Taking The Initiative by Savannah Sparks

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Taking The Initiative by Savannah Sparks

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Spike watched from a distance as a shadowy figure disappeared into the depths of the alleyway across from him, ‘vampire’, he could since it with every fiber of his being. It was nothing out of the ordinary, it was something he had come to expect as the norm over the past few weeks. Sunnydale was an unusual place, he had traveled the world, Europe, Asia, parts of Africa, and still he had never seen this many undead walking the streets at once. It both alarmed and delighted him to see so many of his distant kin. He drew in a lungful of nicotine before flicking the cigarette from his fingers carelessly into the street. He replaced the cigarette, and with a practiced hand flipped his zippo open and lit the second stick. His golden eyes shimmered vibrantly against the flame, before he shut them and inhaled deeply. He enjoyed nothing better after a meal then a few smokes. He looked down at the lifeless body a few feet away, that was the good thing about living on a hellmouth, people did not gather together with pitchforks, no matter how many dead bodies they found on the street. No whispers of serial killers, or demons, and if anyone thought it they were not brave enough to speak the word ‘vampire’.

He assumed someone had to know something, possibly the mayor, or the local police, because local deaths rarely made the news. He could only assume it was because one, people stopped caring and had grew weary from hearing about the mass murders night after night. His second guess was that the authorities had a good handle on keeping the citizens from becoming paranoid. Either way it worked for him, he had no need for ‘aware’ humans, that were keen to his true form. It only lead to superstitions, and myths, and the fewer people that had the know how to kill his kind the better. He did not intend to leave any time soon. He was having far too much fun living up the lifestyle that only a hellmouth could provide. All the tasty townies he could eat and no one hunting him and calling for his ashes. He took another hit of nicotine, and took a sidelong glance down the alley that the other vampire had disappeared into. It was then, when the screams started. He could only respond with a soft chuckle and applaud the other vampire for cornering his prey so well; humans always seemed to think they would be safe down dark alleys. Here in Sunnydale California, the town with the highest murder rate in America, the people were no more intelligent. It was almost impossible to hide from a vampire, and fear only made the person’s scent that much more potent, and once the heart rate increased, and the blood began to pump it was all over. Fear was a seductive and powerful thing, it made the blood even sweeter, and where was the fun in submissive prey. It was all about the hunt, and the anticipation, and the satisfactory feel of sinking your fangs into the victim’s flesh.

Too think, he never wanted to come here in the first place. He had fought Dru, his sire for decades about it she had pleaded with him, and told him the pixies were waiting for her there. However, being a vampire made the thought of moving to a state known for sunshine lack the obvious appeal. She was long gone now, she had disappeared in this town over a year ago, and he had nothing but time to seek revenge on the monster that took his love away from him. She had left him back in Prague twenty years ago after an argument. Last, he heard she was wreaking havoc with her ‘grandmother’ Darla, and they had dissolved an entire convent together. As of late, the stories had changed, and the trail of chaos had come to a screeching halt. Right before she disappeared, she sent him an envelope. He was not surprised she knew where he was, and that the mail was delivered right to his small temporary home in Italy, she had always said the pixies whispered to her, and told her everything about him, his thoughts, and his future. This was something that never bothered him until the moment he received the clearly addressed envelope. Inside was an oddly shaped ring, with emerald stones. He of course had no idea what he held in his hands at that time. She knew, of course she knew, she always did.

She was dead now, but in many ways he still loved her, she had given him this second life, and taught him how to live it, and really live for the first time. Now, he had vowed to avenge her death, no matter what the cost. In the end, he wanted the cost to be great; he could no longer see the point of living without his dark princess at his side. The world seemed a little bit brighter without her in it. Still to this day, he could remember with vivid clarity the last thing she said to him. “You taste like sunshine,” the words cut, and they cut deep. He would have forgiven her eventually even begged her to take him back and given her anything her dead heart desired. He never had the chance, he never saw her again. The rumors of her death only proved how devoted he was to her, and even now, he was searching for anyone who knew her, and the story of her end. Over the past few weeks, he had found nothing, not even her scent lingered. He refused to give up hope, no matter how lost that hope seemed to be.

