Age of Descent By Kuzibah

Disclaimer: Spike and the other characters and situations relating to �Buffy the Vampire Slayer� are the property of other people, including, but not necessarily limited to, Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, The WB, and Evil Fox. In other words, not me. Catch me if you can. Michelle is hers. Believe me, I don�t want to be on her bad side. Author�s Note: Happy, happy, happy birthday to the wonderful and fabulous Michelle! AKA Angel X, Board Momma, Jackson�s Girl, She Who Must Be Obeyed, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I could go on and on about how sensational this girl is, but I won�t be telling you anything you don�t already know, so let me just humbly offer this amusement, this diversion, and say I hope she enjoys it. And if she gets tingly girly feelings towards the end my job here is done. I hope the rest of you enjoy it, too. Archive- Sure, but email me and let me know where it�s going. Feedback- Absolutely. ******************* Spike stalked restlessly around his crypt, one eye on the window, where the daylight was waning. "Come on, sundown," he muttered under his non-breath. In the background, his telly chattered as talking heads recited the news. He wasn't sure why he was unusually restless tonight, but he was. His own skin felt uncomfortable, and though he knew he couldn't kill or feed, he felt compelled to stalk someone, anyone, and at least go through the ritual of the hunt. He just needed to get out. "And that's the news," a perky blonde on channel 7 was saying, "for Monday, October 9th. See you tomorrow!" Oh yeah. That was why. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ It was October 9th. One hundred and twenty-seven years ago this night he had awoken on the cold hearthstones of Angelus's house, right where he'd died. He had arisen, reborn, a new being. To a vampire, the date of one's re-awakening from death became a new birthday, the mortal life wiped from the slate. At one time, up until very recently, in fact, it had been a big deal for Spike, a day of celebration. He wondered if anyone even remembered now besides him. Well, Angel probably did, Spike thought with disgust. Angel and his selective memory had probably climbed into the hair shirt first thing this morning, crying over the poor, innocent boy they had set on the path to Hell. Moron. Didn't he understand that even after everything, becoming a vampire was still the best thing that'd ever happened to Spike? ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~  "Happy Birthday!" Dru sang, coming into William's room as the sun was going down. The young vampire, still a mere fledgling by the standards of vampiric society, rubbed his eyes as he struggled into wakefulness. "Birthday?" he repeated. Dru bounded up onto William's bed, laughing. "Birthday, little brother," she said, her voice as breathy as that of a child. "You're one year old today." "Ah," William said, understanding dawning at last. The vampiress crept closer to her companion, walking her fingers up his lean, muscular chest. "We have a special surprise for you, sweet William," she whispered. William captured Drusilla's small hands in his own, pulling her closer, and gave his deep, throaty laugh, making her giggle. "Is that so?" he said. "Yes, it's so," came Angelus's voice from the doorway. William glared over Drusilla's shoulder at the older vampire, but he dared not comment. "Get up. Get dressed," Angelus said, his tone not unkind, but clear he would brook no argument. "This is an important day for you, Will. Make yourself ready." "Hurry," Drusilla whispered, then sprang up to join Angelus, who had already started down the hall. William rose and put on the charcoal-gray velvet suit Angelus had had made for him not a fortnight ago. The older vampire had told William it was for a special occasion, but had not elaborated. Clearly the time had come. Impatiently, William brushed his longish russet-colored hair away from his face, pulled on his boots and joined Angelus and Drusilla in the parlour to wait for their cab. �Oh, you look so very handsome,� Drusilla cooed as she saw him, and Angelus gave a curt nod of approval. �Where are we going?� William asked. �Darla has taken a house in the countryside,� Angelus told him, and the younger vampire rolled his eyes. He had, in fact, not seen the female he now knew to be his grand-sire since the night before he was turned, but he knew Drusilla disliked her, so he had sworn to dislike her as well. �Why do we have to see that old tart?