Producers:
  
Melanie
  Jan K.
  Kathy H

Webmistress:
  Alllie

Writers:
 Ldynwaitin
 Cherub
 Jan K.
 Sissy

Betas:
 Elaine.
 Kathy H.
 Sarahlynnl

Graphics:
 nmcil  
 ldynwaitin
Click here to see more work by nmcil and for high resolution images suitable for printing.

Click here to send
Feedback
Click here to
read Feedback
from other readers

Notfadeaway.org

We'd like to extend an invitation to all of our readers to check out the site we have created at www.notfadeaway.org. It houses a huge gallery of photos of James Marsters plus screencaps of Spike from the TV series. It also has a posting board where fans of Joss Whedon's TV series, as well as fans of the characters, actors and writers from the series, may post and read messages about a variety of topics, including our Spike: Soul Survivor series. In fact, we'd like it very much if anyone would care to discuss our series on this board. Feel free to either register and become an actual member of the board or just read and post messages there as a "guest". We have plans to add other special "extras" to this site in the future. Hope you enjoy the new site, again at: www.notfadeaway.org

Gypsies, Vamps and Thieves, Part 2 (continued) Page1, 2

Opening a knapsack, Spike pulled out several of the stakes that Elias had given them in Gilroy.

"I like this one!" Sarolt declared as she grabbed a very ornate stake. Gripping it tightly, she thrust the sharp point in the air.

Spike jerked his head back. "Just remember, Slayer, the pointy end is the dangerous part."

Balazs proudly placed his hands on Sarolt's shoulders. "She will not fail us in our fight." He gently squeezed her shoulders. "Remember what we've worked on, Sarolt, and be sure to keep an eye on your right." He winked at Spike. "Her weakness."

"Then I think I have a little something that will give her an edge." He handed Sarolt two cans of the garlic spray. "This will paralyze any vampire who gets in your face, pet," he explained to her. "Then you can use your new toy on them."

Sarolt energetically nodded her head. "Thanks. We ran out of the spray, and the new shipment we received today had just more darts. I cannot wait to pierce their dark hearts with the pointy end of my stake."

Spike chuckled as he saw Balazs noticeably flinch. It seemed that all Watchers had a problem with overenthusiastic Slayers. "You and Illyria should get together sometime, love. I'm sure you'll have a lively conversation on how to properly gut someone without breaking a nail. Then again, Mena's no slacker when in a tight spot. She took on a demi-god, instilled with the strength of Zeus, no less, without blinking an eye."

"Really, Mena?" Sarolt gushed.

"I was afraid," Mena told her. "But my Slayer instincts seemed to take over."

As the young Slayers carried on a conversation on the proper techniques of slaying, Illyria searched Spike's bag of tricks. He slowly shook his head. "Nothing for you, Blue, but I know you're a hands-on type of gal. Just remember the rest of us want to have some fun, too."

"I shall try to keep that in mind, although I wish to do much violence."

"A word of warning, Blue. Since you absorbed the power from that blasted stone, you-- well, your smell has changed."

Illyria looked offended as well as puzzled.

Spike slowly shook his head. "Not that kind of smell, love. I guess it's a vampire thing. Your scent is so appealing, it's taking all of my strength to block it out. If I can smell it, I know our opponents can smell it, too. Just don't let any of the buggers bite you. We don't need any supervamps joining this bloody party."

"If they try to bite me, I will tear their heads off and stuff them into their exposed chests."

Spike had a quick flash of Illyria tearing a vampire's head off. Grinning, he replied, "That'll work."

He gazed down the tunnel they had used to enter the cavern. "Not sure when or even if Mike is going to get here, so I'm thinking we're on our own."

"Exactly what I thought," Balazs said. "It would be strategically sound if each of you took two tunnels to guard.

"Good thinking, Balazs," Spike said. "We can keep an eye on each other. Once we hear any of the bastards coming down the tunnels that we're assigned, we can give out this signal." Spike held up his flashlight. "One blink for each tunnel you hear them using."

"Yes, we must try to keep as silent as possible. The only thing we have working for us is surprise."

"I don't think they realize that we're holding an ace up our sleeve." Spike nodded to Illyria.

"Blue, I saw you do something in the final fight with Hyllus that you didn't do during our last battle in L.A. And that blue snake trick you just did has me wondering how much of the old Illyria has come back with the destruction of the gem. Did you regain all of your old powers?"

Illyria slowly tilted her head. "I do not want to test them fully until the time calls for me to use each power. If I can do everything I once could, I do not know for how long."

"Just take it easy at first, then. You can start by ripping out some spines."

Illyria frowned. "I had hoped to eviscerate some."

Spike energetically nodded his head. "Absobloodylutely! You won't be hearing any arguments from me."

"Me, neither," Xander said. "Eviscerate away."

"Would that make you proud of me, too, Xander?" Illyria was confused by the compelling mix of feelings that rushed through her whenever she saw evidence of the close relationship between Mena and Xander. She wanted to explore those feelings. She wondered if one of the feelings was jealousy. Whatever it was, it felt volatile and sort of empowering! It made her feel more alive!

As Xander was about to reply, he was interrupted by a loud clapping. "We start now!" Akos declared curtly. "That means you, Balazs, and Haley must be by my side. Xander, your place is there," he pointed to a place opposite him. "Let the vampire do his job as we do ours."

"We'll talk about this later," Xander softly said to Illyria.

"You keep saying that," she replied. "When is later?"

Xander shrugged and rushed to where Akos stood. Taking a stance, Xander waited for the ritual to begin.

Standing at the rim of the symbol, Akos pulled out a large medallion. Gripping it tightly, he lifted it up in the air and closed his eyes, then began a low chant.

Xander, Balazs and Haley circled the symbol embedded in the ground. In their hands, they held a smaller version of the medallion. They lifted them up and began to become a part of the ritual.


by nmcil

Spike took his position between two of the tunnels that led out of the catacombs. Leaning on one of the wooden supports, he crossed his arms and took in a deep breath. He was ready for a bit of fun. He always liked to fight because it helped him to let off steam, so he hoped Illyria was wrong about the number of minions coming down the tunnels. With the way he was feeling, killing only sixty of Dracula's minions was going to be too easy!

Keeping one eye on the others, Spike listened intently to any sounds coming from the tunnels ahead of him. Glancing back at Akos, he saw that the shaman was actually glowing!

The glow enlarged to include Haley, Xander and Balazs. It soon encompassed the humans as well as the symbol that covered the Hellmouth. With the ritual underway, it was up to the two Slayers, the Old One and the vampire to protect them and ensure that the magic would be completed and the Hellmouth sealed.

Minutes passed by before Spike saw the first signal that the battle was about to begin. It came from Mena as he saw her flash her light. One blink meant one tunnel. Seconds later, Illyria's light blinked once. As Spike was about to rush to Mena's side, he heard a sound coming from the left tunnel that he was watching. Holding his flashlight in the air, he blinked it once and saw Sarolt doing the same.

Suddenly, all the women blinked their lights twice. Spike muttered a quiet curse. This was something that he had hoped would not happen. The worst case scenario. Coming from all the tunnels, the enemy would split up their defenses.

With their plan going all pear-shaped, Spike decided to wing it. A half-grin graced his face as he took in a deep breath. Thinking, no time like the present, he charged into the tunnel nearest him.

In seconds, he met the first of Dracula's acolytes, but could now sense five of them. They were not vampires, just Dracula's daytime lackeys. He made a lunge for the human who appeared to be leading.

Horst ducked back into the tunnel. He had traveled this far with his master's army. He would not, could not fail. He ordered several vampires to march forward.

Spike immediately noticed that not all of them smelled right. His senses were offended by their odor and presence. He saw some with rotted skin hanging from skeletal faces. They were a true abomination.

