Spike looks up from the paper he isn't really reading, "He's here."

Penn grins at him, "I know."

A flurry of black leather and snarls breaks through the cheap motel door, and freezes. Gold eyes gleam over the room, over the two men sitting there, staring at him. Sitting. No fight? All the easier, but then the dark demon really sees the slim figure sprawled but tense on the bed, and his face slips back to human form, "Spike?"

He is answered by a threatening growl, and suddenly Penn is standing between Angel and Spike, grey eyes menacing. The larger man looks past his angry Childe, and into the bright blue eyes of his.his., "Will?" his voice gathering strength, "Will! Come with me."

Penn's anger is ice in his voice, "He's not going anywhere with you." Angel's hand shoots out and he backhands Penn across the dingy room.

Spike leaps from the bed, suddenly standing in gameface in front of Angel, nothing except hatred in those yellow eyes. And Angel just stares. The eyes are wrong.sunk too deep. The black shirt should be skin tight.it's loose.and torn. Caught in his observation, he doesn't register the blur of movement until Penn is on top of him, and he is pinned, face down on the filthy carpet. A voice, strong with malevolence in his ear, "I told you not to come here. He's not yours anymore!"

~~That body.pressed against him.~~

"No! That's not why I came." Struggling against the strong body holding him down, "I just want to talk to him.hear it from him."

Chilling laughter against his neck, "Liar."

~~Remembered lips skimming the nape of his neck as his boy, his Gem, pushed into his body.~~

"Even you don't believe that. You know the soul wants him just as badly as your demon does. Hell, even I didn't believe it until I saw you crashing through that door. But you do.your soul craves that boy."

~~Grey eyes that saw everything, gauged his every need, and offered him all.~~

'This isn't going to play out like this.' Angel's mind tells him, and in angry reflex, his head snaps back, connecting to Penn's with a solid thud. Sensing the others' stunned reaction; Angel easily flips the smaller man off of him, scrambling to his feet. In an instant, Penn is up and facing him, surprise apparent on his features. Control.what his every incarnation craved. Smiling at Penn's expression, "I'm still your better, boy.soul or no! And you're right about one thing, Will is leaving with me. He was made for me.he is still MINE!" The demon roars in agreement.

It is almost alarming the speed with which Penn's demeanor changes. He throws his body casually into a large, battered chair.laughing. Angel and Spike both stare at him incredulously. "Oh, that was good!" He finally speaks past the laughter, "Spend much time channeling your inner Angelus? Or are the acting lessons finally paying off? Because I almost think I detected a bit of the brogue in there. Really."

~~This is his Penn. Lounging in a chair in their home. That's his Will, standing behind him, waiting to be told what the joke is about. Don't you see them? The demon screams at him.~~

Angel shakes his head, "What the hell are you talking about, Penn?"

Penn's face becomes solemn again, "I'm talking about you being the biggest fool to walk this planet. In all your years of angsting did you ever once question the curse that had been placed on you? Did you once ponder for a moment that it was all so much bullshit and mumbo jumbo?" His elegant hands make pseudo mystical movements in the air. "No, I can see you didn't. Answer me this, What is your soul?"

Spike doesn't like this. He is sitting on the bed again, his arms wrapped around his torso. Too much talking. Not enough fighting and getting the hell out of this place.

Angel isn't enjoying this either, and repeats Penn's question to him, "What is it?"

Penn nods slowly, "What. Is. The. Soul."

Large fists clenching and unclenching, he knows he doesn't have to answer, but somehow.something hangs in the balance, "It's.it's a conscience, it makes me care.it's an awareness of what I do."

"Really? Then before the curse you weren't aware of what you did. You didn't care about anything? You didn't revel in your existence? You didn't cherish every member of your family? You didn't love with your whole being before the soul?"

"That's not what I said."

"Sure it is. First thing I learned at my Father's knee.knowledge is the key to understanding God, and therefore understanding yourself. There are a few things you need to know, Angelu - Angel."