� William complained. �Don�t be insolent, boy,� Angelus warned him, �Or I�ll make you wish you�d been strangled as a whelp.� William�s blue eyes narrowed defiantly, but he pressed his lips together. �It�s actually rather rare for a fledgling to reach one year,� Angelus said. �In many ways we�re quite fragile. But you have, and it�s time to meet your family.� �Family..?� �My sire and her clan,� Angelus explained. �My brothers and sisters, their childer and mine.� �Sounds like a regular gala,� William said sarcastically. Angelus gave a low, warning growl to his childe. �You�ll keep a civil tongue, boy,� he said, �or you won�t see two.� William ground his teeth together, knowing Angelus would easily make good on his threats. Luckily, at that moment, the hansom cab arrived at the curb. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Spike stalked through the darkening street, his misery at the memories of Dru transforming into black anger and frustration at his inability to relieve it with a few really brutal kills. He found himself in a street that had become an unofficial hangout for the denizens of the Hellmouth. Willie�s bar was here, along with a handful of shops specializing in clothing and other personal accoutrements favored by vampires. There was also a hardware store Spike knew dealt privately in medieval weapons and a health-food store that did a gray-market business trafficking in human blood. He stopped outside a leather-clothing shop called �The City of Dis� and looked longingly at the display � a male mannequin dressed in a long leather coat and a female sporting a leather corset over white shredded silk. Spike�s mood tilted back into depression. He glanced into the shop and noticed the owner exit from his office, pick up several binders from beneath the counter and enter again. The shop was otherwise empty. Spike gave a wicked smile to himself. Time to pick up a few birthday prezzies, he thought, and slipped silently in the front door. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ The path to the manor home was lit with torches and the sound of music and laughter reached all the way to the lane. Angelus had made the cab drop them at the gate so they could walk up the gravel path, all the better to affect a dramatic entrance. It worked well, William had to admit. Angelus had thrown open the front doors and been instantly met with shouts of greeting. The older vampire had eaten it up with a spoon. As the others pressed around him, Angelus reached back and took William by the shoulder. �Here he is,� Angelus announced. �My youngest childe, William.� There was note of pride in his voice when he spoke the younger vampire�s name that William had never heard before, and he felt his own heart swell. A blond male who looked even younger than William, though he knew this meant nothing, took his hand and slapped him on the back. �So you�re the new little brother,� he said. �I imagine Angelus is leaning on you pretty hard. I remember my fledgling days�� Angelus gave one of his knowing smirks. �This is Penn,� he said, the same warm pride in his voice. �My very first childe.� William gave a start of surprise. So Angelus had at least one childe that had struck out on his own. Maybe more than one. This was encouraging news. Other vampires surrounded them now, and though Angelus introduced them all, William could not have been less interested in learning their names. At last Angelus led him to the main gallery. At one end was a group of mortal musicians, blindfolds bound around all their eyes. William knew from other parties the odds were good they would end up as both entertainment and banquet. Then he saw her, bright and shining in the group of vampires that surrounded her. Unlike them, she had eschewed black in favor of a silvery-blue gown and her honey-colored hair gleamed in the bright gaslight. When she saw Angelus she smiled, a hungry, seductive smile. Darla, sire of his sire. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Spike kept one eye on the slightly ajar office door as he poked through the jewelry selection, slipping ones he liked into his pockets. There was sort of �gentlemen�s agreement� among the Hellmouth residents that the proprietors of these shops would not be robbed or attacked, allowing them to stay in business, but as Spike reminded himself, he had never been much of a gentlemen. He moved onto the leather coats, wondering if he should chance lifting one. Even if the shop owner didn�t catch him, there was still a chance one of the other vamps in the area might not care for him messing up a good thing. On the other hand, it was almost exactly like the one he had on. Maybe he could make an exchange� Just then the office door opened and Spike heard raised voices. �I�m already two days over schedule,� said a harried female voice. �Without content, there�s only so much�� �Hey, I�m paying you the extra hours, ain�t I?