"You don't belong here," Spike growled. "But I'll bloody well help you get back to where you came from."

Lunging forward, he slammed a fist into the lead creature. He was shocked to find his hand easily went through the demon's chest. Pulling it back, he held a shriveled heart in his hand. He quickly dropped it on the ground.

"Just don't make them like they used to," he mumbled. With a large gaping hole in his chest, the vampire fell to the dirt floor and turned to dust. It was immediately replaced by another.

"No one stops the Master," Horst declared. "We will reach the Hellmouth, and you and the others will die."

"Heard it before, mate. Always the same old speech. Tell your master to get some new bloody lines."

Strengthened by the ease of killing the first vampire he had faced, Spike slammed his fist toward his next opponent. He let out a howl of pain as he struck a solid, muscular chest. This vampire wasn't rotting.

"I in Olympics," the vampire declared in a heavy Slavic accent. He pounded his chest with a beefy fist. "I kill skinny vampire."

"Now you're getting personal," Spike growled. Squatting down, he swung one leg, hooking it around the large brute's legs and managing to knock him off his feet. Spike let out a yelp as the behemoth began to topple his way. Quickly grabbing his stake, Spike held it tightly in his hands as the vampire tree fell on him.

Spike sneezed as the vamp-tree instantly dusted all around him. Placing his hands behind his head, Spike kicked out his legs and flipped himself in the air to land on his feet. Slowly backing up, he checked to see how far into the tunnel he had come. He was alarmed to see it was not that far. In the distance through the wooden supports, he saw Illyria battling with four of Dracula's creations.

Needing more room to fight properly, Spike shuffled backward into the cavern. He heard his three female warriors battling with such force it warmed his heart. Spinning around, he saw several of Dracula's large, undead soldiers pour into the cavern.

Spike happily taunted the bigger vampires, "Okay, ladies, let's dance." Spike shook his head, bringing on his game face. His yellow eyes glowed in anticipation of a great battle. Baring his fangs, he let out a howl that echoed in the chamber and then rushed towards the advancing squadron.


by Ldynwaitin

Leaping forward, he grabbed one of the support poles. Holding tight, he swung into the air, lashing out with a booted foot. The toe of his boot dug hard into a soft stomach, and he kicked the vampire down to the ground.

Releasing his hold on the support pole, he landed near the fallen foe. Drawing his foot back, he pictured a goal and kicked the downed vampire's head so hard, it rolled away from its body. Spike let out a small chuckle as the brute turned to dust. "And to think, Manchester United turned me down."

Feeling a hand clutch his arm, Spike spun around. Yanking this new opponent towards him, Spike swung the creature into a wooden pole with such force that it splintered the ancient wood. Taking out a new stake, he quickly rammed it into the vampire.

Moving back, he found he was not going to be given a chance to check the others' progress. Already, three more vampires rushed in from the other tunnel.

"Now the fun really begins." Spike let out a taunting laugh just before he rushed towards the three newcomers. He threw himself into the thick of it. His fists and feet flying, he slowly began to cull the horde that Dracula had sent to open the Hellmouth.

~~~~~~~~

As she heard Spike let out a howl, Mena had beamed. Jumping into the air, she planted her hands on the shoulders of one of the vampires. Her legs spinning accurately, she kicked out at two others. As they stumbled back, she landed deftly on her feet.

Pulling from her waistband two of the dart guns that Xander had given her, she fired them at the two vampires just as they regained their balance. Immediately, they fell to the ground.

Tucking the dart guns back in her waistband, she spun around, tightly grasped her favorite stake, and then drove it deeply into the chest of the first vampire she had vaulted over. He managed to let out a snarl of rage just before he crumpled into dust.

She then turned her attention to the paralyzed vampires, but before she could stake them, two more minions stepped over their fallen brethren. Mena scuttled back behind a pole. Pocketing the stake, she scrambled to pull the dart guns from her waistband. She let out a low curse as she fumbled one of the guns. It fell to the ground and skidded away.

Clutching the other, she rushed for cover behind another pole and grabbed her stake with her free hand. She saw someone pick up the fallen dart gun and realized that he was not a vampire but a human.

"Kill her," the human ordered the vampires.

Without hesitation, the two vampires rushed towards Mena.

"Come on, little Slayer, let's you and Casmir play," one of the vampires sang out.

As they neared her, she shot her dart gun twice. She managed to hit one of them with a garlic dart, but missed Casmir. Now, she was forced to fight hand to hand. She shoved the dart gun back into her waistband and lunged forward. Using all her force, she plunged her stake deep into her enemy.

Casmir roared in agony as she plunged the stake into his chest. Mena soon realized that she had missed her mark. She felt the stake hit one of his ribs. Shattering the rib, the stake became lodged just below the heart. Casmir's bony hands tightly gripped the lower portion of her stake. Planting her foot on his stomach, Mena wrestled Casmir for possession of the stake.

Glancing quickly around, she saw yet another vampire headed her way and tried to look for help, but was unable to catch the eye of her comrades. She was on her own.

"You hurt Casmir," he grunted. His hold on the stake was as tight as a dead man's grip.

"Once I get this out, you will know what pain truly is," Mena said. Clutching the stake with both hands, she willed all of her strength into retrieving the only effective weapon she had to kill the abominations that swarmed around her.

~~~~~~~~

Soon after Mena had begun her deathly struggles, Sarolt plunged her own stake into a vampire and heard Spike let out a howl. She was suddenly thrown to the ground. As she searched for her attackers in the dark shadows, she scolded herself when she realized the attack had come from her right side.

Sarolt groaned as a vampire fell on top of her. She rolled him and herself away from the other vampires and shuddered as she felt the bloodsucker dig his nails into her side. She saw one of the cans of garlic spray lying several feet from where they fought. Wrapping her legs around the vampire's waist, she accelerated their roll. Reaching the can, she grabbed it tightly.

When she released her legs, the vampire sprang out of her grip but landed hard against one of the support poles. Coming up to a crouching position, Sarolt aimed the spray at his head. He roared loudly as she covered his face with the garlic extract.

He fell to the ground, scratching and gouging his face until the garlic extract took effect. Suddenly, he went limp, his body totally paralyzed. Not sure how long the paralysis would last, Sarolt took her stake and plunged it deep into the vampire's heart.

Once a cloud of dust was all that was left, she turned her attention back to the battle. Grimacing, she realized just how badly the vampire had wounded her. She clutched her right side where a small, gaping wound now bled. Knowing the others depended on her, she took in a deep breath, rose slowly and stumbled to her appointed position, determined to keep fighting.