Penn settles more comfortably in his chair, glancing once at his Will, not letting the concern wash across his face that he feels at the boy's defensive posture. Returning his gaze to the dark man, he continues, "Where is that pesky soul? Are we focusing on a Christian interpretation? Is it some Holy Spirit dancing in a little flame above your head? Fire's not so good for vampires. No? Maybe Plato was right, there are three souls: Rational" he touches his head, "Passion" his hand presses into his chest, "Appetite" his fingers brush across his flat abdomen. "Three souls.I think Plato would say you're pretty well screwed in the curse department."

He laughs in the face of Angel's growing agitation, "But now, your average Buddhist is going to tell you the soul doesn't exist.it's only an illusion. So maybe the curse isn't real, just some gypsy mind-fuck.how do you like that one? No? No problem.there's more. How about this, I read a Judaic text that indicates the soul lives in blood. That would make us.what?.soul drinkers? Come on, man.pick a philosophy.what works for you? Or are you just a victim.letting the hammer of the gods beat you down?"

Angel is on him in an instant, fists flying into that beautiful infuriating face, but he cries out in agony, as a knee makes sharp contact with his groin. Falling to the ground, he looks up as Penn stands and wipes the blood from his face.

"And some have said, the soul resides there.which would mean I've just crushed yours a bit."

Angel snarls and whips one leg out, topping Penn to the ground, and he swiftly blankets that body with his own.

~~Penn thrusting up against him, grey eyes stormy with lust, lush lips open, begging for a kiss.~~

"Idiot! Fool! Don't you see?" Earnest and angry eyes flashing up at him. Penn isn't even struggling beneath him.

"Shut up, Penn." He breathes against his Childe's living face, willing all things to be different.

"No, Sire.one last lesson." Using his legs and whatever emotion Angel is struggling with, Penn flips him over and drives his fist into the other man's face.

The larger man uses his weight and shoves the body away from him. Pulling himself up to his full height, he grabs Penn by both arms, ramming him into the wall of the room, plaster crackling around him. "You dare think you can teach me?"

Flinching in pain, and shock at the anger in that voice, Penn replies, "I dare that and more! You've failed to grasp the most important point. Nothing I said matters. It was all a lie."

Angel drops his hands.slowly backing up from.the creature in front of him, "What?"

"A lie. Everything you've ever been told about God.gods.souls and curses - it's just myth."

Angel stops moving, his eyes are riveted on Penn's mouth, at the frightening litany issuing from them.

"You want to know the one truth? We're the gods. You were just given a .choice. A choice to deny what you were.and you clutched at it with bloody hands. Took it and turned your back on everything you had ever taught me. Forsook your family. Broke your oaths. All to grovel to a god, who, if he exists, doesn't really care whether you spend a thousand lifetimes atoning, or a second."

~~The demon is screaming. It is battering itself on the bars in his mind. It knows.~~

"NO!" Angel's cry echoes in the room. The stake is out of his jacket and in his hand. Penn's body thrust once again into the wall, eyes wide in disbelief as the point is pressed to his chest.

~~"This has to stop." The demon's voice, his own voice. Time freezes. "Look at him" Brown eyes focus on motionless grey. The demon is free, and not moving. Looking through his eyes with him. "See him." Gods.so much pain. The voice insists, "Listen. Can you hear your William?"~~

Suddenly the voice of William rips into his reality, "GEM! No! Please.Sire.don't take him from me.Please.he's all I have. Not him!"

Sobs are shaking the body flinging itself at his broad back. But he can't move, he just stares in horror on the stake pressed so firmly into the chest in front of him, trails of blood soaking into Penn's shirt.

The blonde is in front of him now, frantically pushing back at his hands, screaming at him, screaming at Penn.

~~He's sure it's screams, but he can't hear. Only one voice. "Give them back to me. Give them back to me and I won't destroy you as you've tried to destroy me. But don't do this - this will kill us both."~~

*****
Part 8:

"Take them." The demon is in control.

