Who Needs to Dream? 13

Giles approached Sceleratus warily, his hands raised in the air.

"I'm only here to talk," he said firmly, stopping a few feet away from the unmoving demon.

"It is my duty to kill you."

"Yes, I'm sure your orders are quite clear - but whose orders are they?"

"That is not important. Your death is."

"Tell me, William - do you have any memory of your past?"

He knows me? He knows my name? How can this be? Does he speak truth - or is he lying to save himself?

Sceleratus frowned and stepped forward. "I am Sceleratus."

"Not always. Your name WAS William Rupert Giles."

"You lie!"

Sceleratus sprang forward, his arm sweeping down and his claws fully extended. Giles instinctively moved backwards, stumbling on the uneven ground, feeling the whoosh of air as the claws missed his face by mere inches. He straightened up and backed away, not taking his eyes from the enraged demon stalking him with such purpose.

"I'm not lying, William!" yelled Giles. "You disappeared in 1546. What did you do? What happened for you to end up like this?"

"I will not listen to your lies." Sceleratus circled around, watching intently, waiting for one slip, one stumble, one moment of carelessness that would give him the opening he needed.

"Your name - Sceleratus - do you know what that means?" Giles raised an eyebrow. "No? Well it means 'cursed' - and that's what you are, isn't it? Cursed to follow the instructions of those who mark you? Is that it? Is that what you are now? A slave?"

Sceleratus roared, the colours in the air becoming agitated and jagged in response. I think I might have pushed him too far, thought Giles, slowly backing away. Sceleratus leapt at Giles, his face twisted with anger, teeth bared and eyes blazing. Giles screamed as claws slashed him, shredding his shirt and slicing into his chest. He fell to the ground, writhing in agony at the pain that lanced through him.

"You are weak. All humans are weak." Sceleratus knelt beside Giles, running a claw along his cheek. "And now you will die - and I will have my freedom."



"Dear God!" Henry stared in disbelief as Giles' shirt ripped and three long slashes appeared on his chest, blood bubbling up out of the wounds.

"NOW do you believe?" Snarled Quentin, dropping the flannel and rushing into the bathroom.

Henry leaned forward, fumbling with the remnants of Giles shirt, cursing as he tried to push it aside.

"No time for niceties, Henry," said Quentin as he emerged from the bathroom and dropped two towels onto the bed. He grabbed one of the ceremonial daggers mounted on the wall and sliced Giles' shirt, pushing it away from the wounds.

"Have a care, Quentin," Henry picked up a towel, pressing it firmly on Giles chest. "Who do you think you are? Zorro?"

"Oh just be quiet - and help me stop the bleeding."

"Zorro," muttered Henry with a frown. "I wonder."

"What are you babbling about now, man?"

"Take over from me," Henry lifted his hands from Giles' chest and stepped back.

"What the hell are you doing?" Quentin quickly pressed down on the towel.

"I've had an idea," replied Henry, picking up the dagger and placing it in Giles' hand, curling his fingers around the hilt. "Action is better than inaction, remember?"



Yes! Now! Do it now! What are you waiting for, you idiot? You have no idea how long I've dreamed of this moment. I have been close to death so many times and the one thing that kept me going, that helped me through the pain, was the thought of revenge on Rupert Giles. The Hooded Man watched through the eyes of the demon as its claws neared Giles' throat. I thought you'd win, Rupert - I really did. In a way I'm pleased, because this means I can now watch the moment of your death, the moment that life is taken from you. You'll die in ignorance - confused and alone. Killed by one of your own and never knowing who was really responsible. It would have been nice to face you again, to stand in front of you, to watch the recognition on your face as you took your last breath. He grinned as Sceleratus wrapped his hands around Giles' throat. See you in hell, Rupert.