by Ldynwaitin

~~~~~~~~

At the same time the Slayers had entered the fray, Illyria had gleefully joined them in battle. As she drove her fist into the chest of a vampire and ripped out its heart, she heard Spike let out a howl. It brought her joy to know that her friend was happily engaged in battle. When she was ready to create her new kingdom, she would be sure to bring him with her. Never had she met a more fearless warrior.

"Kill the blue bitch!" one of the humans shouted.

Illyria saw two humans behind the five vampires that she now fought. She quickly realized that the humans were the leaders, the generals of this unholy army. She snarled in rage as a half-breed grabbed her arm. Raising her foot, she booted him off.

He flew all the way across the cavern, slamming into and rebounding off of several of the wooden posts, until a large, jagged sliver of wood punctured his heart and turned him to dust.

Illyria heard vampires hiss in pain as some of the large splinters of wood from the damaged posts flew their way. The vampires now began to swarm around her. They smelled the power within Illyria. The scent was so sweet and enticing that they all wanted to taste her blood.

Illyria moved swiftly. Her hands reached out and grasped a head. She tore it easily off the shoulders of her opponent. Energized by the simplicity of the kill, she smiled in glee as she made short work of several vampires with punches and eviscerations so swift that they could barely be seen.

Illyria's battle tactics were soon forced to change due to the sheer number of her foes. She now fought to keep the vampires from biting her. As they swarmed around her, she realized she had no other choice. In a wink of an eye, she transported herself to another part of the cavern. She materialized close to Sarolt and rushed to the Slayer's aid when she saw her stumble backward.

"You are injured," Illyria stated, noting the blood oozing from Sarolt's side.

Sarolt brushed off the Old One's concern. "I am fine. I just need to catch my breath."

"If you insist on continuing to fight, then it would be wise to do so from a more strategic location."

Sarolt's stomach felt queasy for a split second. She was amazed to find she was suddenly standing in the center of the cavern -- just inches from where her grandfather and the others struggled to close the Hellmouth.

Illyria understood that a true warrior would not run from a battle. To save face for the Slayer, Illyria had moved her to a safer position in the fight. "You can protect those performing the ritual while you catch your breath. I must go now." Before Sarolt blinked even once, Illyria was gone.

Clutching her side, Sarolt sat down on the ground to rest for just a few moments, while she kept watch. She sighed in relief and used the brief respite as an opportunity to will her wound to heal. Blood trickled from the injury and through her fingers, dripping to the ground where it formed a small pool. Slowly, without notice by anyone, her blood began to flow towards the Hellmouth.

~~~~~~~~

On the east side of the cavern, Spike backhanded a female vampire. She flew backwards, slamming hard into one of the wooden posts. Spinning around, Spike used the force of his spin to plunge his stake deep into his opponent. She let out a moan before turning into a small cloud of dust.

Wiping the dust from his eyes, Spike quickly scanned the room to discover how the others were doing. He was surprised to see Illyria and Sarolt standing near the center of the Hellmouth. Suddenly, Illyria disappeared. This confirmed that her former time-jumping power had returned with the destruction of her gem.

Spike hissed when he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He saw Dracula's human lackey holding one of Doc Morton's dart guns. Looking down, he found a small dart embedded in his chest and immediately pulled it out. Due to having gone through Spike's thick leather coat, it had just barely penetrated his skin. Although the dart had only slightly disabled him, it provided enough time for the vampires near him to take the advantage.

"Grab the abhorrence!" Horst shouted.

Hands reached out to tightly grip Spike's arms. Before his dart-weakened muscles allowed him the chance to fight back, he was violently dragged to a pole. The vampires pulled his hands behind him, wrapping his arms around the wooden post. He struggled to free himself from their grip, but two more came to help their comrades. Spike snarled with rage as two of Dracula's human acolytes confronted him.

"You are an abomination," Horst hissed. He pulled out a small, silver dagger.

Spike immediately recognized that it belonged to Dracula. He could see the dragon that was the symbol of the Tepes family.

"Piss off!" Spike defiantly declared. He let out a moan of pain as Horst plunged the dagger deep into his shoulder.

"You kill your own kind," Horst snarled. After pulling the dagger out, he then plunged it again. Deeper. "You dared to taint your dark gift by regaining that which had been driven out."

"To the right," Spike groaned as he baited Horst. "Got a bloody itch there." The pain was intense, but he would not allow the wanker to know that.

"For your punishment, souled vampire, you will be the last to die. You will watch our master's army open this Hellmouth, releasing demons that will follow our master's commands!"

With the dagger still embedded deeply in his chest, Spike felt the vampires tie him to the post. Once he was bound, they quickly rushed to where Xander and the others were struggling to close the Hellmouth.

Spike was thankful to see Illyria had suddenly reappeared near the symbol. She grabbed one of the vampires and raised him up high in the air, then she threw him into two other vampires. All three tumbled down.

Reaching out, Illyria grasped the neck of a human. Spike heard a snap echo in the air as she quickly broke the man's neck. Throwing the dead man to the side, she stalked another.

"We're bloody winning," Spike softly cheered. He struggled against the fading effects of the garlic extract, mentally thanking Doc Morton for insisting that he accept one of the immunity shots when he was in Gilroy. As he tried to break free of the ropes that bound him, Spike resolved to get another injection as soon as possible.

The silver knife in his chest added to the pain from the hemp cutting into his wrists. Suddenly, the rope loosened and fell to the ground.

A smiling Mike stood next to him, saying, "Told you I'd come to help." He held a small crossbow in his hands.

Rubbing his bleeding wrists, Spike pointed to the symbol. "We've got to keep those bastards from stopping the ritual. There are a few humans leading the vampires. Try for one of them."

Aiming his crossbow at one of the few who were not in vampface, Mike took a shot. It reached its target, striking one of the lackeys in the back, who fell promptly to the ground.

"Well, what do you know? Works just as good on humans," said Mike.

"Keep it up," Spike encouraged him. "Feel free to hit the ones with the pointy teeth, too."

Spike ran to the cavern's center while crossbow bolts flew past him. As the bolts connected, vampires immediately dusted. Just as he reached the Hellmouth, Spike heard Akos shout.

"Sarolt, no! Your blood -- it touches the symbol!"

In an instant, all were thrown back from the center of the cavern. Spike slammed hard into wooden posts as he was flung through the air. His skin burned as splinters of wood bit into his body. The third post stopped his momentum, and looking up, he saw the Hellmouth had opened. Several demons were crawling out of the opening. Fearing for his friends, he frantically searched the cavern.

He cried out in outrage as he saw a vampire feasting on Xander. Haley lay in a broken heap next to him. He saw Mena and Mike valiantly fighting several vampires, but they were soon overtaken by a dark beast that had escaped from the Hellmouth.

"Bloody hell!" Spike shouted. "This is wrong! We can't lose! We just--"

Suddenly, Illyria was standing before him. Her body armor was covered in dust and blood. She stared at Spike with concern etched on her beautiful face. "You are injured."

"The bloody Hellmouth is open! We have to do something," he yelled.

Illyria reached down and gently lifted him. Cradling him in her arms, she turned and faced the Hellmouth.

"You are injured, the others are dead, and this battle is lost. We must leave."

"No! Let me go, Blue. I have to bloody stop them." Her grip on him grew only tighter.

An oddly familiar sight appeared. A round distortion floated in the air in front of them, and as Illyria stepped into it, Spike felt darkness blanket his mind. Before he passed out, he heard someone shout, "Dracula has freed you and is now your master. You will follow his command!"

Spike gasped when he opened his eyes and found Drusilla standing before him. She squatted down and gently smiled at him. After what had just happened, he was almost happy to see her.

"My pretty Spike is hurt." She reached out her hand and gently touched his face.

"Dru," he sighed. "It can't be you."

"'Course it's me, you naughty boy. I've come to take care of you, even though you've been a very bad boy indeed -- putting back what I took out of you."

Drusilla covered her eyes and turned her face away from him. "You shine so brightly now, Spike. I can't look at you. It hurts my eyes, like pieces of glass scratching and digging. Making its way to my heart."

"Your heart was always too cold for me, love. I needed more warmth," Spike mumbled.


by Ldynwaitin

"Mustn't lose, Spike. Musn't lose. Losing is very bad. As bad as the porridge I fed on before killing the three bears."

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" He struggled to stand, but his body just refused to listen.

"Danger, Will Robinson," Spike heard Drusilla say, but it was not Dru. It was Andrew.

"Oh, great. I've bloody died and gone to geek Hell."

Spike saw Andrew's form waver. In seconds, he saw Buffy standing before him. Her warm smile gazed down at him.

"I believed in you, Spike, and you broke that trust!" she roared.