An unearthly howl is let forth from the dark man's mouth, shattering the spell the body has been frozen in. With a violent thrust, the wooden stake is thrown across the room, as horror and fear are reflected in the brown eyes searching the grey orbs in front of him. No answer in either look or movement from the man still held stiffly to the crumbling wall. Hesitant hands reach out as if to assure the demon his Childe is still whole and before him, but he stops at the coldness in Penn's face. The blonde is backing away from both figures, disbelief and hope moving across his features.

The dark demon snatches his hands back from their attempt at contact, now focusing on them as if they are still tools beyond his control. With a haunted look, he stumbles backward, not stopping until he has reaches the furthest wall. Slowly the hulking figure slips to its' knees, body falling forward in a ball of agony. Feral groans and whimpers emit from the trembling body as shaking hands pull at clothing and flesh.

Will moves towards Penn, reaching out to touch; his caresses almost violent to reassure him of the other's safety. Once certain, he turns in Penn's answering embrace to stare at the demon shivering in the corner.

As they watch, the spasms in that body cease - the form uncurls. A low sigh escapes lips as a tongue snakes out to wet and taste its' own lips. Long limbs flex and stretch, and with an impressive yawn the dark haired man lifts his head, and stares openly at the figures in front of him. The body relaxes, fingers raking through disheveled hair, the move almost languid, assurance returning with every action. One leg extends out before him, the other bends at the knee, an arm laid casually across it.

"So.you're back." Penn's words cut through the surreal mood.

"I am, lads." Comes the demon's easy reply.

Penn starts in anger at the familiarity of that tone, but says nothing as Will takes a step towards Angelus then halts.

Brown eyes fasten with blue. "I'm back for good this time, William."

No answer.

Penn's voice rings in the still room, "Good for you, Angelus. We'll leave you to it then. No doubt you've a million things to attend to.torture the Slayer.open the gates of Hell.but hey - ", his voice heavy with undisguised sarcasm, "It's been great to see you again. Another hundred years or so, who knows.we may do this again."

Confidence wavers in the brown eyes, but not the voice "You can't leave me."

A derisive laugh from Penn, "Actually.yes. We can."

Both turn in surprise at Will's words, "No, Gem. We can't."

Penn laughs harshly, "Why not? He's left you often enough!"

There is no protest to the accusation directed at their creator in his brother's reply, "I can't.it's Sire."

Angelus sits, watching this scene, uncomfortable in the role of having his Childer decide his fate.

Penn's arms fall to his sides, stepping away from contact with his lover, "If I asked you now.who would you choose?"

The blonde is instantly on him, covering his face, his neck with brutal kisses, "You!" the breath of his words surrounding Penn, "Always you!" lips hovering over his mouth, "Only you!" claiming his lips possessively.

Penn returns the kiss with his own urgency, finally pulling away to speak, "Then why do you need him, Pup?"

A sigh breathed into his mouth, "Family."

Penn takes the sigh into him, takes those lips, takes that tongue. His Will, his boy. He releases the kiss with a heavy sigh of his own, "Alright Pup, he stays."

At last Will turns, walking towards the demon, "So yer back.bleedin' soul 's gone fer good"

Angelus pulls himself up from the floor, and goes to meet his Childe. Large hands are placed on the blonde's shoulders as chocolate eyes hungrily drink in the sight. Taking a needless breath, the demon speaks, "No, William.it's still here.in me. But I have control." Will moves as if to back away from the creature he thought he knew, but finds himself grabbed in a fierce embrace. Angelus' dark head moving over his neck, sniffing at the scar on his neck and pulling back to speak again, "It is me! I am here!" Will nods slowly, searching that face, and somehow finding what he seeks.

A bitter laugh shatters their tender moment and both turn to watch Penn as he brushes bits of broken drywall from his clothing. He looks at the dark man with anger, "That's it? You were finally able to take control? Why? Because of me? Why not because of your William?" He is now sitting on the floor - his body splayed in casual imitation of Angelus' former pose, "Why?! Why couldn't you have won this battle when he truly needed you?"

"I don't know, Penn." A brief look of anger and disappointment wash over Angelus' features, but it is gone and William and Penn do not see it.