Another scream from down the alley jarred him from his thoughts, but this time it was not the girl that was the screaming, it was the vampire. His self-preservation instincts urged him to flee, but his stubborn curiosity told him to find out what was going on. He flicked his cigarette aside, and strode to the corner of the alley, careful to conceal himself in the dark. Vampires had few enemies, they were on top of the food chain, and were reborn with the strength and instincts to fend for themselves. Slayers were their only natural enemies, apart from the occasional hunter, and a few demons looking for a good brawl. Mainly they only had to protect themselves from each other. Spike himself had on occasion killed a vampire here and there, be it over food or territory. Usually it was too keep other men’s eyes off his mate Drusilla. His curiosity got the better of him as he peeked around the corner, only to find the vampire seemingly lifeless face down on the damp concrete. The girl he had been feeding from was bleeding, and stood perfectly still aside from the shaking that was wracking her small frame. Spike did not have time to react, or take into account what had happened before a dark figure, with a black mask that shielded his face stepped in front of him. He barely had time to blink before he saw a blue light and felt a sharp pain in his chest. After that, there was nothingness.

~~..~~..~~..~~..~~..~~

When Spike woke, he had no idea how much time had passed, or exactly what had happened to him. He looked up for fear he had passed out back in that alley, and the sun has made its way to the top of the sky, he was more than relieved to see a blindingly bright fluorescent light beaming down upon him. So if he was not in the alley under the sun, then where exactly was he? He could not smell, or feel the sun, so he had no idea if the day had passed or if it was just later that evening. The only time when the waning scent of the sun was blocked from him was when he was deep underground in the tunnels he used to get around during the day. Worst-case scenario several days could have passed. He had no way of knowing for sure how much time had elapsed. He struggled with himself for several minutes to remain calm, if he panicked it would only make things worse, and right now he needed to focus. White walls, white lights, everything looked to white and clean, nothing looked familiar. He remembered the man in the black mask that had hit his chest with a blue light weapon of sorts, electrical he supposed, he could only assume that had a direct connection to his current condition. He considered screaming for help, but after a thought, the idea seemed silly. He was in a cage. Someone had put him there, and had no intention of letting him go free, not even if he asked nicely.

He was sitting up against a wall, and it took him a minute to get himself together enough to stand up, he felt dizzy and his feet felt numb. Perhaps they had drugged him. He staggered around for a bit, trying to keep his balance so he wouldn’t fall over and alert his captors that he was awake. He could see through the glass door. Pretty easy, break the glass, run like hell. It was a plan, a good plan. So much for being quiet. It was worth a go either way. He either got to safety, or he got to meet whatever was holding him here. He braced himself, and shook his left wrist out a bit before balling it up and giving it a good swing toward the glass door. Instantly the pain told him it was not glass. His fist collided with the clear material, and received a painful shock. He growled, and shrank away from the clear door. Someone had some serious funding, but funding for what?

“Hey! What the bleddin’ hell! Let me outta here!” He yelled, but after several long moments, and several loud obscenities no one seemed to answer. “Hey!” he pounded on the walls, and kicked the electoral door/fence thing once for good measure. He was trying as best as he knew how but he could not get anyone’s attention. He noticed the camera on the opposite wall, one was pointed directly at his cell, one next to it was pointed a few feet away from it, and then another one and another one. It was only then that he realized that he must not be the only captive held here.

He looked dead at the camera, and prayed that his captors were in fact human, because he had one good scare tactic. He changed into his game face, his fangs coming down over his teeth, and his eyes and forehead shifted into more demonic features. He gave his most fierce growl towards the camera, and waited, as he continued to give whoever was watching a horrific show.

“Hostile seventeen!” came a voice.

Spike instantly shut up and looked up and around to find the source of the voice. It came as a surprise that a young human was the one on the other side of the door, holding an impressive looking gun. He had light brown hair, muscular build, tall maybe he would look intimidating to other men, but not to William the bloody. What puzzled Spike the most was that the boy seemed unafraid, and lacked the surprise all humans had when seeing a vampire for the first time.

“What did you call me?”

“Your rank is hostile seventeen, you are being held in a secret facility.” The boy motioned up to the roof of Spike’s holding cell and a tiny hole in the ceiling opened up and a pack of blood dropped down. “You will be fed once a day, as long as you cooperate. No screaming, and there will be no damaging of your enclosure, do you comply?”

“So what, I’m just supposed to set here and be a good little lab rat?”

“That’s the idea.” He said with and heir of smugness, as he pointedly positioned his gun against his shoulder.

Spike cocked an eyebrow, and rolled his eyes, whatever, the boy could play big tough cardboard solider if he liked. It did little to impress Spike. He supposed some private organization could come up with the means to build and hire solider wannabes to study the paranormal creatures that roamed the earth, but a government lab seemed more likely. Something was definitely wrong with this picture, and he knew the walls looked just a little too clean, that was never a good sign. It mattered little to Spike what was going on in the creepy little location, as long as he got to go free, and soon.