Buffy changed into the demon that he had seen in the book Haley had been reading in the Archives. Its long tongue snaked out and wrapped around his leg. Slowly, the demon began to drag him toward its large, gaping mouth.

"This has got to be a bloody dream. Tell me this is a bloody dream!"

Xander was now kneeling beside him, saying, "Use the force, Luke."

"Tell me something that will help me, you bloody refugee from a nerd convention," Spike groaned. He dug his hands into the dirt floor, at least momentarily stopping the creature from dragging him into its mouth.

"Just remember what Doc told Marty about changing the future."

Spike tilted his head and replied, "Back To The Future. I saw that one."

Xander stood up. "Then you have your answer."

Losing his grip, Spike was dragged toward the demon. He was soon lost in the inky blackness of the demon's mouth. Feeling an icy coldness on his back, he instantly knew he was no longer dreaming. He would not be feeling this much pain if it were a dream.

Opening his eyes again, he saw that he was lying in a large chamber. Illyria's back was facing him. As he struggled to sit up, he felt a pain in his shoulder. Grabbing the dagger still embedded there, he pulled it out.

Since it had not slid out easily, he hissed in pain and threw the dagger to the side. Hearing his cry, Illyria spun around.

"What happened?" he asked. Where the bloody hell am I?" He could just make out a broken statue behind Illyria, only the lower portion still on its pedestal. Nothing remained of whatever had been carved in the stone at its base.

"I once ruled this land," Illyria informed him. "I felt it would be a good place for you to heal before we move on."

"Did ya now?" Spike let out a moan as he struggled to stand. He had felt several ribs break when he slammed into the wooden posts. It would take him days to remove the splinters that he could feel digging into his flesh. He was thankful that none had found its way into his heart. "What do you mean, we?"

"Ever since we first fought, I knew that you were a great warrior. You have always fought bravely and well. With my renewed power, I can now return my kingdom to its former glory. As a reward for your valiant battle against Hyllus, you will accompany me and serve at my side."

"As your pet?" Spike snarled. Since the first time she had called him that, he had never revealed how offended he was by such a degrading name. After watching his friends die, and being removed from the fight against his wishes, he realized that this ex-god needed to have some things set straight.

"You would be well looked after," Illyria said. "I assure you that I no longer consider you my pet, although I do not understand why the term upsets you since you use it so frequently yourself."

"Well, yeah, but you really considered me an actual pet -- like some faithful animal companion."

"As I said, I no longer think of you that way. As a prefect of Illyria, you will hold a high position in my kingdom." She could sense Spike's anger but dismissed it. He had fought well, and she believed he should not feel any shame in retreating from a battle that was already lost.

"Much as I appreciate the upgrade in status," he snarked, "I want to go back, Blue. You had no bloody right yanking me away from that fight! I promised I would protect them." His last words choked in his throat.

He had failed! For the first time since he had chosen to become a champion, he had failed miserably. The fear he had experienced due to being in another Hellmouth had weakened him. Now that fear was replaced with shame at his utter failure.

"There is nothing to go back to," Illyria gently replied. She talked to him now as a parent to a child. "Heal your wounds here, Spike. Your world has changed. I am offering you a chance to become a part of my new kingdom."

"And how long will that bloody last before you become Ms. Bits and Pieces?"

Illyria tenderly smiled at Spike. "I have determined a solution. I will find another body before this one deteriorates."

"Right. And then another and another? Assuming you've sussed out how to jump into another body without the magic that was bound in that gem in your sarcophagus, whose bodies will you choose from? Your world has no life forms at all, Blue. Can't keep taking them from my world, 'cause, in case you've forgotten, that's bloody well being decimated as we speak!"

Before Illyria could reply that she hadn't yet figured out exactly how to switch bodies, but might be able to find the magic she needed in any of a number of dimensions now that she could again travel from one to another, she felt a pain in her gut. It was small, almost unnoticeable, but it was there. Her demise had already begun.

Her Fred-shell was not strong enough to contain her power much longer. The only way to save her was with the humans' help. Unfortunately, that was no longer possible. With the Hellmouth open, the humans that knew how to help her were dead or soon would be.

"I am sorry, but what happened in your world is already done. Nothing can change that."

Spike recalled the movie that Xander spoke of in his dream. In that film, the past had been changed. Could Illyria take them both back to an earlier time?

It was a risky move, but he had to take that chance. It was his world's only hope -- a world that held the woman he loved more than life itself and friends for whom, much to his own surprise, he had come to care for so dearly. For Buffy and for them, he would take any chance.

"Illyria, do you have the ability to take us back in time? Like when you pulled Angel along with you?"

"I do not know. If I can, it would not be an easy thing to do. The power required would be intense. It would cause great pain and could accelerate the damage to my Fred-shell."

"But you might be able to do it?"

"No! I will not subject myself to that much pain when it is so unlikely that the results will be what you wish. Accept what has happened, Spike. There is nothing for you now in that world. There is nothing there for either of us. The battle is lost. We did all that could be done. Take solace in that."

"But have we done all that we could? I saw you take Sarolt to the center of the cavern, Illyria. That has to be where it all went pear-shaped. I heard Akos yell that the blood from Sarolt's injury touched the Hellmouth. That's got to be what opened the blasted thing and released all those bloody demons."

"The Slayer was injured. I saw blood leaking from a wound in her side." A slight frown formed on Illyria's face. "I was the one who moved the Slayer near the circle. It was my careless action that helped to open the Hellmouth."

The sudden realization that she was the cause for the battle going wrong hit Illyria hard. She was then confused by a feeling that was truly foreign to her. She believed that Xander called this feeling 'guilt'.

Reaching down, she helped Spike to his feet. "The blame for what happened is mine. I will try to negate the battle's failure by giving us another opportunity for a different result." She sadly frowned at Spike. "I am sorry."

"For what, love?" He was truly confused as to why she would be apologizing to him, now that she had agreed to do as he asked.

"When we return, it will be to our former positions in that time, but you will carry your present injuries with you while we travel. The pain will be intense."

Spike let out a small, relieved chuckle. "Can't be helped, love. But I'll be damned grateful to lose this sodding dagger wound once we arrive at that earlier point in the battle. I can handle the pain until then. Now, let's hurry before I change my mind."

Again the air before them wavered, but this time it was different. It served a different purpose. Illyria grasped Spike's hand to make certain he traveled with her and would not be lost in the void. With Spike by her side, Illyria walked through the distortion.

Spike heard Illyria emit a scream that pierced his soul. His own pain was excruciating, but he imagined hers must be even worse since she was the entity defying the bounds of Time.