"Gem." Penn turns as Will's hand grabs one of his own, "Let it for go now, Pet."

Penn stands, allowing William to pull him up, and looks disdainfully over at the dark demon, "Angelus." Brown eyes acknowledge him. "Just know you remain here because he wishes it." A nod of understanding. Penn turns back to his brother, "Grab your gear, Pup, we're going to get some food and get out of here since we seem to have lost our door." The motion of his head indicates the shattered door behind him. He regards Angelus warily as the larger man approaches him, reaching into his pocket and pulling out.his car keys.

"You drive.I don't think I'm ready for that just yet. Need a little more time to get used to this. Mind yourself though, I think I like that car!"

Penn raises an eyebrow at that comment, but accepts the keys without a word.

-------------------------------------------------------

Angelus' fingers are digging into the wood of the doorframe as he stares in horror and fascination at the sight of Penn drinking from the night manager of the motel. His eldest's moves are brutal on the neck of the human, turning tender but still lustful as he feeds his brother mouthfuls of the warm blood. Each transfer ends in a bloody kiss eliciting moans and low growls from both of his Childer.

It enrages the demon to see his youngest Childe's feeding reduced to this, and humbles him to see Penn taking such savage care of his brother. But the demon's lust for that blood, to be part of the feast is weighing heavy on him, and it is with barely held control that he keeps himself from joining in. Finally Will raises a bloody smile to the tall man, he gestures to the human that Penn is holding, his fingers pressed to the throat wound to keep the blood from gushing out. With a snarl of joy, Angelus takes the body and plunges his tongue into the open wound, lapping furiously at the now slowing ebb of life. In a moment he has thrust the body to the ground, "Fuck!" is the angry growl that escapes his lips. "I'm still hungry."

Penn laughs, "Always the same.never satisfied, eh, Angelus?"

"Never." Is the snarled reply, "And I hate these clothes!"

The three head towards the car.

Will jabs angrily at the car lighter, "Bleedin' hell, Angelus.yer lighter doesn't work!"

A voice from the back seat, "I didn't smoke.before."

"Ha!" The blonde taunts, "Maybe the soul didn't, but I can 'member you an Gem puffin' on those stinkin' cigars in yer study. An I remember what ya' both did ta me when I mentioned somethin' about phallic substitutions."

A ghost of a smile flickers across Penn's features at the memory. "You didn't say 'phallic', as I recall it was more along the lines of.", and he imitates his brother's accent, "What're ya two gits doin' sucking on those tobacco cocks when ya got the real thing in front of ya?"

A wry chuckle from the backseat that they both recognize, but only one smiles to hear it.

------------------------------------------------------

The three men step into the lobby of the hotel. Will glances around warily, anxious not to run into anyone that might recognize either himself or Angelus. Penn, having no such concerns strides confidently to the counter, slapping down the bit of silver plastic. "One room, two large beds. Ground floor." His tone brooks no argument from the sleepy young clerk, "Y-yes sir." Paperwork rapidly completed, Angelus leans against the far edge of the check-in counter. Watching Penn handle the mundane matters so smoothly, while still keeping a careful eye on William.unfamiliar territory, but so good to be near them.

Penn grabs the two key cards and the three move quickly out of the lobby, crossing the brightly lit parking lot to their room.

Angelus throws himself down heavily into a chair, "I need a drink."

William apparently agrees as he roots through the honor bar, "Soddin' hell.what are these?" he holds up two tiny bottles of vodka, "'Spose they do a hot trade in midget alcoholics in Sunnyhell?"

Penn smiles indulgently at his brother; "We'll get room service to deliver something more to your liking, Will. Angelus, Irish whiskey for you, no doubt?" a silent nod, "Good, I'll join you. Now, Pup.what is it you desire?"

As Penn dials the operator, the blonde scans the overpriced menu, "Beer..darkest stuff they got." Penn relays the request for whiskey and dark beer. "Oi! An' chips.get me fries!"

Penn lays the receiver against his shoulder, "You want human food, Will?"

