The meeting began easily. The vampires in his presence were all loyal to the Mistress and in awe of the High Master. Masters from outside the territory present had already pledged their allegiance so Spike and Xander were ‘amongst friends’.
Spike addressed the silent crowd in a commanding voice, the tone resolute and brooking no arguments from the floor.
“As you know we are all under threat from the Watchers’ Council. We have done nothing to provoke this, yet it seems that certain extremists in the new council are agitating to wipe us out.”
The hall erupted with protests from every direction, some outraged, others simply distressed, the Masters and Childer in the room unsurprised as they already knew. The High Master held up his hand and waited. They room fell silent once more.
“We all have a duty to the humans in our charge to remain strong… particularly those of you whose human populations are dwindling. As their own governments abandon them, we are all that stands between them and oblivion. And we have a vested interest in keeping our feeding grounds healthy, particularly in our northern regions.”
A unanimous murmur of agreement rippled through the hall.
“Esteemed members of Mistress Minna’s court, I implore you to appeal to your own areas immediately. Every minion, fledge, Childe and pet must be ready to work toward the common goal – survival.
“The Watchers’ council intends to move the Slayers against all vampires. We must therefore do two things. Firstly we must re invigorate our old supply routes to your areas – all the underground railway lines and subsurface lines of travel, all sewers, ancient mines and old service tunnels must become the primary transport lines again. All must be cleared, marked and managed.” A number of the older vampires nodded sagely. They had done this many times before in their frozen northern winters, not so much for Slayers but simply to prevent the frozen demise of their food source… the animals and humans in their region.
“Existing agreements with human groups need to be renewed to assure your charges of the loyalty of the vampires, and also warn them of the difficulties ahead. Fledges must be controlled and tutored within your own lairs, and minions kept to a minimum and bound until needed. Any pets, consorts and Childer should be kept close at all times. No one will be safe.”
Spike’s moved to grasp his Consort’s caressing hand, and Xander shifted fluidly to kneel beside his partner, but a minion was quicker, providing the leather clad brunette with an ornate armless stool allowing him to sit right next to the High Master. The entwined hands now resting on the inside of Spike’s thigh and Xander sitting straight with his other hand in a tight fist on his own knee.
“The second part of the proposal is aimed at educating the slayers and their watchers, and by that, ensuring a shift in the council via political measures, and buying us some time on the ground.”
There was another round of concerned protest, but Spike simply held up his free hand and waited. The room fell silent once more.
“At this stage they are ill informed for the most part. We will be bringing as many young slayers and watchers as we can to this place. Here they will be educated to see you all as individuals worthy of having rights and obviously caring of your human communities. They will be counseled and trained to identify those of our race who are out of control, or without clan alliance, and given far more training in the identification of our brother demons.
“Childer and Masters will work with our guests by relating their personal histories, informing them of the current trends in your management of feeding and the maintenance of your areas. Others in the room will also assist in this process. Any questions need to be answered honestly and with your help we can eliminate the current trend in the European council of Watchers and bring balance to your existence once more.”
Spike paused but no-one spoke. Several minions and fledges were already teary eyed as he looked at them meaningfully. “You are all important. To make your Master or Mistress proud is to serve our whole Aurelian line. We cannot fail.”
Never had they felt more valued, more important. And it was the High Master giving them their task. They would do anything. They had a duty and a cause. The demon in them answered the call, but for many, so did the residual human.
“Tomorrow we will see the first of these people arrive, and by the end of the week we expect over seventy watchers and slayers to reside amongst us. I encourage only Masters and Childer to be present at this stage, as our role is to educate the girls and their male watchers in the ways of the north. The remainder of the clan members, please feel welcome to stay at your Masters’ request or that of the Mistress Minna. You are all important to us and your support is critical. My Consort and I deeply appreciate your assistance, and your reward is assured if we are successful, as it will make a difference to every clan in Europe, possibly the world.”
A tall blonde male stood. Obviously a Master of some standing in the Siberian region, he spoke with a heavy accent but presented a nobility and honor that gave credence to his line. He waited for Minna to acknowledge his role as spokesman for one clan, then Spike’s nod permitting him to speak. “I thank you Master William, Consort Alexander. Your concern for us has gone beyond anything we have ever known outside the old USSR and for many years before. Your reputation precedes you, and we will do as you ask. You have our loyalty and our thanks.
“The Mistress Minna is our wonderful ruler in this region, but to know that the High Master and his Consort are concerned enough to come here is…” The younger Master held back tears and paused before continuing, “ it’s just extraordinary! I have the right to speak for our clan and they will act upon your instruction in all things… Mistress… High Master…” the Vampire nodded in both directions then bared his neck. Spike nodded but it was the Mistress who stepped forward and took the blood, prompted by a hierarchical process that was eons old.
