Chapter Fifteen
The Crack of a Whip
The next day a meeting between all the Master Vampires and Slayers was called. They all gathered in the grand hall speaking in hushed tones about the events of last night.
They had all heard what Angelus had said and they had all seen the mark, so naturally they assumed that they were here for the punishment of Angelus and the new slayer.
Darla and Drusilla were standing together in the center of the room. They were called back to Sunnydale from Prague where they had been staying for an indefinite amount of time. They had both become bored in Sunnydale and the Master had granted his permission for them to leave. They only returned for the feasts. But it was not yet time for the next feast so they did not know why they were summoned.
Now as they stood there looking around the room they both felt the tension in the air “What say you Dru?”
“Psst…psst…there’s something new in the air…psst…psst, can you feel it? It’s a new life, a new beginning.” She rolled her head back and forth and Darla nodded, she did feel it.
The massive doors were thrown open and Riley and Spike entered followed by their slayers. They took positions on either side of the room and began speaking with their slayers quietly.
The door opened again this time Buffy entered and behind her was Tara holding on to a crying Willow. They walked to the dais and stood there. Tara tried to calm Willow and Buffy stared daggers at everyone that looked at them funny.
Darla took note of the three women and wondered whom the blond one was. She didn’t know her but she sensed great power from her and she was curious as to who she was. Not to mention the fact that there were two Master Vampires that currently were not in the room. Her brow furrowed, just what the hell had been going on here while she was away.
Giles came from the dais and stood overlooking the room he smiled at everyone. He turned and nodded to a servant who entered the room pushing a very old and decrepit looking Master in a wheelchair.
Gasps were heard throughout the room at the appearance of the Master. Darla couldn’t believe how he looked like death itself. Drusilla leaned down and whispered in Darla’s ear “See it has begun.” Darla quickly looked to Dru who was grinning like a child. What the hell was she talking about?
The side door opened again and four guards entered in between them was Angelus and Oz each heavily chained. The room gasped again and Buffy took a step forward but Tara but a hand on her shoulder. Buffy turned worried eyes to the other slayer “What’s going on? What’s happening?”
She had woken up alone and to the sounds of Willow crying. She had rushed to her side frantically asking her what was happening. Willow told her that Angelus had woken up early and left to go to the Master. He had been summoned along with Oz to stand trail for their indiscretions.
Buffy had immediately dressed, dragged Willow to Oz’s house, picked up Tara and frantically drove to the Hall. Now she stood there, her body a bundle of nerves, as she watched her lover being treated like a dog. Rage filled her at the sight and she actually growled.
The Master took his place on the dais and addressed the group “Everyone, please calm down and listen there is much to be revealed.” The room quieted and all eyes were on the Master and the Watcher.
“Giles will you please?” “Yes of’ course.” Giles stepped forward.
“Let it be known that from this day forward these two…” he motioned to Angelus and Oz “Master Angelus and Master Oz, will be stripped of their titles and will be punished for their indiscretions against the Council and the pre-ordained rules of the taking of a slayer and a human.”
Gasps erupted throughout the hall some in defense of the words spoken, others applauding their agreement at the decision of their leaders.
Willow was hysterically crying clutching Tara and Buffy was rigid with anger.
Darla quickly looked to Angelus, her favorite child, and saw his attention not on the proceedings but gazing at the blonde woman who stood with Tara.
She peered closer, was that…love she saw in his gaze? She shook her head, no it couldn’t be. She looked at the blonde woman and saw the stiffness of her body, she saw Tara holding her back and she also saw love in her eyes reflecting back at Angelus.
Her eyebrow quirked up isn’t this interesting.
“Please bring the offenders forward.” Giles motioned and they were brought forward before the crowd.
Giles approached them “Angelus and Oz do you have anything to say in your defense.”
They were silent as they turned to look at each other. They smirked then turned back to Giles each one shaking their heads no.