Not bothering to answer the question, the blonde tosses the menu on the desk, "And ranch dressin'.tell 'em not to forget the ranch."

Shaking his head, but with an amused smile on his face Penn repeats the order over the phone before hanging up.

Penn sits down next to Will on the couch, the room is silent but for the flick of Will's lighter, and the sound of his drag and puff on the cigarette. Finally Penn turns to the dark man in the chair. "So.Angelus.how have you been?"

The dark demon snorts, "Locked in a box.and you?"

Penn smiles, slipping into the pointless banter, "Not bad.better than you obviously."

Not as amused, "Penn.there's something I've been meaning to ask you about.the repetitive kill and all.what's up with that?"

Unruffled, Penn replies, "Unlike you, I don't play with my food."

Laughter from William as he stubs out his cigarette, his eyes lighting up, "Ahh.but they're fun when they're all scared-like! 'S a good game when ya got the time!"

Penn shakes his head slightly, "After a couple of hundred years.it loses its' charm."

Angelus leans forward, a challenge in his tone, "Maybe you're just not doing it right then."

Penn leans back, not taking the bait, his elegant fingers making a steeple as he gazes at Angelus, "Are you suggesting I follow your lead and bed a Slayer to spice things up?"

A low growl emanates from the larger demon's chest. All three look up as a knock on the hotel room door interrupts the tension.

William grins, "Food's here.one 'a ya 'ad better leave off the starin' contest and go pay the git."

As Penn rises to take care of the matter, Will's blue eyes greedily watch the retreating backside. He licks his lips, and then catches Angelus eyeing him as he turns back. He offers a grin and a lazy wink to the other man, eliciting an understanding smirk from his Sire.

Penn rejoins them and catches the interplay, "What?"

William smiles innocently at him, "Nothin', Pet.jes' admirin' the view."

Penn shoots him a look of pure lust, "I know, William. Know you like to watch."

Their teasing is interrupted by a sigh of exasperation from the dark demon, "Pour the damn whiskey, Penn."

Penn smiles at the older man's irritation; "Patience was never your long suit, was it? Here." He pours two glasses and hands one to Angelus, "Drink up."

Angelus sighs in contentment around the first swallow, "Too damn long." His eyes are shut as he allows the liquid to caress his palate. He relaxes back into his chair, watching Will scarf down his fries, a smile lingering on his face as greasy fingers are licked with that talented tongue. He tears his gaze away before his thoughts can dwell further on what his boy can do with that mouth.

"Penn." He turns to his eldest, "Tell me all about what you've been up to."

Penn regards him over his own glass, pausing before answering, "Waiting in Italy. Got tired of it. Moved on."

Angelus moves forward in his chair, placing his now half-empty glass on the table. He looks directly into grey eyes and speaks evenly, "I'm sorry. That's all you will get from me."

Penn looks down, his voice weary; "It was a long time." William pauses in his feasting, and places a comforting hand on Penn's leg, glad to find those strong fingers covering his own.

The darker man has recovered from his seriousness and regards the blonde with a twinkle in his eye, "So, my boy.two Slayers! Good job!"

Startled but pleased, blue eyes gauge his face, "Ya sure the soul is still in there?"

Angelus lets out a heartfelt laugh, and picks up his drink again, that seems to answer the question.

Will dips one of his fries into the thick white sauce and holds it out to Penn, who stares at him with disbelief. "C'mon, Gem.try it!"

"That's not going to happen, William!" Penn, trying to be serious, as the offending morsel is dangled in front of his face.

A winning pout from his brother, "Gem.ye'll do it for me.wontcha?" An old game; just two boys.

An exaggerated sigh of resignation and Penn allows Will to put the food in his mouth, getting in a gentle nip at the fingers before they are removed.

Angelus lets out a loud guffaw and they both turn to him, "What's so hilarious?" Penn asks as he tries to swallow the foreign food.

"You!" Angelus laughs, "You always give in to him.no matter what he asks!"

Penn shrugs with good nature, allowing the truth, "Yes, he is spoiled."

"Hey!" protests the blonde, "I'm right here, ya wankers!"

