{"id":10631,"date":"2016-12-03T17:37:09","date_gmt":"2016-12-03T17:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=10631"},"modified":"2016-12-03T22:25:49","modified_gmt":"2016-12-03T22:25:49","slug":"season-of-solace-167","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2016\/12\/03\/season-of-solace-167\/","title":{"rendered":"Season of Solace. 167"},"content":{"rendered":"
167: The Crawford Street Mansion, Central Sunnydale<\/strong><\/div>\n

\u201cWho knows what might happen to that poor girl out there in the dark. If she makes it into the fire-damaged area. . .,\u201d Wesley\u2019s voice trailed off as his thoughts carried him in a worrisome direction.<\/p>\n

Giles was of the same mind. \u201cThere is no time to waste. We have only the one lantern. I shall begin down here. You rouse some help above.\u201d Reminding him where they stashed the extra flashlights, he suggested that he also bring a crowbar or the crossbow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy on Earth would we need those? I can see that we might need to pry a door open if it became lodged during Miss Brewer\u2019s escape. Surely she would not react well to armed men chasing her.\u201d<\/p>\n

The girl was confused, but whether it was strictly post-traumatic stress, and some form of brainwashing techniques, or the aftereffects of powerful magick were still unknown. \u201cI believe it would be best to prepare for anything. We don\u2019t know how Karla got out of the shackles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I presumed that Drusilla let her go,\u201d confessed Wesley now thinking that he might be forming conclusions without enough evidence. It seemed a sensible line of thinking, the vampire\u2019s behavior being so unpredictable, and the girl\u2019s mental state still so fragile.<\/p>\n

Admitting that was a strong possibility, Giles did not want to spend time debating it. \u201cWe should get going. We must find Karla. Too much is at stake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wes nodded, \u201cRight. On it.\u201d He rushed back to the stairs noting that Giles waited long enough for him to traverse them before heading through the far door. The training room was swallowed up in darkness the moment he left taking the lantern with him.<\/p>\n

Taking a mental note, Wes realized the number of available helpers for the search party was quite low. There was Xander, of course. Still in the kitchen. He could hear running water from further down the hall. Likely making a futile attempt to save the charred frying pan.<\/p>\n

With Faith, Buffy, and Willow either on town patrol or taking the night off, and Angel out on the mansion grounds, that left only Cordelia, Spike and Drusilla. It did not seem very reasonable to place Cordelia in danger in order to find Karla Brewer, however he knew she would want to get involved, or at least be made aware of the situation. Spike might be convinced to lend a hand, but Wesley was still wary of Drusilla\u2019s involvement.<\/p>\n

Perhaps his Watcher training was just too deeply ingrained, but he did not trust the vampires. He knew that Drusilla was mad, and that she followed her own inner voices. She also possessed a power he did not fully understand. Portents, psychics, prognostication all fell within his studies, but Drusilla seemed driven to act for the benefit of her sire, Angel, ensuring the safety of his pet.<\/p>\n

Wesley scowled as the word pet crossed his thoughts, but in the scheme of things that was the appropriate designation. As far as he knew Angel had made no formal claim or marked her as his mate. He wondered if Cordelia had a clue about the ramifications of such a role, and where it was likely to lead.<\/p>\n

He continued to ponder the notion as he rifled through the coat closet that served as the weapons and equipment storage area. They had stocked quite the arsenal. \u201cWhere are the torches?\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean the flashlights?\u201d Xander\u2019s voice immediately behind him caused Wesley to yelp in surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood heavens! What are you doing creeping up on me that way? I might have harmed you.\u201d\u00a0 Wesley loosened his grip on the crowbar, relaxing at the sight of the teenager.<\/p>\n

The huge yawn Xander did not bother to cover showed he was hardly concerned that his actions might end up in injuries. \u201cWell, whatever you\u2019re doing, have fun with that. I am gonna get some shut-eye.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quickly stopping him, Wesley explained, \u201cKarla is missing. The manacles are broken and bloody. She either squeezed out of them, broke free by some unknown means, or was let go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Xander glanced across the foyer toward the stairs. \u201cDru?<\/p>\n

