitch. Images of being taken and turned kept flashing through his head. Erotic and seductive. Evil and obscene. The sound of the door and people entering interrupted his thoughts, causing him to heave a sigh of relief. A distraction, if nothing else.
"Hey Mate. Got something for you to eat." Spike was first in the room, carrying a couple of bags.
"Angelus?" Damon looked at his brother questioningly as Angel and Djoser followed Spike in. "The human?"
"He won't eat a human. But I've got something he will eat." Opening the bags, Spike pulled out buffalo wings and an onion blossom.
"WHAT THE. . . ?" Damon's eyes met Angel's. "That's not food for a vampire!"
"No, but if you dunk everything in blood, it is." Pulling out two small plastic cups, Spike handed one to Angel and one to Damon. "We need dipping sauce, Mates, so let's cough it up."
"William!" A low growl to remind his Childe of proper protocol.
"Err. . .I mean Sire and Uncle." Spike amended.
Obeying reluctantly, Damon followed Angel's lead, opening a vein in his wrist, letting his blood flow into the plastic cup. "Angelus, what kind of madness is this?"
"Your Childe still thinks of himself as human. He's hungry, but his brain doesn't see blood as nourishment. Food to him is still this." Spike held up a plate of buffalo wings to illustrate his point.
Damon was still not convinced. "A human is what will entice him to. . . ."
"A human WILL NOT tempt him. You have to wait for his demon to emerge. Make him eat a human now, and he'll be sick." Taking the plastic cup from Angel, Spike settled himself happily on the couch. Handing Christian a plate of buffalo wings, Spike demonstrated dipping the wings into the blood sauce.
"This is crazy! We're vampires. My son is a vampire. How can you say that he wouldn't be tempted by human blood?"
"His demon hasn't awakened yet. Give him some time." Angel quickly tried to reassure his brother.
"When William was turned, he wouldn't feed from a human for. . . ." Trailing off, Djoser had been trying to help, but a look from Angel told him different.
"He's flawed, isn't he? Flawed like. . . ." Damon gave Spike a meaningful glare.
Buffalo wing up to his mouth, Spike had just been about ready to bite into it. "Say it, mate. Tell us all how flawed I am."
"Keeping human traits is NOT a flaw." Angel stated this like a proclamation. "It's a misconception that was taught to us by the Old Master. It's time that we start erasing all his old prejudices. It's time that our Clan begin anew. We've been reborn. A new High Master and a new Blood-Childe." He gave Christian a kindly glare. "The first Tremeren Blood-Childe for more than a century now. A celebratory event for us."
A still black and blue Nic had come in the room during Angel's speech. "I don't believe my fuckin' ears! The Great Angelus, The Scourge of Europe. The Childe who our Sire himself said was 'the most vicious creature he had ever met', is saying that keeping human qualities is a good thing? I must still be delirious."
"It's the soul talking." Giving Christian part of the onion blossom, Spike decided that he would settle this soul or no soul issue once and for all.
"It has nothing to do with my soul. It's the truth, and it's time we the Tremeren vampires know the truth and understand it."
"So. . .Alex did resoul you then?" Taking a mug from a minion who had entered the room with a tray of coffee cups of blood; Nic missed the whole point that Angel was trying to make. He only heard the fact that his brother admitted to being souled.
"Alex did not resoul me." Taking a mug, Angel handed one to Djoser and then took one for himself. He then held his still oozing wrist to his son, offering his blood. It had been years since his oldest had had the pleasure of Sire's blood.
Heaving a sigh of exasperation, Nic rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, muttering. "First he says he's souled, and then he says he's not. Give me strength."
Holding up his hand and shaking his head to refuse Angel's offer, Djoser made his request. "May I be excused, Sire. I would like to retire to my quarters."
"But. . .of course." Angel was thunderstruck. Another Childe refusing his blood.