Penn turns to his Will, "You're here." He agrees, "And you are spoiled. And you will continue to be."

"Not lately." The blonde mutters under his breath.

Angelus smiles, "Well, I can see that's changed of late.and I plan to do what I can to help."

Penn shoots him a warning glance, moving his hand territorially around Will's shoulders, who leans instinctively into the embrace. The ease of the movement, the hard glance is not lost on Angelus. In a low voice he says, "I'm here to help, Penn.not to take." Penn nods, accepting the statement, and simply raises his glass to Angelus in a silent toast of truce.

In the quiet of the room, the two sit, working their way through the bottle of whiskey, occasionally sharing a neutral memory or previously untold adventure. Warily, Angelus finally brings up the subject so close to his mind.

"So what are we going to do about this problem?" His glance falls on the blonde head burrowed sleeping into Penn's shoulder.

Penn tightens his grip on his brother; "I want to get him out of here. This can't be the only place for a cure."

Still questioning, the older man presses, "And the people that did this to him?"

His mouth set in a hard line, "The maggots must die."

Ah.this the demon understands and hungers for, "So that's what we'll do." An open statement.

Grey eyes lock with brown, the gaze open and unwavering. Silent moments pass before Penn responds, "Yes, Angelus. That's exactly what you and I will do."

As if troubled by dreams, the man leaning into Penn twitches in his sleep, the beautiful forehead furrowed in a frown. "Wake up, Pup!" Penn shakes his brother awake, looking into the blue eyes as they snap open, "Why don't you get into the bed?"

Confusion melts quickly into desire, and the blonde snakes a hand through Penn's hair, "Only if yer comin' too."

Penn laughs, kissing Will briefly on the forehead, "I'm right behind you, just give me a moment."

Sleepily, Will moves to the other room as Penn stands and stretches. He walks purposefully over to the seated man. Moving the empty glasses aside, he perches on the edge of the coffee table directly in front of the larger man. "Angelus.I reacted a bit harshly the other night, but considering the circumstances."

Angelus holds his tongue, waiting for his eldest to continue.

"I want you to know that you are welcome here. But this will take some time."

"I understand, Penn. And I would expect nothing less from you."

Slowly, Penn leans forward until his forehead is resting against the other man's. So much history there.so much pain. Angelus gently places two fingers against his Childe's lips, a sigh escaping his own.

They stay like this for a moment before Penn gathers his strength and pulls away. "Good night, Angelus."

"Goodnight, Gem."

Emotions kept at bay for so long threaten to overwhelm the dark man as he presses his head back against the chair, cursing his acute hearing.

The soft whisper of clothes coming off. The rustling of sheets being lifted. Slight squeak of the bed now accommodating the weight of two bodies. The hush of meaningless words of comfort and adoration being spoken in quiet tones. None of this meant for his ears. All of it assaulting his whole being.

He pours himself a final glass of the amber liquid, his finger running along the rim of the glass.

~Penn is lightly running his hand over the side of his boy, curled against him, fingers resting, then playing lightly along the still too prominent hip bones.~

He brushes his thumb down the bowl of the glass, resting against the stem.

~A strong hand pulls at the short blonde hair, bringing that mouth within reach of his own. To be possessed by his own, knowing that all along, the boy owns him.~

Angelus brings the glass to his lips, drinking in the liquor he can longer taste; his senses are so filled with memories and denial.

~"Gods.love you, Gem." A soul breaking sigh, "Love you too, Pup."~

The dark demon alone in the room thinks sullenly to himself, "This is going to be one long fucking day!"

-------------------------------------------------------

He's dreaming. He knows it. Seems like dreaming is all he ever did once he was locked up by the damned soul. Damned. Soul. There's irony in there somewhere. But that should have been enough of the dreams.enough of the memories. He has his boys back. Well, not really. He's here. They are there, just apart from him. And he can hear the voices in his head. Penn asking why he'd never called him home. William asking why he'd abandoned him. William.

