•••

Spike felt an absurd flood of relief when the vicious winds died down as they passed the boundary between circles. His relative peace was short-lived however, because as soon as they entered into the Third Circle, they were inundated by a torrent of foul muck. None of the three were spared; blinding rain struck Spike's eyes, stinging as dirty water filled those suffering orbs. Xander was driven to his knees as hail drilled into his back and shoulders. Spike crouched down over the young man, leaning forward to protect Xander's face and head from the stinging ice.

"This isn't for you," Doyle murmured, reaching for the two men. He'd forgotten that while the circles were meant to torture the dead, any living creatures who passed through would suffer also. How much they suffered depended on how much they'd succumbed to each particular type of evil. This was the first circle where either Xander or Spike had been affected to any great extent. He reached for them, pulling on their shoulders to make them stand. Their pain and anguish touched his soul, urging him to make this part of the trip as quickly as possible. No living creature deserved this horror.

Spike felt Doyle's hand and came back to himself. "Come on, Xan," He murmured to the shaking boy. "We've got to get going." Incredibly pale hands wrapped around Xander's waist and lifted him, pulling the young man upright despite the pounding hail.

Xander allowed himself a moment to bask in the unexpected but much-appreciated protection Spike provided him. For some reason, the unforgiving storm around them didn't seem so bad anymore. "I'm good," He murmured, stepping back. "Uh, where are we?"

"Third Circle," Doyle murmured. "It's where the gluttonous are forever tormented by this foul rain and ice." As if on cue, a gargantuan, three-headed dog bounded out of the darkness ahead of them. Xander squeaked and jumped behind Spike. The vampire automatically took a defensive stance.

The dog growled menacingly, each of its heads swiveling in a different direction. Saliva-covered jaws nipped and bit at the people crouched on the ground, opening deep gashes on their exposed flesh. Much to the threesome's relief, the beast completely ignored them.

"Cerberus," Spike whispered. "I thought he was a myth."

"I liked him better as Fluffy," Xander commented. One of the dog's heads turned to glance at Xander. The boy swore the animal grinned at him.

Doyle took up Xander's left hand and Spike's right, deciding that perhaps the primary school way of doing things was worth a shot. The two men followed him obediently, cowering right next to him as they pushed through the storm.

They'd gotten within sight of the next circle when Xander stopped. "I know these people," He exclaimed. And know them he did... a little too well. One of them looked up, recognizing Xander.

"Who's this?" Spike inquired, studying the youngish man in front of him.

"Xander knows," The man replied, wiping rain off his face.

"It's Tor," Xander said quietly. "And that's Heidi."

"What'd you do?" Spike asked the dead man.

"Ate the principal," Tor stated. "And a pig."

"An entire pig?" Doyle said incredulously. He didn't want to think about the 'principal' part.

"Well, Xander and the others helped with the pig..." Tor admitted. Spike and Doyle turned to stare at Xander, who was grimacing.

"Two words: Hyena Spirit," Xander muttered. "And I did *not* partake of Principal Flutie."

"Nah, you just sniffed around Buffy," Tor shot back. "Not that it did you any good. Or the vampire, for that matter," The boy continued. "She's meant to be alone, you know. That warrior, the angel? He's not for her either. The only thing that can keep the Slayer company is violence."

"What're you about?" Spike growled angrily. Who was this kid to talk about Buffy that way?

Tor shrugged. "Bad things are gonna happen, and soon," He said. "And the sooner all of you realize that she isn't going to protect you, that she doesn't have to, the better. The Slayer protects the innocent, and none of you are that."

Xander was about to demand that Tor continue, but his former pack-mate sank back to the ground, driven there by a strong blast of rain and hail. "Get up!" Xander demanded, shouting at Tor. He began to reach for the man, but Doyle stopped him.

"He won't be getting up again," Doyle told Xander. "Not until he repents."

"Why's that?" Spike asked as Doyle made them start walking again.

"Those who're down here are supposed to suffer until they repent, until they've gotten to where they can move on. For most, it'll be a long time," Doyle replied. "Talking to passers-by isn't part of the program."

"Do they stop suffering when they move on?" Xander asked Doyle.

Their guide paused for a moment. "Let's just say it's a different suffering, one they prefer over this."

At the edge of the gluttons' circle, the watery maelstrom ceased abruptly. Spike and Xander heaved a sigh of relief as they passed into a rather stark but quiet realm. Directly in front of them stood a towering, ornate chair. It looked like it could hold a giant and was covered in precious metals, encrusted with gems and jewels. "What's that?" Xander asked as they stared in awe at the thing.

"Plutus' throne," Doyle replied.