Giles hid his smile at their show of disdain, “Very well.”
He turned to the crowd “Masters Riley and Spike please come forward”
Riley and Spike walked up to the dais.
“Riley and Spike will meek out the punishment, ten lashes each.” More gasps erupted.
“NOOO.” Buffy ran forward and fell to her knees before the Master.
“No please I beg you don’t do this. Punish me instead please!”
“BUFFY NO!” Angelus screamed at her.
The Master looked into her beautiful tear-filled green eyes and marveled once again at her strength and courage. He smelt the life breeding inside of her and he smiled like a father looking at his daughter.
He raised a gnarled hand to her head and spoke softly “Child these are the rules of the land. They both have trespassed where they should not have gone. Both know these offenses to be true. Do not fret child.” He turned to Giles and nodded.
Buffy looked to Giles, tears running down her face, shaking her head no at him. He smiled sympathetically at her and addressed Riley. “Master Riley if you would please proceed.”
Angelus was pushed to his knees and a grinning Riley walked up behind him quickly grabbing the whip. He leaned down and roughly grabbed Angelus by the hair harshly pulling him back “I hope you enjoy the pain my friend because I will surely enjoy inflicting it.”
Angelus smirked up at Riley no fear on his face or in his body “There is no pain on this planet you could inflict on me boy!” Then he spit in his face.
Riley snarled and wiped the spit off his face. He threw Angelus’ head forward and raised his arm smiling evilly and ready to strike the first blow, when a cold deceptively soft voice stopped him.
“Riley?”
He turned and looked at Buffy who stood by the Master her eyes hard as steel her body tense with anger “Know that every mark you inflict on my lover’s body will be brought back to you a hundred times more by my hands. I will show you no mercy I will only offer you an ugly death and I’ll do it with a song in my heart.” She continued to stare at him and he actually faltered. She looked like pure evil wrapped up in a tight little body and he believed every word she said.
The Master was filled with pride at the threats that she had so easily and confidently proclaimed. She was truly a fit mate for The Scourge of Europe.
Angelus smiled his heart filled with love and pride for his strong mate. He looked up to see Riley hesitating and he laughed out loud at the fear that was on his face.
“What’s the matter Finn? Scared of a woman?” He continued to laugh wholeheartedly while he winked at Buffy. She just continued to stare at Riley daring him to do what he had to do and promising him retribution for every stroke he swung.
Riley embarrassed by Angelus’ words and his own hesitation turned away from Buffy and swiftly brought down his arm.
The leather whip landed sharply and Angelus’ body lurched with the pain of the first blow and he hissed into the quite room. A long slice could be seen and blood started to flow.
Riley gleefully continued with his duty, the site of his enemy’s blood filled him with satisfaction making him forget Buffy’s threats.
Buffy stepped forward ready to stop him but The Master held her tightly and shook his head at her. “This is the way it must be.”
Buffy watched with tears running down her face and pain in her heart. With every strike of the whip on his back she felt the blow herself. Pain radiated throughout her body and she clutched the Master’s hand forcefully not even aware that she was doing it.
Angelus for his part stayed quiet not a word or shout of pain was said only a hiss every time the leather touched his back.
When Riley was finished he stepped back and dropped the whip.
“Master Spike?” Giles called out.
Spike had watched the whole thing with a sickness in his stomach and a rage boiling inside. Though he had no love for Angelus he was still his Sire and he hated Riley more. The fact that Riley was inflicting such punishment on him made him mad.
He walked up snarling. He took the whip from the floor and turning to Riley punched him in the face sending him flying off the dais and landing on the floor. “That’s for whipping my Sire.”
The Master grunted his agreement. Spike maybe a little obtuse at times but he clearly knew where his loyalties lay and that was very important for the upcoming events.
Spike turned to Angelus. He lifted his head gently and looked into his eyes. “Forgive me Sire for what I must do.”