"Didn't get that many fingerprints on your bleedin' gun." Yelling after Djoser, Spike knew that his brother was going to his room so he could polish up his new toy. "Uncle?" Spike offered Nic some buffalo wings and pieces of onion blossom. A peace offering.
"Are there more?" Christian had finished his plate and was looking for more. He had also finished up the blood dip Damon had given him. Spike's strategy had worked. The new Blood-Childe was now eating.
**
"Childe. . . ." Upstairs in a bedroom, Angel was unbuttoning his shirt while brooding about Djoser's refusal of his blood. "You and Djoser have gotten to know each pretty well since. . .since. . . ." A fact that was like a hot poker stabbing him. Djoser had been the one to rescue his William from Snow, not him.
Lying naked on the bed, hands behind his head, Spike felt full and content. Nothing like retiring to bed with his Sire after gorging himself on buffalo wings and an onion blossom. "Yeah, he watches over me, y'know." Eyes closed, he was listening to music in his head. A trick he had learned from Dru.
"THAT'S NOT HIS JO. . . !" Cutting himself off, Angel realized that his outburst was childish. Pausing a moment to gather himself, his eyes met those of his son's who was now looking at him puzzled. "Would you have any idea why Djoser would refuse my. . .would not drink my. . .Sire's blood?"
Sitting up, Spike ran a hand across his pale, naked chest, pondering. "I-I guess it's better to not taste utopia, then to taste it only to have it ripped away from you again."
Staring at Spike, Angel deliberated his Childe's words. Shrugging his shirt off, he uncharacteristically threw it on chair instead of putting it neatly in the hamper. "He thinks I'm going to abandon. . .you both think that I'm going to abandon you again." His sons' distrust felt like more hot pokers piercing him. Hotter and more painful than any he had ever felt physically.
Seeing the intenseness in Angel's eyes, Spike sighed. He had to face reality again. Buffalo wings could only make him forget for a little while. Make him forget his fears and doubts. Considering first before speaking. For once he chose his words carefully. "It's a fear. Like a lump that sits in your insides and won't go away. . .no matter what. . .what you say, Father."
"And you? You've tasted utopia again. What will you do if it's taken from you for a second time?"
"I don't know." This, Spike admitted with sadness. "Part of me believes you when you say that you'll never leave me again. That we're all home now. But the lump says differently."
Kneeling on the bed, Angel wrapped his Childe in a hard, possessive embrace. Djoser and William belonged to him, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that in some ways they didn't consider themselves to be his anymore.
Running his lips and tongue over Angel's neck, Spike enjoyed the taste of Sire's skin. Slightly salty, he could feel the blood pulsing underneath.
"Go ahead and bite." A quiet order. "Taste my blood. Taste utopia again."
Fangs elongating, Spike bit down hard causing the blood to run down Angel's shoulder and back. With blood running down this throat, Spike felt two hands on his body. One gripping his cock, sliding up and down, causing a sensual friction. The other pushing his legs apart. Withdrawing fangs, he lay back on the bed, savoring the taste of Sire's blood and the feel of Sire's hands.
Biting a finger, Angel used his own blood as a lubricant. Inserting a finger into his Childe, he ran it around the sphincter ring, loosening it, then began searching for the pleasure spot.
Eyes closed, head thrown back, Spike was trying to hold back, trying not to cum too soon. He wanted to prolong the pleasure, but the hand around him was stroking hard and sure. Feeling his prostate being rubbed, he couldn't contain himself anymore. Panting heavily, every body part felt his release as cum began spurting.
Still stroking the cock in his hand lightly, Angel was madly fumbling with his pant's zipper. "Goddamn." He muttered under his breath, as the fingers in his right hand had become all thumbs.
"It's too sensitive. Stop." Pushing the hand off his softening cock, Spike sat up, reaching for the zipper on Angel's pants. "Should have taken these off before you started this. Losing your touch, old man."