He would find that boy and beat him to within an inch of his unlife. How dare he? There had been a terrible fight the previous week. Will begging to be told where Penn was. "Just to write to him." Liar! If the boy knew, he'd be off like a shot. It was all Angelus could do not to chain him up permanently in the house.

Not that Darla would have allowed it.but she wasn't there. She had taken Drusilla and gone off, warning him to fix whatever was wrong between him and William before she returned. Well, he hadn't chained the boy up, but he had beaten him so badly that even with steady feedings it had taken the better part of two days for the wounds to heal completely. Not the worst lesson he'd ever taught the boy. But it had all felt so wrong. Will was still a child, how could he understand that his utter devotion to Penn was an absolute betrayal to his Sire?

A betrayal that cut Angelus deeper than the strips of flesh carved from Will's back by his Sire's whip. And the demon had whipped.and beaten.finally just using his fists on the body that had no strength left to defend itself. He'd pulled the head he loved so much up roughly by the tangled brown curls, one blue eye not yet swollen shut, "Listen to me boy! Ye'll never ask about him again. Ye'll remember you belong ta me, and only me!" Something like a nod from the bloodied face, and he had shoved the head down again, unable to bear the searing pain of seeing his handiwork. He left the boy there, and had locked himself in Darla's empty room, throwing himself down on her silken comforter. Trying to draw some comfort from her scent that still clung to the fabric, clutching it to himself and groaned at the ache that seeped through every pore of his body. Penn was gone, and even if he hadn't taken their Will with him, the boy was with him in spirit. How could they do this to him? "Betrayal".he moaned out the word, wrapping himself in his misery and drifting off into fitful dreams.

Dreaming of dreaming.there's no fairness in that, because even those dreams were dark and hard.

The atmosphere in the house turned grim and violent. As William healed, he took care to avoid Angelus, fearful of the next outbreak, which just served to further enrage his Sire. This quiet creature was not his boy, somehow Penn had managed to steal the joy, the lust, the ferocity - it was all gone with him. Blue eyes were empty as Will would sit still for hours. Staring out the darkened window, unseeing eyes on the ridge behind which Penn had disappeared. Angelus wanted to rip him from his chair and shake him. Make the boy see him, see how much he loved him. Make him love him in return. Instead he would growl and stomp away - feeding ferociously, knowing something would have to break this chain of silence and anger.

And it did. He had woken up and known the house was empty. Quickly he strode to the boy's room, there were just a few things missing.but it was enough to tell him. The boy couldn't know where Penn was, so no doubt he had gone off to see if someone else did. Angelus grimly pulled on his coat, saddled a horse and road off towards the nearby town.

He was there. Face flushed from a recent kill. Looking for all the world like the earnest and pretty boy the humans surrounding him believed him to be. The dark demon glowered, watching the scene play out. Will was buying drinks, speaking earnestly. Surely one of them had seen his brother? Taller than him, broad shoulders, grey eyes. The story was they had fought, and his brother had run off, perhaps one of these good men knew where to? An evil laugh inside his own head. These stupid humans wouldn't know anything about Penn's plans; it proved the boy was desperate. Desperate to be gone from him.this could not be tolerated. With a cold smile on his face, he strode into the tavern. His Will looked at him with eyes of fiery defiance as the dark demon threw a wad of notes at the landlord, "Keep tha change." He growled out. "Yer comin' home boy.now!" The lad had looked at him in lazy insolence, "C'mon Da, jes having a drink with the boys." shock slipped across those chiseled features as his Sire's hand struck him. "I said, 'now' whelp.I won't tell ye again!" The humans had no desire to get involved in a family spat, and moved quickly out of the way as Will was dragged from the tavern.

"I won't go with ye, Angelus!" the boy spat out, "I belong with him!" Another crack across his face. "You belong to me!"

His body thrown across the horse as Angelus took his seat and rode the beast mercilessly back to the dark house. Still struggling, he was pulled through the doorway and dragged up the stairs. He fought against the larger man as he was pushed into the nearly empty room that had been Penn's. "There!" he was shoved onto the bed that had held so many heady memories. "Ye'll stay there until ya hear me.until ya remember." Rubbing his hand across his bruised jaw, he looked at his Sire with sullen eyes, silenced by the look of pain and anger etched on those features.