Giles struggled against the pain in his chest, eyes closed, breathing deeply, wrapping his arms around himself in an attempt to stem the flow of blood. He was only vaguely aware of Sceleratus kneeling beside him, talking to him. The words seemed so far away, so distant. Wait a minute - the blood - it's slowing - the pain is not as bad as it was. Quentin and Henry, thought Giles, so they CAN help - they can make a difference. He frowned as he felt metal touching his hand, his fingers quickly exploring the object. A knife - but how? No time for questions, he thought as he felt the first touch of hands on his throat. Giles wrapped his hand around the hilt of the knife and opened his eyes, staring directly into the face of the demon looming over him. Sceleratus froze, gazing down into green eyes - familiar green eyes. Son of my son - blood of my blood. He spoke the truth. He knows my origins - he is of my blood. I cannot do this - I cannot kill him - but I must - it is the only way I can be free. Giles saw the confusion in the demon's eyes and swept the knife up, aiming directly for its heart. As he did so, a familiar phrase drifted into his mind. Follow your heart - you will follow your heart. At the last second, Giles shifted, angling the knife up so that it plunged hilt deep into the black and blistered handprint on Sceleratus' shoulder. Suddenly, it seemed as though two voices were screaming in pain and, for an instant, Giles caught a glimpse of something hauntingly familiar behind Sceleratus' eyes. Then there was only one voice, one pair of pain-filled eyes, one demon staggering to its feet before collapsing beside him. Wincing in pain, Giles struggled to his knees, staring down at the mortally wounded form next to him.

"My time of release is approaching," whispered Sceleratus. "You have severed the connection - I am no longer a slave to the Hooded one. Thank you - blood of my blood."

"I wish - I wish there was another way."

"I remember," Sceleratus smiled. "I remember it all - and now there is no pain - I can rest - finally, I will know peace."

"How did you end up like this?"

"My Slayer - I made a bargain to save my Slayer. I was tricked - betrayed." Sceleratus suddenly arched up, pain etched on his features. Giles watched in amazement as the demon's flesh rippled and started to alter. The skin became smooth, claws and teeth retracted and within seconds, he was staring down at a prone, human male. Lightning suddenly ripped through the air, the colours around them dissipating. Violent rolls of thunder seemed to cause the ground beneath them to shake and a fierce wind blew up, whistling through the landscape.

"What's going on?" Yelled Giles, clutching the ground.

"This place is part of me - it dies with me. You must leave!" William grabbed Giles' arm. "I will give you what time I can. Go - now!"

Giles got to his feet, an arm wrapped protectively around his chest. He looked down at William.

"Thank you."

"Beware the Hooded Man - the sorcerer - now go!"



"Why did you do that?" Asked Quentin, intrigued.

"It seemed logical," shrugged Henry.

"I fail to see the logic in it," replied Quentin, keeping pressure on the towel.

"His shirt," Henry smiled slightly. "Whatever it was, it ripped through Rupert's shirt. Therefore, it is safe to assume that wherever Rupert is, he 's wearing those clothes. If he can take those with him."

"He can take other things," interrupted Quentin. "I'm impressed, Henry." "IF it works."

"Worth a try. Take over for me, Henry, I'll call the doctor."



I must hold on - must give him time. He must escape - he has to be free. Blood of my blood will live - he will find you, hooded one. William shuddered as pain ripped through him. Hurts too much - I, I can't - I can't hold on. I want - I want to be free.

"William."

The soft voice tore at his heart and William looked up at the woman who appeared beside him, eyes widening in recognition.

"Anne," he sobbed. "You waited."

"Of course I waited," she smiled, kneeling beside him and taking his hand in hers. "Now it's your turn to wait. A little while longer and we will all be together again. You must do this, William. You must give our blood, Rupert, the time he needs. We have waited for centuries - what are a few moments more? Repay your debt, William."

"Stay with me - please?"

"I never left, my love."