� It was the owner, who now was exiting into the shop. �That�s not the point,� the woman was saying. �I�ve already had to reschedule my flight. I have my own business to run.� She followed the owner into the shop now, and Spike found himself ducking behind a clothes rack to watch her unobserved. Bloody hell, he thought, she can�t be any older than eighteen. �Your business,� the owner said irritably, �is designing websites. Specifically my website. It�s not my fault my buyer�s car broke down in San Francisco. Look. He�ll be here tomorrow, you can get the brand specifics, and we�ll both get back to work. I�ll see you tomorrow, Michelle.� And he returned to the office and shut the door. The girl slammed her laptop down on the counter just a little harder than was probably good for it. �Great,� she said aloud. �Some birthday this is turning out to be.� Behind the t-shirt display, Spike sucked in an unneeded breath. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ �Yes,� Darla said silkily. �I remember you. Impulsive. Emotional. I probably would have just eaten you, but Angelus always was discerning.� William glared at her, trying to decide if he�d been insulted. �Has he been to the continent?� she asked suddenly. �No,� Angelus answered. �I rather like our home in London, and plan to stay at least until Spring.� Darla stroked a long finger along the edge of William�s cheekbone. A low growl had begun in his throat when he felt Angelus�s hand in the small of his back. His sire�s meaning was clear, and William choked back the growl. �Such a beautiful youngling,� Darla said. �I must bring him when I go to the Master�s court in Paris, in two days time. He can be my serving boy.� Behind him, William heard Drusilla begin to make the strange whine she did whenever she was frightened, and the growl rose in his throat again. But Angelus could not refuse his sire. He�d be taken away from Dru. �No,� Angelus said, his casual tone belied by the iron in his gaze. �I don�t think so. No, much too young for Paris.� William was stunned into silence, and even Dru had stilled her cries. Can Angelus do that? he thought. �Perhaps you misunderstand,� Darla said, her voice taking on a warning tone. �I�m taking your fledgling with me.� �We are honored,� Angelus said smoothly. �But it�s simply not possible.� They had the full attention of the entire room now, and Darla, in her anger, drew her fingernails down William�s cheek. �Don�t overstep your bounds, Angelus�� she began, but Angelus closed the gap between them and plucked her hand from his childe�s face. He kissed her perfectly manicured fingertips. �I simply can�t let you take my charming boy,� he said, his voice mildly cajoling. �What if he were to take my place in your heart?� Angelus made a soft tsk with his tongue, and kissed his sire�s hand again. �I can�t risk such a thing. How would I ever be consoled?� Darla gave him a knowing smile, indulging his flattery. �Perhaps you should both come to Paris,� she said. �Perhaps,� Angelus said. �A family holiday, even.� ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Spike approached the girl cautiously. In light of his condition, he avoided humans whenever he could, but this coincidence was too much to ignore. The girl looked up, startled, as she noticed his approach, and the blond vampire turned on his considerable charm. �Did I hear you say it was your birthday?� he said. The girl looked embarrassed. �Yeah,� she said. �I don�t mean to complain, but I was supposed to be done here two days ago. My parents had to cancel my cake. My boyfriend�� She stopped and smiled sheepishly. �Sorry,� she said. �There I go again.� �It�s okay,� Spike said. �I can sympathize.� He lowered his voice conspiratorially. �You see, I�m having a pretty crappy birthday myself.� The girl�s expression grew instantly wary, and Spike found himself genuinely amused. �That�s not a pick-up line, I swear,� he said. �But seeing as how I�m alone and you�re alone�� Damn, he thought suddenly, what the hell am I doing? The girl lowered her eyes. �Maybe some coffee,� she said. �Before I go back to my hotel. Just�� �Just coffee,� Spike said quickly. �Maybe a small bit of cake.� The girl looked up and gave a small smile. �Okay,� she said. