Bloodlines Book 2 - A Rebirth

Author: P'al Kwai

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~Prologue~

England, 1857

Hiding him away in a corner of an attic the fledging vampire was weak with hunger. Disoriented, he had lost track of time. He wasn't even sure how long he had been up in the attic. Hearing voices, he curled himself into a ball, making himself smaller.

"He's up here somewhere. I'm sure of it. With our Sire gone now, we can have some fun with him."

"Our Sire tried to kill him. We wouldn't have to even have waited until Angelus left. He doesn't want this Childe. We could have had fun with him before. "

"Better to be prudent. Our Sire is too unpredictable. It's safer now that he's gone."

"Yeah." The effeminate vampire, named Lucien snickered. "The Great Angelus. Pussy whipped by his maternal Sire. Who would believe it? But she crooks her finger, and he comes running. What hold does she have over..."?

Penn, the more dominant of the two vampires elbowed his companion, signaling him to silence. He had caught a whiff of his quarry. Pointing to the far corner of the attic, he communicated to his partner.

Stalking their prey, they brought him down with ease. The young vampire named William had been beaten severely a few days earlier by his Sire, and with no food since then, he presented no challenge to the older and stronger vampires.

Laying flat on his back on the floor, he found himself with the stronger of his two attackers sitting on his chest, punching him in the face. The other attacker, Lucien held his legs down by kneeling on his shins.

"Strip him." Penn ordered. "You can fuck him in the ass. I'm going to knock all his teeth out, and try out his mouth."

Giggling insanely the whole time, Lucien shredded William's pants. "I've got to taste this boy's blood. He's of the Bloodline. Probably has real tasty blood."

Legs being roughly spread apart, William felt pain as Lucien sank his fangs in his inner thigh, while Penn kept hitting him in the mouth. He tried to move his arms which were pinned to his sides by Penn's legs, tried to move his legs to kick off the Lucien, but he was too weak.

Tears wet his eyes and face. Tears of pain, rage and humiliation.

"Penn! Lucien! Stop what you're doing now!" A tall, dark figure came quietly and swiftly in the room.

Looking up, Penn stopped, but only for a moment. "He's of no consequence, Djoser. Our Sire already tried to kill him. If you want to have him first..." Penn gave Djoser his due as the recognized Blood-Childe of their Master.

Knocking Penn to the floor with a blow to the head, the Blood-Childe of Angelus growled at the other vampire. "It's not your place to decide what becomes of this Childe...Lucien! Stop what you're doing now, or I'll have you strung up and whipped."

Scrambling up to his feet, Lucien, a coward at heart quickly went to stand by Penn, the leader of the two.

Narrowing his eyes at Djoser, Penn defiantly did not move. "You're not the Master here Djoser. We're not duty-bound to obey..." His words were cut-off as he was grabbed around the throat and lifted in the air.

"When our Sire is gone, I'M THE MASTER HERE! A fact you better not forget again."

Although he was never one to take a risk, Lucien still jumped in to aid his companion. Djoser was strong, but they had him out numbered two to one. Leaping on the taller man's back, he tried to get a forearm under the chin.

Djoser swung around, trying to throw off Lucien, while attempting to keep his hold on Penn. Locked together, the three vampires looked like they were doing some kind of grotesque dance. After moments of struggling, Djoser finally lost his balance, falling to the floor bringing the other two with him.

Released, Penn stood up, eyeing Djoser who still lay on the floor with Lucien's arms wrapped around his neck. A smile on his face, Penn sensed an advantage. Growling, he moved to attack, but was caught from behind and thrown against the wall. Ramose!

Elbowing Lucien in the stomach, Djoser got the other vampire to release the hold on his neck. Swiftly he flipped himself over on Lucien, straddling him, hand around his throat. "You're going to die for this, Lucien. Attacking me. Attacking your Master's Blood-Childe. The penalty for that is death by torture."

"He never attacked you. We were just defending ourselves. That's the story we're going to tell our Sire." Eyeing Ramose warily who was still standing in an attack stance, Penn rubbed his neck where Djoser's fingerprints were clearly visible.

Growling in anger, Djoser stood up with Lucien by the throat. "The story he'll hear from me will be quite different."

"So." Penn couldn't help but smirk at Djoser in victory. "Angelus is with Darla. Probably won't be back for months. By the time he does come home, he'll have too many other matters to settle, to try and sort out an incident that happened months ago. He won't care. When he's with Darla, he doesn't care about anything."

Now hissing in anger and frustration, Djoser half threw Lucien over to Penn. He knew that Penn was right. "Perhaps I should just kill both of you now. Then when our Sire comes home months from now, it'll just be another trivial incident to him."

Not liking the look in Djoser's eyes, both Penn and Lucien began backing toward the door. "Not even you would risk such a thing. We were both sired by your Father. He would be most displeased if you murdered two of his turned Childer."

"Who said anything about murder. I'll just tell him it was self-defense." Snarling at the two vampires who decided that flight was now in order, Djoser started to launch himself at them again, but was held up by Ramose.

"Leave them. They've retreated now. What more can you do to them?"

"How dare they treat me so! I am my Father's heir. I am second-in-command in this..."

