Prologue

The cave was dark, cool, and eerily silent. Crude drawings depicting various scenes of torture adorned the stone walls. The demon presence that resided there had retreated three days previously. The only current inhabitant lay in an unmoving heap on the floor. He appeared to be completely lifeless, with only an occasional hitch of his pale shoulders giving away his undead status. His face was filthy with dirt concentrated in the places where tears had streamed down his face. Remnants of large burns and bruises that had covered much of his body just a few days ago still remained, mostly healed.

There was no healing for his gaping emotional wounds.

So drained was he, mentally and physically, that he did not even attempt to look up as a shadow crossed in front of the cave entrance, blocking the small arch of sunlight there. He didn't care who approached. If death loomed, he would welcome the comfort it would provide his aching psyche.

It took a moment for Cordelia's eyes to adjust to the dimness of the cave after walking in the bright African sunlight. It was so hot here. She missed LA, but knew that she had matters to attend to that took precedence over her personal comfort. Besides, she was actually looking forward to this particular assignment. The Powers had instructed her to go and assist a vampire with a soul. There was nothing she wanted to do more. She just didn't understand what she was doing here in Africa. How had he gotten here from LA anyway?

As the dark contours and shapes of the cave came into sharper relief, she was able to pick out the shirtless and barefoot figure slumped on the floor. She moved closer and took in the shockingly white hair.

"Spike?"

"Uhhh." He groaned.

"Spike, what are you doing here? I was sent here to help. I was hoping for Angel."

Spike weakly flopped over onto his back, his eyes still closed. "Yeah." His voice was barely a whisper. "I get that a lot."

"I was told to come to the vampire with a soul who was here. You have a soul?" She was incredulous. "What, they're just giving them away now?"

Her chattering was making his head hurt, adding to the discomfort that plagued the rest of his body. "Not quite." He groaned, then pried his eyes open to look at her as he attempted to sit. "Why are you here?"

"I work for The Powers That Be. I go where they send me."

"And why did they send you here?" He was finally able to pull to a sitting position.

"I have to wait until they tell me that. Be quiet."

Spike shook his head "Like I'm the one jabbering on."

"Shh! What?"

"I didn't say."

"Shh!" she waved her hand at him. "Tell me again." Cordelia was looking toward the ceiling, obviously addressing someone he couldn't see. "Him? Why?"

There was another long pause while Cordelia listened to a voice Spike couldn't hear, then "All right. Come here."

When Spike didn't move Cordelia sighed and spoke slowly. "Spike. Come here."

"Oh, so you're talkin' to me now?"

"I see that soul has done nothing for your attitude. You're still a big pain in the ass."

He staggered to his feet and stood before her. "Yeah, that's right funny comin'."

"Shh! Stand still." She placed her hands on his head. It was engulfed with a glowing blue light.

"OW! What was that?"

"That chip won't hurt you now."

Spike backed away, angry. "I didn't come here for the bleedin' chip!"

"No. You asked for a favor from The Powers. You can't be much help if you can't defend yourself. They want me to fix you."

"Fix me"?!

"Shh!" Cordelia was looking into the air again. "Are you sure?"

"'Bout what?"

"Shh! Stand still."

Spike threw his head back in frustration and rolled his eyes, then stood straight as instructed by the former Sunnydale cheerleader. Some cracked sense of humor these bloody 'Powers' had. Cordelia took his hands in hers and laced their fingers together. Blue light exploded all around her and traveled to him, up his arms, over his shoulders and head, soon encompassing all of him. His mouth opened in a gasp as the light was absorbed into his skin.

Cordelia dropped his hands and stepped away. "There. You're done." She looked up. "He's done."

"What did you do to me?" His face showed his confusion.

"I don't know."

"What?"

"Look, I just do what they tell me to. It really doesn't help to ask questions."

"What do they want from me?"

She sighed and shook her head at him. "Haven't you been listening?"

"Great!" His hands dropped to slap his thighs. "I'm stuck here in a cave with Queen Rah-Rah going all glowy on me, and no one has a clue."

"Well, that's gratitude for you!"

"Now look here Missy."

"Shh!"

"Here we go again."

"Shh! Oh no!" Cordelia turned to Spike, her features clouded with concern. "You're coming with me."

"Can't." He motioned outside. "Daylight."

"Have you always been this obstinate?"

"Fine! I don't suppose you brought an ashtray?"

She didn't answer him, but instead hurried outside. When he didn't follow she turned to him impatiently. He shrugged his shoulders as he realized he had been wishing for death anyway. He took a deep breath and stepped out into the light.

Nothing happened. Spike's eyes were stunned as he looked at his sunlit skin, then at Cordelia. "What did you do to me?"

"You're complaining?"

Spike held out his arms, feeling the warmth on his bare flesh. "What am I?"

She shook her head. "Like I know? I don't even know what I am." She held out her hand to him. "Come on. We've got to get you something to eat. You're going to need your strength for our next stop. I saw this thing on Survivor that the Africans do with cows."

"Then where are we going?"

"They're teleporting us to Angel. He's in trouble."

"What do we have to do?"

"First tell me how well you swim."