Illyria was indeed in agony, but she blocked it out. The battle went wrong because of her, so it was up to her to fix it. In order to do that, she would endure the intense pain of guilt and remorse as well as the pain that Time inflicted upon its challenger.

~~~~~~~~

Spike felt his arms being pulled behind him and wrapped around the post. He was back in the cavern. All around him, the battle waged.

"You are an abomination," Horst hissed. Spike saw him pull out the same silver dagger. Searching the center of the cavern, Spike saw Sarolt lying near the Hellmouth.

"Illyria, get her the bloody hell away from that Hellmouth!" Spike shouted as Horst plunged the dagger into his shoulder in exactly the same spot as before.

"Bollocks!" Spike exclaimed. "Not again!"

"You kill your own kind," Horst snarled. After pulling the dagger out, he plunged it again. Deeper. "You dared to taint your dark gift by regaining that which was driven out."

"Hurry this up. I have a date," Spike groaned.

"Insolent one! For your punishment, souled vampire, you will be the last to die. You will watch our master's army open this Hellmouth, releasing demons that will follow our master's commands!"

With the dagger still embedded deeply in his chest, Spike felt the vampires tie him to the post. Once he was bound, they quickly rushed to where Xander and the others were struggling to close the Hellmouth.

But this time, Illyria was already there. Grabbing Sarolt, she quickly moved her further from the seal.

Spike saw Illyria kick at the dirt, stopping the blood from touching the Hellmouth. He struggled to break the rope that bound him as he watched Illyria lift one of the vampires over her head. He felt the rope fall away, and Mike appeared by his side.

"Told you I'd come to help." He held a small crossbow in his hands.

Rubbing his bleeding wrists, Spike pointed to the symbol. "We've got to keep the bastards from stopping the ritual. There are a few humans leading the vampires. Try for one of them."

Aiming his crossbow, Mike took a shot at one of the few figures who weren't in vampface. The bolt hit one of the humans in the back, and he fell to the ground.

"Well, what do you know? It works just as good on humans," said Mike.

"Heard this all before, mate. Let's see if we can add something new." Pulling the dagger out, he gripped it tightly. "Want to give this little gift back to the bloke that gave it to me."

Spike struggled as fast as he could to the center of the cavern. Mike's crossbow bolts whizzed past him. The cavern soon started filling with dust as vampire after vampire fell.

Reaching the spot where the ritual was in progress, Spike saw Horst and another of Dracula's acolytes step up to where Akos stood. Spike threw the dagger at the other acolyte, hitting him in the heart. The man fell to the ground, but that left Horst still to be stopped.

Horst held a spent crossbow bolt in both hands. Clutching it tightly, his intention was very clear as he raised his arms. He was about to plunge the bolt into Akos' back.

Spike sprinted as fast as he could toward Akos. The ritual was nearly complete. Already, he could see the cracks in the star symbol closing. They just needed a little more time. Spike leapt into the air between Horst and Akos, taking the hit. He cursed as it entered that same knife wound.

"Bloody hell! The damn thing is never going to heal!" Fighting to ignore the pain, he tackled Horst to the ground. He moaned as his prior injuries called for full attention. Grabbing the bolt, he pulled it out and threw it across the cavern.

Horst scrambled to his dead companion and pulled the dagger from his heart. He held Dracula's dagger high, clutched tightly in his hand. "You fool, you will not stop us. We have sworn to open the Hellmouth or die in the attempt."

"I can help you with that last one, mate."

Enraged by Spike's bravado, Horst glanced around, only to find that his army was losing. His human counterparts lay dead all around him. The cavern floor was full of dust -- the remains of most of the vampire army. But four vampires crept forward behind Spike, and he seemed to be unaware of them.

If we lose, Horst thought, at least, we will have killed the souled vampire.

Mena could tell that Spike was badly hurt. She saw four vampires coming up on him from behind. Even if she warned him, in his condition, he would be unable to fight them all. She had to think of another way to help him. A small smile formed as an idea came to her.

"Wait for it," she whispered to Mike, indicating the vampires behind Spike. Nodding his head in understanding, he raised his crossbow and waited for her signal.


by nmcil

Stepping forward, she shouted, "Spike! Hatari! Kwepa!"

Immediately, Spike fell to the ground. He heard the sounds of a dart gun and a crossbow. Looking back, he saw two vampires fall into a pile of dust, and two more were lying on the cavern floor -- paralyzed by Doc Morton's garlic-laced darts.

"Thanks," he called out to Mena and Mike. They immediately returned to the fight.

Standing slowly, Spike discovered the fight had taken a turn for the better. He staked the two vampires on the ground beneath him. In minutes, his team had managed to kill almost all of the remaining soldiers. Of the human minions, only the fifth remained -- Horst.

Illyria gripped Horst's neck in her hands as he struggled to breathe. "This is the one that harmed you," she said in a deadly whisper. "I wish to make his death as slow and painful as possible."

"Let's get some answers from him first, love, and then you can have your way with him."

"I will gladly die for my master," Horst croaked. He pulled out the dagger that he had hidden in his sleeve. He lashed out at Illyria. She was so enraged, she quickly broke his neck and let his limp corpse fall to the ground.

Spike walked over to Horst's body. Reaching down, he took the silver dagger from the man's dead fingers.

"Nice conversation, Blue. Got a lot of information out of him, didn't we?" Spike commented, his voice thick with sarcasm.

"He was an evil man. His continued existence angered me." Illyria felt that was explanation enough.

"And all evil must be eliminated from this world," Akos said.

It was then that Spike noticed the ritual had ended, and the last few vampires had been dusted by his companions. The Hellmouth was closed up tight. He could see the others appeared to be exhausted. Closing the Hellmouth had taken a physical toll on everyone.

"Great. You've sealed the Hellmouth. Good work, everyone. Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll just take a bloody nap right here." Spike fell to the ground.

Mena and Haley rushed to his side. Xander moved slowly to where Haley was attending Spike. At first, he thought Spike was faking, but then he saw the wounds in the vampire's shoulder, as well as what appeared to be multiple slivers of wood in his arms and back.

"Is he going to be all right?" Xander asked anxiously.

Spike groggily scanned the room. He saw that everyone who mattered to him was alive. Xander, too. Well, he'd just have to accept the bad with the good. He smiled in response to his mind's little joke. In his heart, he knew that he and Xander cared about each other's safety no matter what they sometimes said to each other or thought to themselves.

Nodding his head to Xander, Spike said, "Absobloodylutely."

Haley agreed with him. "It will take a little while, but I'm sure these wounds will heal."

Spike was touched to see Mena's face filled with concern. "You did good, Mena. The Swahili is really working out well for us. Those wankers had no idea what you said. We should definitely use it more often in battles."

Mena's concern immediately flowed away. "Haley said she wants to learn. I can teach all of you many more words. It really would be a great way to use our time more valuably whenever we drive long distances."

"Sounds like a plan. But let's just hope there won't be many more battles quite like this one, love," he sighed. "How many of those wankers did Dracula send?"

"There were eighty," said Illyria, "although five were human."

"My goodness, Illyria," marveled Sarolt. "Your mind must be as quick as a computer. I certainly couldn't have said how many we fought, although at times, it felt like there was an infinite number. They just kept coming and coming. Eighty was certainly more than enough."

As Mike and Balazs helped him to his feet, Spike saw that Akos was regarding him with somewhat reserved approval -- a definite improvement on the hatred that had been in his eyes before.

"I saw what you did," Akos softly said. "You have made an old man believe that even a vampire can change his ways. I thank you for saving my life, Spike."

"You're welcome, Akos. But you're quite right that 99% of the vampires in the world deserve your distrust. Been around a long time and met only a scant few that wouldn't kill you in a heartbeat. I appreciate that you now understand I'm no longer the vampire I once was."

Akos nodded. "I sensed your soul but wouldn't allow myself to believe it was enough to change you. There are plenty of evil humans in the world. A soul isn't everything one needs to be a good man." He held out his hand, and Spike reached forward to shake it.

Spike then turned to Mike and shook his hand, too. "Thanks for showing up, mate."

"I would've been here sooner if it hadn't been so difficult to get away from Dragon Lady. I finally told her I needed to find a certain kind of female companionship for the night. That disgusted her enough that she stopped following me."

Spike snorted, then taking in a deep breath, he let out a labored sigh. "What do you say, team? Can we head back to the bloody hotel? Don't know why, but I'm feeling right knackered."

"Very well," Akos said. "We will all need some rest before we rectify our other problem."

Spike knew that the problem he spoke of was Illyria. He was grateful for her part in giving them a second chance to close the Hellmouth. However, the statement she made earlier haunted his thoughts as they all gathered their weapons and returned to the hotel.

He wondered if the former god would betray them and bolt, in an attempt to find other shells to contain her powers. After sharing just a taste of her powers when he drank her blood in Houston, he understood why she wanted so desperately to retain them.

Hopefully, her affection for him, as well as for Xander, Mena and Haley, would be enough to convince her to relinquish the dangerous powers that currently flowed within her. He would do his best to convince her that Akos and Balazs would work their magic in a way that she could keep as much of her power as possible and still be safe within her body.

But for the moment, they all needed to return to the hotel or their homes to get some much-needed rest.