Spike and Xander stood as Minna slipped back into her human visage, and caressed the cheek of her loyal subject, but it was Spike who spoke, “Our dear Master Alexis had highlighted for us a commitment and a need. So… as a sign of my Consort’s and my determination that this course of action proceeds, we ask that you drink the truth in our blood and pledge yourselves to this cause in the time honored vampiric fashion.”
Before the meeting, he and Xander had both bled as much as they dared spare into a large vat of human blood. Now four orderly lines moved in silence to receive a spoonful of the laced blood and pledge their allegiance by dropping their fangs, cutting their lip or tongue, and in turn delivering a blood covered kiss to the feet of their High Master, then excusing themselves from the room.
No vampire that partook of the blood would now dare violate the High Master’s wishes… indeed many of the fledges spent the evening pleasuring themselves or each other in a desperate effort to assuage the intoxicating effects of the exquisitely potent blood they had consumed.
Mistress Minna simply smiled as she heard the sighs and groans, all a result of the sharing. All who drank would be pliable and willing.
With at least twenty watchers, seventy slayers, an unknown number of witches, a senior wiccan *and* the esteemed Giles arriving within the next two days… it would be a necessity.
By the end of the evening Spike’s feet were coated and dripping with blood. The last to partake was Minna. Spike allowed her the traditional kiss to his feet then pulled her up, bit her neck and offered his wrist. Only a few mouthfuls were taken before both pulled away but Minna was rather overwhelmed by the exchange and could think of no words.
She thanked the Master by lifting his hand gently to kiss his Aurelian ring. The Mistress Vampire then glided to standing, spun and left the room, her beautiful full length black ball gown and billowing train giving the impression that she was floating rather than walking. Spike reflected, she really had grown into the role of ruler of her clans very quickly, and might well lead them through the next few centuries with some luck, looking just as beautiful.
As soon as she had departed the room, Xander noted his partner’s fatigue and moved to kneel in front of Spike’s chair, tilting his own neck and sighing as his mate took the offering.
As Xander’s mark was licked closed, he whispered, “Come on Spike… Let me take you to bed. We will sleep and then… I’ll take you another way.” He was rewarded with a smile.
“Not if I take you first, Pet”
And the two retired two hours before the sun rose.
…………………………
Progressive groups of watchers, witches, slayers and ‘extras’ (Dawn included) were welcomed by consorts, thralls, paid drivers and minions, depending on the time and method of travel. Toward the end of the first day the local coven also joined the welcoming committee after being contacted by Willow’s group directly.
Dawn’s arrival was a particular blessing and she was ushered (to her embarrassment) directly to the High Master and Consort’s quarters.
She knocked softly and was a little taken aback as the door was opened by a minion rather than Xander or Spike.
A number of individuals filed out and the door was closed behind her after the manservant had announced her then let himself out politely. She stood rather awkwardly in the doorway, unsure of the protocol or what to expect. Buffy had said Xander and Spike were different now, but in truth had no idea what that meant.
She decided on a simple yell of, “Hey the Bit’s here” as her in.
She moved further into the suite, but fell silent when saw two figures standing looking out from the balcony of their suite at the palace, entwined. Spike with his back to Xander’s chest smoking, Xander with his arms wrapped around his partner in a loving embrace, quietly talking to his smaller companion. Both were dressed in silk robes and obviously relaxing.
Dawn gasped. The two men must not have heard her, as they remained in the embrace and began to gently sway… she had never seen anything more beautiful. She watched as Xander kissed the top of Spike’s head and let his hand drift under the satin robe, sneaking a caress of a taut torso. She stood transfixed as Spike flicked his cigarette over the balcony, blew out the last of the smoke then spun to take his lover’s lips. She also noted the vampire’s hands one sliding low grasping his partner’s hardness through the slippery material of the robe, the other pulling moving to Xander’s neck, holding the kiss. She reflected later that her adventure into voyeurism had been sadly compromised by vampric hearing and her own inability to contain an “eep” and a sigh. Also upon reflection she realized… the two did not disengage, rather, they moved as one to greet her and it did not feel strange… which in itself did.
Spike smirked knowingly and whispered “Never picked you for a slash lover pet” as they walked by her and ushered her back into their sitting room. She groaned and flushed pink with embarrassment wondering just how long Spike had known she was there and how much of the last few minutes had been specifically for her benefit.
They talked late into the night before the young wiccan and former Key wandered to her own beautiful bedroom. She wished she had taken more notice of the descriptions in Tolstoy’s writing at school. The room was richly decorated in the style of the eighteen hundreds, rich velvets, gold fittings, and highly carved furniture. It was truly beautiful. She fell asleep under a duck down duvet with images of beautiful boys in exquisite settings running through her head (two in particular!)
………….
The following day an unexpected glitch in their plans presented itself. Giles had arrived the previous evening but had been ‘too ill with the travel’ to join the others.
Xander and Spike visited him at his rooms and Spike could smell it. The vampire could hear the strained heartbeat and Xander could see it. The aging Watcher was pale, losing weight rapidly and seemed exhausted even after the merely sitting up.
“Bloody hell Watcher… what’s your story?