Thunder and lightning rolled and crashed, the landscape was changing constantly at breakneck speed. One moment, Giles was staggering on grass, then slipping on ice, wading through water, clambering over rocks and struggling through sand. He was getting weaker and weaker, panting and sweating, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his chest. One foot in front of the other, he thought, concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. He could see the rift, but his changing surroundings gave him no perspective of distance. Just keep going - William is buying this time - I can't let it be for nothing. Giles kept his eyes fixed on the rift, part of him convinced that if he looked away it would disappear, leaving him stranded. He struggled on, trying to ignore the irritating buzzing in his mind, a buzzing that was getting increasingly louder the closer he approached the tear in the air ahead of him. Giles grinned suddenly. It's you - I can feel you calling to me. I'm coming - I'm coming. With a final effort, Giles staggered to the rift and dived through it. There was a burst of brilliant light and he suddenly felt the familiar touch in his mind. It wrapped itself around him, soothing and protecting, rejoicing in their reconnection.

You are tired and hurt. You must rest. I will take us home.



William braced himself as another surge of pain ripped through him. Steadily worsening, it seemed to be pulling him, drawing him closer to the freedom he so craved. No - I mustn't give in - must hold on.

"William," Anne gently touched William's face. "It's time. You can let go now."

"He's free?"

"Yes, William. He's free. Now it's your turn." Anne stood and held out her hand. "Come, William. Edward is waiting for us."

"Edward." William reached up and grasped Anne's hand, "our son - our beautiful son. He waited as well?"

"We have waited such a long time." Anne smiled. "Come home with us, my love."

"I'm coming," whispered William as his eyes closed. His breathing grew erratic and sections of the realm around him were swallowed into nothing. The darkness increased, getting steadily closer and closer. William Rupert Giles smiled - and died.



"Henry," murmured Quentin, "look. He seems more relaxed."

"He's certainly got more colour in his cheeks," Henry replied, "and his breathing has evened out."

Quentin glanced at the towel pressed over the wounds on Giles' chest. Blood was beginning to seep through the material, vivid red against the whiteness of the towel.

"How long is the doctor going to take?" Henry asked, glancing down with concern.

"He won't be long," replied Quentin. "Believe me, he knows that when the Council says 'jump', his proper response is 'how high?' "

Giles' sudden groan startled the two men standing either side of the bed.

"Rupert?" Quentin leaned down. "Rupert? Can you hear me?"

Giles groaned again and his eyes slowly fluttered open.

"I'm not - doing that - again," he whispered, wincing at the pain in his chest.

"It's okay, Rupert - the doctor will be here soon. What happened?"

"He's free," murmured Giles, closing his eyes. "William is free."

You did well. William is at peace now - and you obtained more information. Rest now - regain your strength - let them take care of you. I chose well. It is a privilege to be with you.

Quentin glanced at Henry. "It's over."

"No," Giles opened his eyes and stared up at them. "It's not over. It's only just begun."



He lay in the centre of the chalk circle, curled up in a ball, shaking with pain. Oh god - it hurts - I can't stop it - not this time. Why did you let them do this to me? Did you get out? Did you survive? I need to look - need to see for myself. The Hooded Man dragged his pain-wracked body across the floor, fingers digging into the stone, never taking his eyes from the scrying glass on the table. I must find out, Rupert - I must be sure. He reached up a trembling hand, straining and stretching, willing his fingers to grasp the glass. He screamed as his head suddenly exploded with pain and he slumped back down, clutching his head with both hands. The hood slipped off and Ethan Rayne stared up with bloodshot eyes, a solitary tear trickling down his cheek.

"Help me, Rupert - please help me."

The End

Part Three of the Vulcan's Bane Series - Through the Barricades - coming soon.

FOOTNOTES:
Secret Squirrel - Hanna-Barbera cartoon classic - Secret Squirrel and his sidekick, Morocco Mole!

Tufty Club - Tufty the Squirrel taught children road safety via public information films. Children could even join the "Tufty Club" and get neat little badges etc.



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