Brain muddled with desire and the need to possess, Angel didn't even protest his son calling him old man as he desperately pulled off his pants. Snarling with lust, he threw himself on Spike, pinning the younger vampire to the bed. With his right hand he lined his cock against his Childe's ring, and in one smooth movement, he thrust himself all the way in.
Both vampires groaned in unison as Angel began pumping hard and fast.
"Let me up!" Struggling, Spike wanted to reach up. Wanted to embrace that large, hard body against his.
"Stay still!" Growling, Angel's demon came forth as all his base emotions; lust, jealousy, and possessiveness took control of him. "You're mine, Childe! I am the Sire. You AND your brother belong to me! I WILL be the one who protects you, who cares for you. Now and FOREVER! That is my promise to you."
Angel thrust harder as if pure physical force would convince his son. Not caring that Spike was in poor health, he sank his fangs into a soft neck while driving himself all the way him. Body tensing as he took back his blood, and began ejaculating his seed into the younger vampire. Spent, all the emotions that had been driving him dissipated away as a peaceful inertia set in. Eyes closed, human face back in place, he collapsed his full body weight on top of his Childe.
Chest heaving, Spike didn't even bother to try not to breathe. "Sire. . . ." He panted out. "You're heavy. Can you shift your weight a little?"
Moving off and to the side, Angel slowly withdrew himself. "Who am I? And who are you?" He pulled Spike up against him.
"My Sire. My Father. And I am your Childe."
Contented, wrapping arms and legs around Spike, Angel closed his eyes. His son had answered correctly.
Still just in a light doze, Spike managed to mumble one last thing before he followed Angel into the bottomless sleep of the vampire. "But the lump is still here, Father."
****
Authors Notes: I've gotten a few e-mails lately regarding the definition of a dhampir. The source I'm using is from Melton, J Gordon The Vampire Book, The Encyclopedia Of The Undead: Visible Ink Press, 1999, 196. J Gordon Melton, in turn is using two sources, Gypsy Demons & Divinities' and 'The Vampire.
Dhampir Gypsies believed that some vampires have an insatiable sexual appetite and will return from the grave to have sex with their widow or a young woman of their choosing. The vampire's continued visits could lead to the woman becoming pregnant. The product of such a union, usually a male, was called a dhampir. It was believed that the dhampir had unusual powers for detecting and destroying the vampire - a most important ability. . . .Some individuals believed to be dhampirs supplemented their income by hiring themselves out as vampire hunters.
Part 22
It was afternoon when Spike woke. Wrapped up tight in Angel's arms, he struggled to get a glimpse of the clock. "Damn! Almost time for 'Passions'." Glancing down, he saw that his Sire was still sound asleep.
Wiggling around, he managed to get himself untangled from the larger body. "Houdini would be proud." Muttering this quietly to himself while tiptoeing to the bathroom, he took a quick shower, hoping that Angel wouldn't wake.
Hyper in life and in unlife, Spike had always gotten by on less sleep than most. As a young fledging, he usually woke before anyone else in the household. Sneaking down into the kitchen, he would help himself to whatever human food happened to be around at the time. Alone, he would enjoy the peacefulness of the moment without the fear of repercussions. No Penn and Lucien tormenting him. No Sire staring at him in contempt, ready to discipline him for any small infraction. Getting up before anyone else was a habit he still liked to practice.
Dressing quickly, he tried to sneak past Angel to the bedroom door, but before he could reach it, a hand shot out grabbing him. "Where do you think you're going, Childe?"
"Hungry. Want some breakfast."
"Come back to bed. I'll feed you."
"Feel like cereal. You left some blood for me in the refrigerator, didn't you?"
"Yes, but come back to bed. You can eat cereal later." Angel still needed more sleep, but he didn't want his youngest Childe, the one who couldn't stay out of trouble for more than two seconds, downstairs by himself.
"Passions is almost on. Just gonna eat cereal and watch it."