~~~~~~~~

The following evening, Illyria paced the confines of Sarolt's training room. She was growing more anxious with each passing moment. Once again, she would have some of her powers stripped from her. She would be weak again. She would be vulnerable to being crushed by the likes of Hamilton, a mere mortal who had been infused with the powers of the Wolf, the Ram, and the Hart.

Though she would retain much of her strength and many of her abilities, they would not compare to the supreme forces she now, so joyfully, commanded. Once again, her superior essence would be reduced to those that the frailties of this inferior, mortal Fred-shell could contain.

As the room filled with people, her resolve to fulfill her agreement began to crack. She met Xander's eyes. "I do not wish to do this."

Having witnessed Wesley's earlier attempt to siphon off some of Illyria's powers, Spike had been anticipating this, and he sincerely understood the depths of her dilemma. When he had tasted her power, the rush had been exquisite.

He understood how difficult and demeaning it was for her godliness to submit to the extraction, even though it would save her life. He gently tried to reason with her.

"I understand how you feel, Blue, but if you don't do this, you'll die. You know that's true."

"Surely it's better to live with less power than to not live at all," Haley added, trying to ease the Old One's distress but not really knowing what to say.

Illyria whirled around to face Haley. "Do not speak of what you do not understand. I am Illyria. I have powers beyond your comprehension."

Akos warily spoke out. "You are indeed powerful, but your powers cannot be contained within your mortal body. Therefore, those very powers will ultimately destroy you."

Illyria said nothing. Sarolt, Mena, Balazs, and Haley began to surround her as if they thought they could overcome her. She almost laughed at their folly and impudence.

"You cannot force me to comply. You would be dead within moments of trying."

Despite her arrogance, she seemed strangely reluctant to brace for an attack. It was another weakness of this fragile host -- another resurgence of the emotions she had inherited from Fred, and which, unbeknownst to her, both Fred and Wesley had been strengthening from the beyond.

As representatives of The Powers That Be, they had been exerting their influence during moments when Illyria was most receptive. They could not come to her in dreams, since she never slept, but their spirits worked upon her whenever she was at peace, contented and happy.

Wesley and Fred also did their best at moments when Illyria was most volatile and bent on actions that would be detrimental to both herself and to others, but they were less successful during those times. Although they strove to calm Illyria's spirit as she smoldered within the walls of Sarolt's training room, they were counting on help from Spike and his team -- especially from Xander.

Xander broke the rising tension. "Now let's all hold on a second. This is Illyria, after all, and she's done nothing but help us."

Remembering how she had inadvertently helped to open the Hellmouth the previous night, Illyria felt momentarily unworthy of Xander's support. And then she got angry. Illyria unworthy of a human's regard -- that supposition was utterly ridiculous.

"Do not speak on my behalf, Xander."

Xander was a little hurt, but then a realization dawned on him. "I'm defending you, Illy, because I have feelings for you. I care for you. It's a human thing -- one I thought you were hoping to explore further."

She scoffed at this. "You are attempting to manipulate me through my affection for you. That is typically devious human behavior."

Xander ventured a little closer, noting that the group was holding its collective breath, as if a bomb were about to explode.

Spike started to say something to help Xander's argument, but decided to let the boy handle things his own way. He wouldn't step in unless it appeared to be necessary.

"It's not manipulation, Illy. I don't want you to die. I want you to live. And I'm probably a little crazy, because I want to see what's going to happen between us. I want to see what kind of woman you become as you continue to explore our human behavior and emotions and make them your own. I think you're wise enough to choose the best aspects of human nature that we puny mortals have to offer. You might even become the superwoman of my dreams."

Illyria watched him very closely. His heart and respiratory systems were accelerated, but the signs were those of a very distressed person, not one who was lying.

"I sense that you are being truthful, Xander, but tell me. Why would I give up the powers of a god, simply to live an enhanced but human existence?"

Xander shook his head, realizing he was beginning to lose her. If an emotional plea wouldn't work, maybe a logical one would.

"Keeping your powers only ensures that you'll end up completely powerless, totally destroyed when the body you inhabit fails. You know that will happen, Illy. And then you won't have any effect on the world at all. You'll just be gone."

"I know that," Illyria stated loudly. "There is no need to keep reminding me of my impending demise."

Xander pressed on. "And no one will remember you. All of the great things you've done will be long forgotten. The acolytes from your dominion are dead. But if you live on, there is no telling what you can continue to accomplish."

Rejecting his argument, Illyria turned away from Xander and began to formulate her escape plan. "As you have just pointed out, Xander, there is no point in a legacy which no one can remember. I will not give up my powers."

Xander looked around frantically. They were on the brink of a huge battle with an Old One. Obviously his logic wasn't that good, maybe it was time to switch back to the heart.

"But you're wrong, Illyria. People remember the ones they love. The ones they have feelings for. That's why no one remembers you now. Your acolytes, your armies -- they feared you. They were probably glad to forget you."

Illyria considered. She turned back to face Xander. "Will you remember me if I die?" she asked almost hopefully.

"I will. I would miss you, and I would regret that we never had a chance to find out if there could ever have been something more between us than friendship."

As Illyria internalized what Xander had said, Sarolt, Balazs and Akos attempted to rush her. She froze time and moved to stand directly beside Xander, taking his hand.

As time returned to normalcy, her would-be assailants crashed into each other, and Xander gasped in shock at her sudden appearance at his side. He looked down at their entwined fingers.

"One last time bending time?" He grimaced at his lame joke.

Soberly, Illyria reached for his chin and adjusted his head so that their eyes met. Gazing into her eyes, he sensed that she would now allow them to help her.

"Don't worry, Illy. I'll hold your hand." Gripping it in support, he turned to address the rest of the group. "So, are we going to do this thing or what?"

Spike decided that the moment to help had arrived, so he took the lead. "Sure. Should be a piece of cake. Do you have everything you need, Akos? Balazs?"

The tension had dissipated completely. "We are ready to begin," Balazs said as he gestured toward the circle on the floor. "Illyria. Xander. If you would please step into the circle."

"Are you sure Xander will be okay if he stays connected to Illyria?" Mena asked worriedly.

"Actually, I'm not sure." Akos replied.

Illyria stopped immediately. "Thank you, Xander, but I cannot allow you to come to any harm. Please wait outside the circle during the ritual."

Xander smiled at her concern for him. "I'll be right here, Illy."

Akos looked into the Old One's eyes and said, "I promise that I will do everything I can to retain all the powers you had before the gem was absorbed, and if possible, I will also secure your ability to communicate with the green. Your description of that power was very vivid. I believe that I will recognize it."

"Thank you," she replied.

Akos, Balazs and Haley took their positions, and soon the magic was underway. Spike stood slightly in front of Mena, again remembering that fateful day in another training room.

As blue light began to emanate from Illyria, Spike was struck by the beauty and subtlety of the magic. The whole ray gun experience now seemed brutal and repulsive. Instead of taking Illlyria's essence from her by force, the magic drew it out gently and channeled it into another mystical container, box made out of crystal or quartz that Akos had provided. Spike wasn't exactly sure what it was, but it was beautiful and became only more beautiful as Illyria's essence was drawn into it.


by Ldynwaitin

When the magic concluded, Illyria felt the effects of the massive power drain and collapsed on the floor. Xander was at her side in a heartbeat. She allowed him to comfort her.