That had been his immediate conclusion, too. \u201cDrusilla was alone with Miss Brewer for some time tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy went quiet for a moment, looking quite concerned about something. \u201cUm, a few minutes ago, did you hear Cordelia scream Angel\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wesley\u2019s head jerked in the direction of the staircase, following Xander\u2019s gaze. \u201cNothing so specific. I heard something, but dismissed it. We discovered Karla was missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, yeah, well, I guess I thought it was just Cordy and Angel, uh\u2026y\u2019know, again!\u201d<\/p>\n

Knowing precisely what his stuttering meant, Wesley held up a hand. \u201cOh, you need go no further. My room is not as soundproofed as I would hope being just down the hall from theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shuddering, he realized Xander still had issues with the idea of his former girlfriend being bedded by a vampire whilst being forced to live under the same roof. Poor boy. At least with his own minor infatuation with Cordelia it was merely a matter of being concerned for her wellbeing. Despite the reports of Angel\u2019s secure soul, there had been no formal study of it. Well, one might consider their frequent sexual antics some form of testing methodology, but it was certainly not a proper analysis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait a moment! Angel is patrolling the grounds,\u201d Wesley reminded Xander of the plan. The vampire headed out while Cordelia went to their room to shower and prepare for bed. \u201cHe will not have had time to complete a sweep of the perimeter and return.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that scream was. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

Gasping, \u201cA cry for help!\u201d Wesely ran for the stairs, bumping into Xander along the way, dropping the heavy crowbar on his foot.<\/p>\n

\u201cOWWW!\u201d Hopping up and down, Xander\u2019s face twisted in pain. \u201cThat was my big toe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wes sent him an apologetic look, but there was no time for anything further. He reached for the crowbar only to be elbowed in the head as Xander hopped toward the stairs. He yelped painfully at the jolt, \u201cAHHH!\u201d Losing his balance, he tumbled to his knees landing awkwardly on the wooden floor.<\/p>\n

That. . . hurt.<\/p>\n

As quickly as he could manage, Wesley maneuvered himself to his feet and moved to join Xander on the stairs. They limped quickly, glaring at each other along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think Karla is up there?\u201d asked Xander with a grunt of pain as he put pressure on his injured foot.<\/p>\n

Having not thought that Karla might consider Cordelia a target of some kind, Wesley\u2019s eyes widened at the notion. \u201cGood Lord! Hurry!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am!\u201d<\/p>\n

Halfway up, they realized Spike was standing at the top of the landing staring down at them. Drusilla spared them a glance, but seemed to be rubbing a sore spot of her own as she walked by, continuing to move toward the third level stairs.<\/p>\n

Spike demanded to know, \u201cWhat the deuce are you two doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSaving Cordelia!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard Cordelia scream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spike seemed to find that funny. \u201cMaybe you did, but I don\u2019t think she needs rescuing. The cheerleader is fine. Not the night to go snooping around bedroom doors, especially that one. Not unless you want an eyeful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hint received, Wesley cringed. \u201cI take it Angel has already returned. Perhaps I should tell him the news before they have an opportunity to\u2026ah\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

As he made an attempt to move past the vampire, Spike put a hand to his chest making it impossible. \u201cI said it\u2019s best you leave them alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need some assistance tracking Karla Brewer,\u201d Wesley explained the situation. Refusing to back down, not wanting to appear vulnerable to a vampire he did not trust, he held his ground, his chin tilted a notch higher than usual. \u201cIf Angel is unavailable, we need you on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spike glanced down the hallway toward Angel and Cordelia\u2019s room, as if he considered letting Wesley disturb them anyway. \u201cBollocks!\u201d he muttered. \u201cWhat are you waiting for, Watcher?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Drusilla planning to accompany us?\u201d<\/p>\n

She was leaning against the wall watching them. \u201cYou coming, luv?\u201d asked Spike holding out his hand.<\/p>\n

Drusilla stayed put. \u201cYou waste your time. Though her body runs free, the girl cannot be reached. She is lost until he comes for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAmolon comes for her?\u201d Wesley gulped. \u201cY-you saw this in a vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInside her mind, her soul,\u201d Drusilla\u2019s whispers tickled creepily along his nerves. \u201cA little peek. Only a hint of brightness of the girl she once was. The rest is shadows. There, in the darkness, he waits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scene 168<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

167: The Crawford Street Mansion, Central Sunnydale \u201cWho knows what might happen to that poor girl out there in the dark. If she…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-to-be-continued-fic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10631"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10631\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}