Squeezing his hand tight to make a point, Angel issued a warning. "You ARE NOT to leave the lair. In fact, you ARE NOT to leave the house. Is that UNDERSTOOD?"
"Yes Sire." Spike was uncharacteristically meek. As soon as the hand around his wrist released its hold, he made a quick exit before a mind could be changed.
Trying to fight off sleep, Angel contemplated waking either Nic or Djoser to keep William company and out of trouble. But Nic was still recovering from the beating he took from the Aleator demons and Djoser. . .he didn't want to place Djoser in any more 'fatherly' roles in regards to his youngest. He would have to just trust the guards to make sure his Childe didn't go anywhere.
Making his way downstairs, Spike could hear someone already up. Disappointed, he hoped it wasn't Damon. He found his new uncle to be a bit of a stiff.
"Afternoon, mate." It wasn't Damon. It was the new Blood-Childe.
"Hey. Your Sire up too?"
"No, still sleeping."
"Then wot you doing up?'
Christian shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Not used to sleeping all day. Still trying. . .trying to adjust."
"Hungry?"
"Gonna send a minion out for more buffalo wings?" Christian couldn't help but grin at the vampire he would call cousin.
"Nahh, buffalo wings are for dinner. It's breakfast time."
"Breakfast time? It's afternoon."
"That's breakfast time for vampires."
"So what do vampires have for breakfast?" Curious, Christian followed Spike into the kitchen.
"This vampire has cereal." Spike pulled out a box of Honey Nut Cheerios.
Christian blinked in surprise. "Honey Nut Cheerios? You eat that for breakfast?"
"It's good. Crunchy. Especially with Sire's blood. Your old man leave any of his blood for you?" Rummaging through the refrigerator, Spike found the container with Angel's blood.
"Leave blood for me?" Everything was still new to Christian.
"Yeah, for an occasion when he might not be here and you need to eat. . . .this might be it." Pulling out a second container of blood, Spike pulled the cover off and sniffed it. "Not animal blood. Not my Sire's blood. Gotta be your Sire's. Smell." Putting the container under Christian's nose. "Well?"
And Christian, vampire senses now a part of him, could smell that it was indeed his Sire's blood. Surprised, he shook his head yes.
"So-o. . . ." Putting the containers in the microwave, Spike began heating the blood up, as he brought out bowls and spoons. "What's your name? So I know what to call you."
"Christian."
"Christian! That's a fucked up name for a vampire. But then again. . . ." Spike turned to the microwave as it began beeping. "The High Master of our Clan is named Angel, so Christian fits right in."
"Warm me up some blood, will you?" Nic came shuffling into the kitchen, yawning.
"Do I look like your friggin' missus? Warm up your own blood." Dumping the Honey Nut Cheerios into two bowls, Spike rechecked whose blood was in which container before he began pouring it over the cereal.
"Oh yeah. Forgot myself. You're an Heir Apparent. I should be fixing your meal. Forgive me, my Prince."
Glaring up quickly, Spike suspected sarcasm, but the look on his uncle's face was serious and sincere. "DON'T call me that. I'm not YOUR Prince!"
"As the Blood-Childe of our High Master, you are to be respected, honored. As soon as all my injuries are healed, I'm suspecting that Angelus will give me a beating for my disrespect toward you." Sitting down at the table, Nic looked over to see what Spike had given Christian to eat. "What the fuck is that?"
Shoving a spoonful in his mouth, Christian had to point to the box of Cheerios to answer Nic.
"Jesus, the two of you must have cast iron stomachs. The junk you put in it." Leaning closer, Nic sniffed Christian's bowl. "Damon still giving you his blood? You should be eating animal blood like the rest of us. Fuck, I'm going to have another spoiled brat for a nephew."