Angelus looked at Spike and a newfound respect for him grew. He smiled at him “It’s alright Spike.” He eyes hardened “Please Master Spike proceed.” Spike’s eyes bulged for a second, finally the respect he had always wanted from his Sire. He stood tall and without any hesitation landed the first sting.
When Spike finished he felt no joy in what he had to do, he dropped the whip as if he was disgusted with it and bent to help his Sire up. Buffy ran over to Angelus’ other side and helped as well.
They carried him to the side of the dais where he sat down on a bench. He looked up at Spike and nodded his approval. Spike bowed to him diligently and turned around to face Giles.
Buffy dropped to her knees and cradled his head in her hands, leaning forward she gently spread kisses all over his face “I love you…I love you…I love you.” She murmured to him trying to offer as much comfort as she could. “Shh baby its okay, I’m alright.”
“Oz, please step forward.” Giles said.
Oz stood tall and stepped up ready to take his punishment. Willow could be heard crying in the background as she still held on to Tara tightly.
“For your transgression of fornicating with a human you will receive ten lashes.”
Oz dropped to his knees and waited for the first blow. Giles took the whip up, he really hated this part of his job, but as the leader of the humans it was his duty to meek out the punishment.
He lifted his hand and amongst the heartbroken wails of Willow he began.
When he was done the guards helped Oz up and sat him down on the bench next to Angelus. Willow ran over to him offering words of comfort and her love.
The Master nodded to Giles who helped him up.
He stood tall and strong, “Riley and Spike please step forward again.”
They walked up and stood obediently in front of their Master. “The both of you have also committed your own discretions have you not?” he peered keenly at them.
Riley huffed “I did no such thing Master.”
Spike was not so stupid, he looked him right in the eye “Aye I did Master.”
The Master walked up to Spike, “Spike I’m glad you are honest I know that your infraction was a minor one, and in the face of your honesty and your diligent loyalty to your Sire, I commend you. You are a courageous and brave Master and you set an example for all that hear my voice.”
Spike was expecting death not words of praise. So it was a shock but he took it all in stride, “Thank you Master.”
The master turned and faced Riley.
“Riley you show no signs of loyalty or honesty for that matter. Both Giles and myself are fully aware of your attempted assault on Buffy.”
“WHAT!” Angelus roared out. He quickly jumped to his feet oblivious of the pain radiating down his back and stomped over to Riley. Buffy following closely on his heels trying to pull him back,
“Baby, please stop…you’ll hurt yourself!”
The Master held up his hand and Angelus stopped immediately, standing two feet away from Riley his eyes blazing yellow and his body tense with rage. Buffy stood at his side holding tightly to his arm incase he did something.
Riley faltered, “I know not what you speak of Master.”
The Master looked at him cruelly, “Riley you disappoint me. I happen to know that you did indeed attempt to assault Buffy here at the Council not two days earlier. Are you telling me this is not true?”
Riley didn’t know what to do; he looked to Buffy who was looking at Angelus who was staring directly at Riley. “Do not look at her Finn! Answer the Master.” Angelus growled out.
Nervously he answered, “Yes Master I did.”
Before anyone could stop him Angelus jumped forward and hit Riley with a left cross that sent him flying through the air. He landed hard on the floor at Darla’s feet.
“You always were stupid Riley.” She causally said looking down at him.
“Darla?”
“Yes Master.”
The Master smiled at her, “You are responsible for the punishment of your child. See to it that it is long and painful.”
“With pleasure my lord.” She purred bowing to him.
Angelus turned to the Master angry that this was being taken away from him. “Master I request to be put in charge of that job.” He desperately wanted to get his hands on Finn again.
“I know Angelus but I must say no. You have many other things to do. For now we call it an evening. Take your woman home and rest. We will meet here tomorrow evening in my quarters.” He turned away from him.
“Oz”
“Yes Master”
“You will do the same. Tomorrow night present both yourself and Willow in my chambers.”
“Yes Master.”