A light flashed and he found himself standing in a room, if you could call it a room, it seemingly went on forever, walls discernable in the distance, close and yet at the same time miles away. White opaque floor that ebbed and flowed like the tide, yet was solid beneath his feet. White opaque ceiling swirled with gusts of unfelt breezes, clouds alternately gathering and dispersing.

Turning in a circle he sought out his companions, they had been there at his side as the last dragon fell in a darkened alley in the city of Los Angeles. Where was his Grandsire? Or, Charlie—the brave human who had fought on even as his life was pumping from his body? Where was the strange blue Goddess who had inhabited the body of a gentle Texan girl? Reaching out with every one of his preternatural senses he searched to the farthest extent of his abilities. They were not here— wherever here was.

“You are everywhere, and nowhere.” A voice spoke from all around him.

“Right then, bloody hallucinating that’s what it is!” he thought to himself.

“This is a representation, a form your mind can comprehend, the vastness of its reality would be more than even such as you could endure.” Again the voice spoke from all around.

“Alright then, what the hell am I doin’ here? And where are Charlie boy, Peaches and the Smurf? An' while we’re at it who the bleedin’ hell are you?”

A ripple of amusement sounded, echoing quietly for some time as Spike spun in slow predatory circles, watchful at all times for any danger that may approach.

“We are what you refer to as the ‘Power’s that be’”

“Yeah, would that be the royal ‘we’?” He snarked.

Again the ripple of amusement. “We are many, and we are one.”

What bloody fun was it when they didn’t even get pissed off!? “Alright then, how ‘bout a simple one.  What am I doin' here?”

“You are here for your remuneration. You have served us well and your loyalty must be rewarded. You have travelled quite a journey, one that no creature such as yourself has ever willingly undertaken before. As such your reward shall be inimitable.”

“Well thanks anyway, mate, but I have heard a thing or two about what you blokes consider to be a reward and if it’s all the same to you, I’ll pass. Already done the blinding headaches, not lookin’ to repeat the act.  And as for becomin’ a higher being?  Not really on my to-do list, either. So if you could just send me back where I belong we’ll call it even, okay?”

“Your reward is not for you to accept or deny—it simply is.”

“Oh that’s great, innit? Abloke doesn’t even get a say in if he wants a bloody reward or not! What kinda reward is that?”

“Enough!”

Spike smirked to himself, well how bout that?  He could try the patience of even the most patient, always knew he had it in him.

“You are, as we have stated previously, rather unique. As such your reward shall be equally unique. Your body will be made that of a living man. You shall walk in the sun, eat, drink, breathe as a man, your heart shall beat and you shall know the passage of time, though the last shall pass for you much slower than that of a normal man. Your strength and skills shall remain that of the creature you have been for the century past, only greater again than you have known before. Not man nor beast but, as to some regard you have been for some years now, both. Extraordinary—as is fitting one as exceptional as yourself. Your service to our cause is ended, you may take your reward and live out your life, however it is that you see fit.”

The room around him began to shimmer, light amplified to a blinding level. Then, as suddenly as it had begun to build, the room returned to normal and the voice once more surrounded him.

“One last thing, the geas laid upon you is dissolved. It has served its purpose in guiding you on your journey. Your heart is now your own to give to whom you will, no longer is it fettered to the slayer.” With that the blinding light returned and Spike found himself standing once again in an alley strewn with fallen enemies and one fallen comrade. Angel stood over the body of Charles Gunn, Illyria stood to one side watching on with a vague detachment. Spike shook his head, he must have hit it during the battle.  He stumbled half-blinded to his Grandsire’s side. “Did we win?”

Angel sighed, “Yeah. Yeah we did, if you can call this winning! You should both get out of here, I’m going to take his body to the mission, then I’m leaving.”

He hoisted his friends body into his arms and walked off, after a few paces he stopped and turned, “You did good, Spike. I …. I’m glad to have had you on my side.” With that he left not once looking back at his astonished Grandchilde.

“So what you gonna do?” Spike addressed the strange blue woman at his side.

“I am uncertain. Wesley is no more and this causes me discomfort. I do not understand this?”

“Yeah, it’s called grief, love. Somewhat of a human quality!” he smirked.

Illyria turned to the vampire, “You are insolent.” Fixing him with a concentrated stare her head tilted to one side in a manner very similar to the vampires own habitual gesture. “You are different, more human than you were previously, I do not understand how such a thing could occur!” With a final regard she turned away from the vampire “It matters not. I have decided! It appears a way no longer exists for me to leave this world, I find it tiresome and wish to return to the well. When next I wake this plague of humanity may no longer inhabit this world.” With that she strode off.

Spike looked around him at the twisted bodies littering the alley, mangled remains of warped creatures. Sighing he walked away, not knowing where else to go he headed home. At least there he could get some blood, rest, and decide later where he was headed next. One thing he did know—he would not be staying in L.A.