"Whaddya mean, you'll get beat for disrespecting me? Just because you said that you would cut your head off if I became the High Master? Pfft." Spike had given some thought to the argument he had with Nic, and after some reflection, he had decided that his uncle was right. He wasn't fit to be High Master. Sitting down to enjoy his breakfast, he decided to tell his uncle about the idea he had. "You didn't disrespect me. You were just stating the truth. I would make a rotten High Master. But don't worry. I've got a plan."
"Plan?" Getting up, Nic went to the refrigerator. Hunting around, he was hopeful that he might find some human blood.
"Yeah." Spike swallowed a mouthful of cereal. "Setting up Djoser with the Slayer. Hopefully nature will take its course, and. . .has there ever been a Slayer who bore a Blood-Childe?"
Not finding any human blood, Nic had been staring at the contents of the refrigerator as if he waited long enough some human blood would magically appear. But Spike's words caught his attention. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING MIND? What kind of fucking plan is that? Setting up Djoser with. . . ."
"If my brother can impregnate the Slayer, then that Blood-Childe would have to be special. No chance that it wouldn't be deemed worthy, and I would be off the hook. Out of the Line of Succession."
"Off the hook?" Christian had finished his cereal and was pouring himself another bowl. "Now I know that I don't understand much what's going on here, but if you're an heir, why would you want to lose that position? From what I know, heirs to power will do just about anything to keep their station. Kingdoms have fallen because of heirs fighting over who would be the successor to the supreme ruler."
"Smart boy." Nic observed as he looked up from the pig's blood in one hand and the cow's blood in the other. He couldn't decide which he would rather not eat.
"Not this heir, Mate. Being an heir means responsibility and duties. I sure the fuck don't want that. Just wanna have some fun. Is that so much to ask? Haven't had any real fun since. . .since. . . ." Spike groused. "Since I killed that Annoying One."
"William! Stop being such a stupid fuck." Nic had already forgotten his vow to be more respectful to his Heir Apparent nephew. "Even if Djoser has a Blood-Childe and you are no longer an Heir Apparent, you're still going to have duties and responsibilities. You're a Blood-Childe, and that's a Blood-Childe's lot in life." Turning to the microwave, he slammed the door shut on the pig's blood he had put in. "And the only way you can avoid what's expected of you is to leave the Clan and your Sire. You've just spent more than a century being Clanless and Sireless. Is that what you want again? Tell me. I'm interested. But don't lie."
"What's it to you?" Wary, Spike didn't want to admit the truth to his uncle.
"Because boy, I've spent most of my unlife being estranged from my Sire and my Clan. And it's fucking LONELY! Weren't you lonely?" Stabbing his fingers hard on the microwave keypad, Nic felt a variety of strong emotions run through him. The strongest being regret.
Spike looked down at his cereal bowl. The strong emotions emanating from Nic were screaming at him. Screaming at him to admit the truth. Both to his uncle and to himself. Head bent, he opened his mouth to answer Nic when Buffy and Dawn entered the room, interrupting the conversation.
"Spike." Anger and worry were evident on Buffy's face. "Where's Angel? I'm wondering if I can leave Dawn here with you guys."
"He's still sleeping. Why, what's up?" Spike wasn't sure if he was happy or sad that the Slayer had interrupted their discussion.
"I'm wondering if I can leave Dawn here for a short time while I go to the hospital." Buffy squeezed her sister's hand tighter. "It's Glory. She struck again. But this time, she got Tara."
**
"Angelus!" A loud voice and a pounding on his bedroom door awoke Angel from a sound sleep.
Recognizing Damon's voice, he immediately bid his brother to enter. "What's the matter? Is something wrong with William?" Angel could feel the urgency and the tenseness in the other vampire's body.
"No, all the Blood-Childer are safe here in the lair. I just received a call from a couple of minions who I have planted in LA. They keep track of any of Snow's followers in LA. According to their snitches, a large contingent of Snow's men is planning a trip here to Sunnydale. . .TODAY."