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Angelus tilted William�s face to the torch-light on Darla�s back terrace. �That bitch,� he snarled, his voice murderously low. �It�s all about control with her.� William immediately thought that it was all about control with Angelus, too, but he uncharacteristically held his tongue. Angelus probed the already-healing scratch marks, and made a soft growl in the back of his throat. �I think you�re okay,� he said at last. �Yes,� William agreed. �Come with me,� Angelus said, moving away from the house across the lawn. William glanced back so he added, �Drusilla will be fine. Come. I have a present for you.� The two vampires began running through the fields, covering a good deal of distance with their supernatural speed. They were a few miles away when they approached a small farmhouse. Angelus beckoned to his childe. They knocked and the door was answered by a pale, slim girl in a cap and nightgown. �Mister Angelus,� she said, sounding pleased and surprised. �I wasn�t expecting you.� �My friend and I were traveling along Pinner Road,� Angelus said, �and I think William�s horse threw a shoe. Stupid beast refuses to move and I can�t see a thing in the dark. Could we please just stay till daylight?� The girl stepped back. �Of course, sir. You and Mr. William are most welcome in our home.� �I met Martha and Emily in London about two months ago,� Angelus explained as the girl and her sister brought hot tea and seed cakes to the two vampires. �They�ve been making a go at this farm on their own since their father passed. So brave for young women to be doing business on their own.� �You�ve been so helpful to us, sir,� Emily said. �We owe you a great debt.� Angelus looked at William, his mouth twitching into the familiar smirk. �And now it�s time to call it in,� he said. The sisters stared at him, confused. �I don�t understand�� Martha began, but Angelus turned on her, his face contorting into its demonic form. �Be quiet, you stupid girl,� he snapped, then said more gently to William, �I knew they�d be perfect for your birthday. Honest, hard-working, lovely, gracious, courageous, and chaste. All the virtues combined. Perfect goodness ripe for the plucking as your perfect wickedness comes of age.� William could hear the girls� heartbeats quicken, could smell their cold fear. And he fell upon them, like a fierce beast. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Spike watched the girl across from him drink her coffee. His fangs ached with the wanting of her, and in warning the chip in his brain gave a dull, answering throb. In his long life Spike had been hurt over and over, by bullets and blades and truncheons. He�d been beaten and left for dead, been burned more times than he could count, been tortured and starved. But the soldier-scientists had finally taken his identity away. He was a vampire and yet not, having been stripped of the essential mark of his kind, what he had once described as his raison d��tre. But as much as he missed the hunt and, more importantly, the kill, he had come to realize the worst part of his new existence was the loneliness. Spike had always needed activity around him, distraction for his busy mind. Now his own kind despised him. Even Dru, his black princess, would loathe him now. Or worse, pity him. Now he was reduced to seeking the company of human strangers just so he�d have someone to talk to for a little while. �I should be going,� the girl said at last. �I�ll walk you to your car,� Spike said, then added with an irony only he could appreciate, �the streets aren�t safe.� At her car the girl gave him a shy smile. �It was nice,� she said. �At least we weren�t alone on our birthdays.� Impulsively, hoping to prolong the moment, Spike took her small hand in his. �Thank you,� he said, then touched her cheek. �Your hands,� she said. �They�re cold.� �But yours aren�t,� he told her, his fingertips on her chin now, tipping her face up to his. Her eyes were wide, but she didn�t avert her gaze. �I can�t,� she said, her voice a whisper now. �I don�t even know your name.� �It�s William,� he told her, and their lips met in a tender, gentle kiss. He stepped away from her; she was trembling now. She opened her mouth as if she were about to speak, but Spike began first. �Get inside,� he said. �There are things in the dark.� He glanced up the empty-looking street, wondering at the accuracy of his own words. �Good luck,� he added. �And happy birthday.� The girl touched her lips, still cold from his kiss. �You too,� she said, but he had already faded into the night. Main Menu   ~   Return to Stand Alone Menu

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