"I think that you should have this, Xander." Akos handed him the now blue-tinted quartz box.

Xander accepted the box but shook his head. "This is too precious for me to keep. I think we need to call Giles right away so that he can send Dawn or Andrew to transport this to safety as soon as possible."

"There's a phone upstairs in my kitchen," Balazs offered.

"Thanks. Spike, would you do the honors?" Xander asked, not wanting to leave Illyria.

"Sure thing." Spike hesitated as he looked at Xander and Illyria. He smiled when he realized he actually felt rather proud of Xander; the bloke could make effective heart-to-heart speeches when they were most needed. Spike knew from experience that it was not an easy thing to do.

Spike turned and went upstairs, with the rest of the group following in his wake, leaving Illyria in Xander's good hands on the training room floor.

~~~~~~~~

~~~Miles Away in Transylvania~~~

"You must hurry!" Victor urged the lackeys who struggled to move the heavy stone covering the sepulcher which held a very precious cargo. He gazed out of the tomb towards the night sky. The time was drawing near for the ritual to begin, and they must hurry.

Victor had dutifully accomplished his part by finding the scrolls. Yet now the responsibility for opening the stone coffin, of the woman whom Dracula was so adamant about resurrecting, also fell on him.

Etched in granite on the tomb was the name Elizabeth Báthory. During his vampire research, Victor had come across her name many times.

She was known as 'The Blood Countess' and had once spread her own reign of terror across the land that she had ruled -- her homeland, Transylvania. A woman obsessed with retaining her youth and beauty, she had turned to the black arts to aid her in her unholy cause.

A faithful manservant, proficient in the black arts, had advised her that only the blood of a virgin maiden could prevent time's cruel gears from turning too rapidly and changing her into an old and ugly woman.

In her vain attempt to remain young, she had bathed in the blood of many innocent, young women from nearby villages. When she was finally stopped, years later, over 600 young girls had lost their lives to satisfy Elizabeth's abhorrent obsession.

Because Elizabeth was part of the nobility, she had not been given a death sentence. She was instead forced to remain bricked up within her bedroom. Imprisoned within her own home, she had lived out her final days alone.

When Victor was told to revive the Transylvanian noblewoman, he had wondered why his master would want to resurrect the 'Blood Countess'. But he knew better than to question anything that his master decreed.

Once this is done, he thought. Once I have brought this woman back to life, my master will finally reward me with his kiss of eternal life. I will become the vampire I have so long craved to be. I deserve to be immortal!

His thoughts were jarred back to the present when he heard the stone slab covering Elizabeth's crypt crash to the ground. Peering into the stone coffin, he saw a skeleton dressed in the remnants of an elegant gown.

"Quickly now. Carefully transfer her coffin to the vehicle. You must be sure not to leave any piece of her behind!" he hissed. "All must be in place for the spell to work. We must not jar a single bone!"

In minutes, Victor and his unholy cargo were rushing back to Dracula's castle. "Soon," he softly whispered. "Soon I will know the joy of drinking the blood of my first victim."

~~~~~~~~

Within the bowels of Dracula's castle, a large room was awash with the light of a multitude of candles. In the center of the room sat the coffin that held the remains of Elizabeth Báthory. Dracula stood at the head of the coffin and carefully examined what was left of the once beautiful Countess.

Her clothing was tattered and covered in dust and filth. She had been fifty-four when she died, but Dracula knew that advanced age would not suit the woman who would sit by his side. He wanted a companion as young and vibrant as himself.

"The scrolls that you found, Victor, are you sure they provide the entire spell necessary to give my new queen back the beauty she so desired?"

Victor stepped up to his master. He held several scrolls in his hands, one of which was blackened from a fire. "I am positive, master. With the spells found on these scrolls, I will be able to resurrect her exactly as she was when she was vibrant, young and beautiful."

Dracula spun around, and his dark eyes seemed to burrow into Victor's mind as well as his dark heart and soon to be cast-off soul.

"She must be strong as well. I do not want a weakling to sit by my side. I do not want yet another repeat of the abominations that have been resurrected."

Victor abased himself before the powerful vampire. "Yes, Master. That is why we tested the back magic on three other corpses first. You see them now, standing before you in their youthful beauty and strength, despite having died over four centuries ago when they were past sixty years old. Strength, youth, beauty -- all that is assured for your lady, Master."

Dracula looked again at his three new soldiers and nodded in affirmation. He walked over to a large chair that sat before an ornate fireplace. Sitting down gracefully, he pulled his small glass marble from his pocket.

"You may begin, Victor," he ordered his loyal acolyte.

Grinning excitedly, Victor lifted three scrolls and called for three of Dracula's human lackeys to hold the scrolls open for his easy access. They rushed to his side. Each one was given a scroll.

As they raised and displayed their scrolls, they all turned their heads away from the coffin. Since they had already witnessed so many of the accursed resurrections of the dead, they did not relish seeing one who had been so maliciously powerful when alive and who might soon use that malice in her dealings with them.

Victor gathered together several items that the scrolls designated as critical for the ritual. First, he placed a tree branch over her chest, then turned to begin reading aloud from the scrolls.

"A tree -- its life is eternal. Its roots dig deep into the mother earth to maintain life. Let this branch restore to the departed the youth she so craved."

Glancing down, Victor saw small tendrils grow from the branch, which then dug deeply into the rotted corpse. Slowly, Elizabeth's skeletal frame absorbed the branch.

Victor checked the scrolls carefully. He needed to perform the ritual exactly. No tone, no inflection could be irreverent, and certainly no word could be left out if he were to resurrect this evil woman from the past and return her healthily to the present.

For the next part of the ritual, he held a small gem in his hands. It was a red diamond in the shape of a heart, which he placed upon her chest.


by nmcil

"Powerful is this stone. Let it share its power with this empty shell."

Victor saw the diamond glow a deep red. The glow soon encompassed the entire shape the body would form. He watched as the skeletal remains slowly began to stir. The bony jaw moved to open. A cracking noise echoed in the chamber as tendons moved over the bones once again after four hundred years of rest.

Once the glow dissipated, Victor took the diamond from Elizabeth's chest. The branch and gem endowed the corpse with youth and strength. Now came the hardest part of the resurrection; he needed to give her life.

He lifted a yellow stone carved in the semblance of the sun. It had been used many times before to create Dracula's vampire army. Its power was unimaginable and very dangerous. Victor knew that it retained enough power to resurrect an army large enough to allow his master to achieve his dreams of conquest.

But the words they had used previously had been flawed; they brought back an imperfect creature. Thanks to the new spells he found within the Hungarian scrolls, he would now add to those words a powerful spell that would restore any creature in perfect form. Even one that had been rotting in its grave for thousands of years.

Victor raised the sun-shaped stone high in the air. Dracula let out a hiss of pain as several beams of yellow light shone out from the stone. Four of Dracula's minions rushed to his side and stood in front of him to shield him from the last part of the ritual.

Victor tightly grasped the stone as the light grew stronger. Its rays streamed down into the coffin, engulfing the fleshless skeleton.

Victor shouted the vital words. "The moon signals death, but the sun signals birth. I beg that the sun gifts this lifeless vessel rebirth."

Clutching the stone even tighter, he began to chant the words written on the scrolls. He was surprised to hear his words disappear into the air as they were spoken. The spell was so powerful and the words so secret, it was as though the one who cast the spell was muted, and the words fell on deaf ears of anyone present.

Struggling to hold onto the vibrating yellow stone, Victor stared down into the coffin. Through the bright yellow light, he saw dark magic at its strongest. He saw skin begin to grow across the skull. The tattered dress began to stir and fill out as muscles flooded with blood and organs appeared from thin air. Intestines, kidneys, a dried-out heart began to soften and come to life.

Victor knew the end was near when he saw dark hair begin to grow from the nearly restored head. At first, he saw a woman in her fifties. He began to fear that the youth spell he had used successfully three times, somehow had not worked for Elizabeth.

His fear, however, was unfounded because he saw wrinkles begin to smooth out. The lines on her face that had marred her beauty soon vanished. Her skin blossomed into a milky white complexion. Victor was amazed to see that even her dress changed to suit its mistress. The threads wove and mended until before him lay the exquisitely clothed body of a woman who appeared to be in the full bloom of youth and beauty.


by nmcil

Suddenly, the stone's light blinked out. Dracula knew that was the signal for him to do his part. Jumping from his chair, he violently shoved the humans who protected him to the side. He flew to the coffin that lay on the floor of his castle.

Kneeling by its side, he gazed in admiration at Victor's work. Elizabeth Báthory, the Blood Countess who had once terrorized this land, now lay before him in all her glory. He gently slid his long fingers under her neck and was pleased to feel warmth in her body.

He saw her eyes slowly begin to open. They were a deep brown, and they gazed up at him in confusion.

"Who are you? What has happened?" she asked in a hoarse whisper. Vocal cords, long unused and now newly formed, were slow to respond to their mistress's commands.

"I, dear madam, am here to give you what you have so long desired."

Elizabeth tried to sit up. Dracula helped her as he knew she was still weakened by the exertion of her rebirth.

"Youth!" Elizabeth hissed. "Vitality!"

"That and more, my dear Countess Báthory -- much more."

"You have me at a disadvantage, sir. By what name may I call you?"

Elizabeth was horrified when she saw the facial features change on the handsome man who had just spoken to her. His eyes became darker, and the whites turned almost blood red. His teeth grew long and sharp.

"Dracula is my name, my lady, but have no fear. I would never wish to harm you."

But Elizabeth was afraid. She could feel great power from him. She sensed a dark power that threatened to pour into her heart and crush it.

"What is it that you want the most?" Dracula slathered, his fanged teeth now slightly affecting his speech.

"Youth. I want to be young again," she cried out in fear.

"Quickly, the mirror!" Dracula hissed.

Victor rushed to Dracula, bringing a small mirror. He handed it to Elizabeth and stepped back, envious that she would soon be given what he had longed for so desperately.

Elizabeth gasped in shock as she saw the face of the young woman whom she had not been for so many years.

"I have given back your youth, but you are not immune to time," warned Dracula. "You will once again lose your beauty to time's cruel ravages."

After getting back that for which she had killed so many and still failed to retain, Elizabeth swore to herself she would do whatever it took to keep her beauty. "What do I have to do?" she whimpered.

"Give yourself to me, my dear lady. Allow me to give you the kiss of eternal life. For if you are willing, if you want it with all your body and soul, your power will be absolute. My kiss brings immortality."

Elizabeth didn't hesitate. She threw the mirror to the side, where it shattered into tiny pieces. "Do what must be done!" she declared.

"Yes, my lady," Dracula sighed. "I will give you all that you desire and more!"

Grabbing her shoulders, he pulled her tightly to him. Gently moving her head to the side, he dug his teeth into the crook of her neck.

Elizabeth gasped as she felt her life's blood being sucked out of her. For so many years, she had been the one to drain those innocent girls' bodies. Now it was happening to her, and she was terrified. She squelched her fear by reminding herself over and over that she would finally obtain that which she had so long sought. She would remain young and beautiful.

Forever!

Dracula's only thought as he sucked and swallowed her blood was that with his new consort at his side, the entire world would be theirs for the taking. And the final element missing from his great plan would soon be acquired.

Spike.