Now totally awake and alert, Angel swung his legs out of bed. "Those Council hunters must have told them that we were here. They could be on their way here now, so they can hit us by nightfall. Awake the household. Everyone needs to get ready for an attack. I want a couple of minions posted by the expressway exit with a cell phone."
Damon nodded his head slightly at his older brother as he turned to carry out Angel's orders. "It will be done." Before exiting the room, he turned back as another thought occurred to him. "I've been told that the Slayer is here now. Since she's our ally, perhaps you would like to. . .speak with her. See if she'll back us up again."
**
"What's that you're eating?" Leaning forward, Dawn could see the box of breakfast cereal, but was having a hard time believing that a room full of big, bad vampires was eating Honey Nut Cheerios.
"Cereal. Want some?" Tipping his bowl so the teenager could see its contents, Spike grinned at her.
"Eewwww! YOU'RE EATING IT WITH BLOOD!" Dawn was now certain she would never eat Honey Nut Cheerios again in her lifetime.
"Wot other way is there to eat it?" Spike feigned ignorance. Grossing out a young, mortal girl was always good for a laugh or two.
Rolling her eyes, Buffy pulled Dawn away from the table. "Ignore him." She instructed her sister. "Spike, go get Angel up. I need to know if I can leave Dawn here for a short while."
"He's still sound asleep, and I am not going to be the one to wake him. You're the Slayer. You go bother him. The man's an ornery bugger if you wake him before he's ready." Pouring more cheerios in his bowl, Spike was intent on preparing himself a second helping of cereal.
"SPIKE! I don't have time for this. Go get. . . ."
"Leave her with me, Slayer." Nic interrupted before Buffy and Spike broke out into a full-fledged argument. "I'm the chief babysitter around here. What's another one to look after?"
"We-ll. . . ." Buffy didn't know Nic all that well, so she had her reservations.
"Gonna be gone long, Summers?" Spike was now pouring more blood over his cereal. Watching him, Dawn felt nauseated. She wanted to look away, but a part of her was morbidly fascinated.
"No, just a couple of hours."
"Then I don't see any problem with leaving her with us." Spike looked up at Dawn. "You can watch 'Passions' with me."
"Passions?" The name rang a bell in Dawn's head. "Passions is a soap opera, right? Mom used to watch it all the time. Remember her talking 'bout it?" Nudging Buffy, Dawn could feel tears threatening at the memory of Joyce Summers. She so desperately wanted her mother to be with her again. To hold her. To comfort her. To tell her that all the badness that was happening around her was not her fault.
"Well then. . . ." Spike could feel the young girl's pain. "You can watch it with me and think of your mum. When it's over, you can tell her what happened. She'd like that, and it'll make you feel better. I know cos I tell my mum lots of things, and I always feel better afterward."
Eyes glistening with tears, Dawn smiled at the vampire. His compassion and empathy had just won her over.
Buffy stared at Spike a moment. It never ceased to amaze her how this usually brainless, moron of a vampire could have such insight at times. He was a true paradox. "And Angel? Do we need to. . . ?"
"Ahhh." Nic waved his hand in dismissal. "If you're only gone an hour or two, Sleeping Beauty won't even know that either of you had been here. He usually doesn't begin to stir until late afternoon."
"Ok then." Giving Dawn a quick peck on the cheek, Buffy turned to leave. "The sooner I go, the sooner I'll be back."
"Bye, Slayer." Nic grinned as Buffy left the room. Someday he'd have to go back and see his friends. Tell them about the day he did the Slayer a favor by babysitting her kid sister. They'd never believe him.
**
The hunting party had started out for Sunnydale. Seated in the limousine, Daniel Webster shifted nervously. An ominous feeling was sitting in the pit of his belly, giving him a stomachache. Across from him sat his vampire ally, Snow, who in contrast to Webster was perfectly at ease.
The two men had exchanged no more than a few words. And what was unnerving Webster even more was that he could hear Snow humming a tune softly to himself. A show tune!