"That's right, boy - ye'll remember your place. Somethin' ya've seem to forgot of late." The demon towers over the trembling form, "I'm yer Sire. I brought ya into our world. An' I've taught ya well. Even yer precious Penn knew what ya were created for. Ya were created to be mine, an only mine. Ya were made to always stay wi' me William. Penn left to honour that promise; an ye should have enough self-respect ta do yer duty. Yer young, but yer not stupid. But mebbe what ya need is a reminder." Will looks fearfully into eyes that are almost completely yellow, but this is a different Sire than he's seen before.

"Off the bed, boy, and strip." Silently Will obeys, but his mind is reeling, 'not here', he pleads.'not in this room.this room is sanctuary.this is Penn.don't ruin this.' As if sensing his Childe's thoughts, the demon runs his hands over the naked back in front of him, "Aye lad.here.in this room. Ya always ran here to be safe from me. Ya'll never be away from me again Will. After tonight, ya will remember who you are.and ya'll never forget who I am." The shoulders in front of him stiffen.

"Fight all ya want lad, but know that I will always win.run and I will always find ye.scream til yer hoarse, for I'll be the only one ta hear ye.ye'll never forget that again." With a hungry howl, Angelus bends the boy over the bed, one hand fumbling at his own garments, freeing his hardened cock. Without ceremony he plunges into the dry tight hole, ignoring the screams of pain from the body beneath him. Both hands keep a bruising grip on the pale hips and he begins a punishing rhythm. Hard and sweet, he can smell the blood seeping from the tears inside his boy, easing his way, he pulls the body up sharply, angling his thrust, knowing his movement are bringing pleasure to his Childe as intense as the pain. The sobs shaking his Will are rapidly turning to gasps, and his body is beginning to move back against his Sire, accepting of everything being offered. He understands this.he was raised to this.

Rough hands draw him, up flush against his Sire's shirt. Cruel fingers grasp his hair, and pull his neck back in a painful arch and sharp fangs sink into his neck. He is owned. His is possessed. A tight fist wraps itself around his weeping shaft, demanding his release as surely as the cock impaling him over and over. He knows. The blood being drunk by his Sire knows. This is his place. Penn is gone. There is only this. As the blinding orgasm rips through his body, as Angelus pumps angry seed into his ravaged body, the thought is clear to him. William, Pup is no more.he must be something else now. He will become as angry, as powerful, as heartless as the demon possessing him could want. He sags against powerful arms, "Sire." He breathes.

Angelus pushes the body from him onto the bed. Submission. This is what he wanted, isn't it? The boy just lies there. "Ye'll stay here tonight, boy. Know he isn't comin' back, and yer not leavin'. Know ya belong to me, an ya always will." He tucks his flaccid member back into his trousers. His William still has not moved, but he can hear the words whispered into the pillow, "I know." With silent curses and trembling hands Angelus locks the door behind him.

Was it a day, or two days later? It doesn't matter. His Childe, standing before him, slim fingers wrapped around a blood and gore covered hunk of metal. His victim a mass of tortured flesh at his feet. The cold smile of a killer on the human mask looking into Angelus' eyes. The smile that doesn't seem to reach those blue orbs. "Sire.I think I'd like ta be known as 'Spike.'" The smile doesn't fade when his Sire nods and then turns away.

-------------------------------------------------------

With a groan, Angelus wakes in the now very uncomfortable chair. He rises on unsteady legs, trying to push the memories from his mind. The knowledge of what he had created burned into his aching mind. His hand reaches out to massage the kink from sore neck muscles as he moves toward the empty bed. The sight of the two bodies wrapped so tightly around each other than he can barely make out where one begins and the other ends temporarily freezes him in his tracks. With a world-weary sigh he turns away, stripping off his clothes and climbs into the cold bed. He turns his face to the wall, and tries to close his eyes against that image.

*****