~~~~~~~~

End of Gypsies, Vamps and Thieves, Part 2.

~~~~~~~~

Gypsies, Vamps and Thieves, Part 2 Page1, 2

~~~~~~~~

What does Dracula want from Spike? Is it simply to lead his army or is there something more? How will Elizabeth take to her new role as Dracula's consort? Will Victor get his reward of immortality? And how will Illyria deal with her limited powers? Will she and Xander find happiness together? Or will Xander, once again, become Dracula's butt-monkey? And if so, will Spike honor his promise to end Xander's life?

To find out, return to this site for our next episode, Hearts of Darkness.

 

~~~~~~~~

And as always,
feedback

will be greatly appreciated.
Although we absolutely love hearing praise,
we'd also be interested in hearing any constructive
criticism you might have for our website and our episodes.
Thanks again for reading our series
and taking the time to share your thoughts.

~~~~~~~~

James Marsters
.....
Spike
Sara Michelle Gellar
.....
Buffy
Nicholas Brendon
.....
Xander
Anthony Stewart-Head
.....
Giles
Jennifer Freeman
.....
Mena
Juliet Landau
.....
Drusilla
Jane March
.....
Elizabeth Bathory
Rachel Weisz

.....
Haley
Amy Acker
.....
Illyria
Rudolf Martin
.....
Dracula
Benjamin Bratt
.....
Mike
Julian Sands
.....
Victor
Elias Koteas
.....
Balazs
Jessica Alba
.....
Sarolt
Patrick Bauchau
.....
Akos
Tom Lenk

.....
Andrew

 

Home
Never Give Up - Pt 1
Never Give Up - Pt 2
The Mission Mission
   Part 1

   Part 2

Visitations
Against Your Will
Just Like Old Times

The Big Ten
You Can't Always Get What You Want
The Meanness of the World -
Rated R for language and violence
Split Decision

 Gypsies, Vamps & Thieves
   Part 1
  
Part 2
Hearts of Darkness
   Part 1
   Part 2
Holiday images

UPCOMING EPISODES:
Hoodoo You Love?
The Offering
To Dream Again - An Epilogue



Serenity
by Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy and Angel, is finally coming to the big screen with his directorial debut, the blockbuster sci-fi adventure Serenity.Titan’s official companion contains a preface from Joss, his in-depth account of the making of the film, and his full screenplay, illustrated throughout with stills, storyboards and production art.

Serenity Role Playing Game

Firefly - The Complete Series

Spark and Burn
by Diana G. Gallagher

Angel Season 5

Selected audio commentary by Joss Whedon, David Boreanaz, Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Sarah Thompson, Christian Kane, Juliet Landau, Adam Baldwin, Skip Schoolnik, David Fury, Steven S. DeKnight, Jeffrey Bell,and more.
Featurettes: Hey Kids! It's Smile Time, Angel 100, Angel: Choreography of a Stunt, To Live and Die in L.A.: The Best of Angel, Halos & Horns: Recurring Villainy, Angel Unbound: The Gag Reels


Angel: Live Fast, Die Never - Music from TV Series

Music for Elevators
Anthony Stewart Head, George Sarah

Tales Of The Vampires
by
Ben Edlund, Jane Espenson, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon
New stories set in creator Whedon's "Buffyverse" continue to appear in comics published by Dark Horse. Whedon and several of his shows' writers—Ben Edlund, Jane Espenson and Drew Goddard—contribute to this new collection of stories about vampires, set in disparate times and places.

Fray
by Joss Whedon
Tough but reluctant vampire-fighter Fray lives in the bad part of town and makes a living doing heists for Gunther, a blue and scaly criminal operator who directs operations while submerged in a living-roomâ€"sized tank. So when an enormous, goat-hoofed demon shows up at Fray's apartment, she's not terribly fazed, but she certainly isn't ready for his message: she, Melaka Fray, is destined to kill vampires.

Please visit
Spike's Store
for more merchandise about Spike, by James Marsters or that we think Spike would like.

 

Webdesign: Alllie

[an error occurred while processing this directive]