{When this is all over, I'm going to have a serious talk with Hawkins. Tell him that Snow is even nuttier than we first thought. This vampire is a raving madman.}
**
"Want some?" Christian pushed the cereal box over to Dawn. "You could eat it dry."
Dawn shook her head no to the vampire. "No, I couldn't eat anything now. Too upset."
"What's wrong, kid?" Nic had gotten up to clean up his dishes. "Knowing what I know about your kind, humans your age can eat anytime, anywhere."
"Glory got Tara. And it's all my fault."
"How you figure?" Finishing all the cereal in his bowl, Spike was busy slurping up the blood at the bottom of the bowl.
"Because she thought that Tara was me. She thought that Tara was the key, but. . .but I'm the key. So anything that happens to Tara. . .is 'cause of me!" Dawn's eyes began filling up with tears again. "I'm like a lightning rod for pain and hurt. Everyone around me is suffering. I. . .must be something so horrible to cause so much pain. . .and evil."
"Rot!" Spike said this firmly as he drank the rest of the blood from the cereal bowl. "You're not evil. You wanna see something evil. . . ." He could smell his brother coming. "Take a look at what's coming into the room. Now. . .that's evil."
Djoser, still groggy from sleep came walking into room. Running a hand through his uncombed hair, he felt everyone's eyes on him. "WHAT?"
"Forgot your gun, Mate." Smirking, Spike eyed his half-dressed brother. Not knowing that there was company in the house, Djoser had come down, dressed only in boxers.
"Yeah and you forgot something else." Nic was taking his job as Dawn's babysitter, seriously. "Your clothes. There happens to be a young lady present. A young lady who has an older, extremely strong sister. And said sister would probably taken exception to a. . .vampire waltzing around semi naked in front of her kid sibling."
Giving Dawn a look, Djoser was neither embarrassed nor intimidated. But he was interested. "The Slayer? The Slayer is here?"
"Nope, just missed her." Spike tried to appear casual as he began finishing off the rest of Angel's blood, left over in its container. "But she'll be back shortly."
Opening the refrigerator and grabbing the first bag of blood within reach, Djoser tore it with his teeth and began drinking it cold.
"Ok, I'm going to be sick now." Nic felt his stomach turn. "Two of my nephews are eating some kind of sugar sweetened human food crap, and my other nephew eats his dinner cold. I'm going to have to have a talk with your Fathers. Tell them about your rotten dietary habits."
"What's going on here?" Entering the kitchen, Angel was buttoning up his shirt. Freshly showered, his hair was still damp.
"Just having some break. . . ." Spike began but was cut off.
"What's she doing here?" Angel looked over at Dawn. "And where's Buffy?" Mind occupied by the coming attack, he came off as curt and short tempered.
"Oh wonderful! Some idiot went and woke up his Royal Crabbiness." Muttering this under his breath, Nic was staring up at the ceiling, pretending he hadn't said anything.
Giving his brother a dark look, Angel repeated his question. "Where's Buffy?"
"Went to see a friend in the hospital. We're just watching over little sis here while. . . ." For a second time, Spike tried to explain, but again was interrupted.
"She can't stay here. Call Wesley or Giles to come get her." Already starting to turn toward the door, Angel was in a hurry to talk with Damon again. To make sure all Clan members would be readied and in place. "Djoser, get dressed. Nic, your job will be to look after these two." He waved his hand in the direction of Spike and Christian.
"And why do I have to look after these two when you and Damon are both here?" Nic wasn't stupid. He could feel that something was up. But like everyone else in the room, he wanted clarification.
Stopping, Angel realized he hadn't explained anything to them. "A large group of Snow's followers are on their way here to Sunnydale. My guess is that they want to be here by nightfall."
Nothing more needed to be said as Nic, Djoser, and Spike all exchanged looks. The three of them immediately understood the situation. The hunters were coming, and they were the prey.
****