“So tell me, what have you kiddies done to yours truly?” he asked, after a minute.

The boy looked a bit startled at Spike’s calmness as he paced back and forth in his tiny cell.

“Gave you an electric shock, and classified meds to sedate you. Every time the doctor tries to pierce your skin it grows back, much faster than it should, even for a vampire. Now tell me why that is?” The boy asked, his eyes slanted.

A thought suddenly struck Spike; they were keeping him alive because they could not figure out a way to kill him. A wide grin came across the vampires face. He had the upper hand, and as long as they did not figure out the source of his power, he was safe. At least he hoped. He made a conscious effort not to look down at his hand. He swaggered closer to the boundary of his cage, and studied the boy.

“What do you want with me mate?”

The boy stiffened, his body went stale. Spike thought he was about to salute, or twirl his gun about, it was so official looking Spike could not help but laugh.

“Let me guess its confidential?”

The boy nodded. Spike chose to think on that, of course the boy wouldn’t be so forthcoming with information.

“You’re the one that put me here aren’t you?”

“Yes,” was all the boy said, with an overly confident look on his face.

Spike picked up the bag of blood, tore it with his teeth, and tasted the cold, undesirable blood with his tongue. Then his world went black.

~~..~~..~~..~~..~~..~~

When Spike’s eyes flickered open once again, he felt the rage flow over him, not once but twice. Whoever these people were, they would suffer the wrath of William the Bloody in full force. He went to raise his head, but felt his body being pulled back down by restraints. His arms and feet were bound. His coat and shirt had been removed, as well as his pants. He tugged on his right arm as hard as he could but he could not break the restraint. He flexed his arm a bit and felt around with his fingers. Damn, they had removed his ring. He pulled harder, and when he heard footsteps just behind his head he stopped.

“Hold him Finn, I need him still.” Spike looked up to find that this Finn, was the boy he had spoken to earlier.

Great, more of solider boy. It did not help the boy’s case that he dared to follow that command, and actually put his hands on the vampire. Spike quickly took advantage of the boys’ proximity and inhaled his scent to memorize later. He heard the woman that had spoke moving around behind him, and whatever she was doing did not sound good, the tinkering of sharp objects echoed within the tiny space. Again, it was white and crisp and extremely too clean, hospital clean. He felt the piercing of his scalp, and lunged away, but with the restraints and the well-fed farm boy, he was trapped. He felt the knife cut deeper and deeper into his skull, before he finally had enough and went into game face. With the hit of strength that came with allowing the demon to take over he pulled free from the boy, and heard the satisfying noise of threads being ripped to shreds, as he tore free from his restraints. He used his feet to kick up and off the table. Once on the ground he turned to look at the boy and the woman, oh there would be hell to pay. He growled once to instill fear, as he searched for his clothes. The boy lunged forward with his little toy taser, before it was too late Spike roundhouse kicked him and sent him flying back into a glass case filled with who knew what. He heard glass break, and liquids splatter, and the woman looked appalled.

Ever the opportunist he took advantage of the situation and grabbed his coat and boots, and slid them both on. His pants had been torn off him and his shirt was jagged where they had cut it off with scissors, and his ring and wallet were nowhere to be found. He could always come back later to retrieve the ring, but he could not if they dusted him first. He huffed in frustration before kicking down the door, and charging out. He looked left, and right. Of course, more white and chrome, everything looked the same. This was one fine mess he had gotten himself into. Curiosity did kill the cat, or possibly the vampire in this case. He heard a ding, and looked left, an elevator, that looked promising. He pushed the man in the white lab coat aside, then darted inside and began frantically pushing the ‘close door’ button. He heard the boy and the woman screaming something about hostile seventeen, but it was too late the doors had sealed shut. Up or down, up or down? He took a risk, all the way to the top. He could not smell or feel the sun and this was something he had noticed earlier. ‘Up’. He pushed it and crossed his fingers, as he rode the lift to the top floor.

The door chimed open, and he did not think twice before leaping out the door and breaking into a run, there was not anyone around, and he had no idea where he was, but he did not stop. He took little notice of his surroundings before dashing out the door. A frat boy house, the beer cans, pizza boxes and video game controllers were all the evidence he needed. Any one he did see was passed out, or too drunk to notice him. It was almost dawn, the party was over and he needed to get to safety.

Chapter End Notes:

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