"You are your Father's Blood-Childe. But our Sire is rarely here, and with him gone so much, everyone in the household goes wild. Especially Penn and Lucien. But Penn is right, you know. Angelus cares more about Darla, and keeping favor with the High Master and the Clan than he cares about us."

Pulling himself away from Ramose's restraining hand, Djoser muttered curses, while turning to William who was now sitting up on the floor, listening intently to the conversation with bewilderment. "Get up! Put your pants back on." He threw the shredded pants at the young vampire.

Looking at the fledging with curiosity, Ramose was puzzled. "Why do you defend him? Angelus has found him to be defective. He'll probably be put to death..."

"He's a Blood-Childe. Only his Father or the Master of the Clan can put him to death. If they decide to kill him, then so be it. But in the meantime, he's my brother, and I won't have Penn and Lucien using him as their whore. Go down and have a minion bring up a live human...no I forgot. This Childe won't eat from a live human. Have a female drain some blood from one in a bowl, and have her bring it up to my room. William will stay there until my Sire comes home. Penn and Lucien wouldn't be so bold, as to intrude on my private quarters." Grabbing a shaky William by the arm to steady him, Djoser began to make his way out of the attic.

"I'll guard your door, because I'm sure Penn will try some kind of retribution. He's a mean one, but still a favorite of your Father." Ramose followed behind his friend and companion.

"Darla deliberately tries to find excuses to keep our Sire by her side. She's possessive and envious, and the longer she keeps him away from us, the more out-of-control this household becomes." Djoser was saddened. He was Angelus' first Blood-Childe, and a favorite of the High Master, Heinrich Nest, but it still seemed that he came in second with his Sire when it came to Darla.

"She's never done anything to you, has she?" Ramose was curious.

"There are some things that even Darla has to be careful about. I am the highest ranking Blood-Childe of my generation. She doesn't dare try anything against me...but that doesn't mean she hasn't thought about it." Looking down at the slight vampire he held by the arm, Djoser sighed. "And this Childe. He may be flawed, but he is physically beautiful. If he is allowed to live, I hate to think of what kind of jealous rage Darla will have over him."

~Part: 1~

South America, 2000

The body above him was broad, hard and well-known. The rhythm was familiar. Arms above his head, pinned down by a strong hand. Squeezing his sphincter muscles Spike made himself tighter, and was rewarded by hearing a deep groan.

Looking up, he enjoyed watching that striking face with its expression of complete abandonment. The pace quickened, causing him to close his eyes, as his own cock, being rubbed by the friction of his Sire's stomach, began to throb. He was close. So close...

Consciousness invaded his mind, as he felt his body ejaculate. "Bloody hell!" Alone in bed, Spike lay a moment, a wet spot on his stomach. It had been five months since he left Sunnydale and Angel. But every night, he had dreams of Him. Craving Him. Tasting Him.

Rolling out of bed, he was pleased to see that dusk had fallen. Every night he woke with that same old feeling of anticipation. Maybe tonight was the night there would be good news. Nightly, for the last five months hanging around the demon hang-outs, listening to the gossip, listening to the talk about Elder Snow, hoping to hear that there was trouble between Snow and the Council.

He knew he was being foolish. It probably would be years yet before Snow and his human allies began to turn on each other. But he couldn't help it. The need to go and check it out every night was overpowering.

Alex didn't like him to be out so much. According to her, it was too dangerous, too risky. So far Elder Snow's sphere of control had not reached as far as South America, but even so, his philosophies and theories were the talk of the vampire community. His ideas were sparking discontent and rebellion among many vampires in the southern hemisphere. Tired of being second-class to the Bloodline vampires, numerous were beginning to embrace his beliefs.

And Spike, with his Blood-Childe 'mark' became a walking, talking target. The mark of a Blood-Childe used to command respect and honor, but now in these times, the mark only attracted insults and abuse. So instead of being revered for his mark, he was only despised. A fact which verified in Spike's mind that he most certainly was cursed.

Showering and dressing quickly, he made his way downstairs, bracing himself for another argument with Alex. "Don't know what she's always so bloody worried about. She should just come with me."

The vampiress, shortly after arriving and setting up their household, started becoming withdrawn and despondent. She rarely went out, which was certainly a puzzlement to Spike. He would have thought that Alex would have been jumping for joy now that her husband was dead. She was a free woman, not bound to her husband nor his Clan anymore.

Racing down the stairs, jumping down the last few stairs, he found himself in an empty room. {Ok. Where is the bint?} A part of him whispered that something was wrong. She was always there to greet him at sunset. Give him a lecture about not going out. Ignoring his inner voice, he quickly ducked out, happy for the opportunity to escape without having to listen to the usual, boring speech.

Making the usual rounds, an odd sense of premonition kept washing over him, although the night began like every other one. A couple of shots of blood washed down by some beer. Verbal taunts with a couple of vampires who didn't like his 'mark', which inevitably led to fisticuffs, which always led to him being thrown out of the cantina. Undaunted he would just go on to the next one where a similar scenario would occur, and he would again get tossed out.

An hour before dawn, the last stop was made. Nothing new on the demon rumor mill. As always, the lack of good news made him feel depressed and desperate. "Be patient." Alex had told him. But patience was never his strong suit. He wanted to GO HOME.

Ordering a beer and a shot of tequilla, he threw a bill in front of the bartender. "And keep 'em coming mate." {Maybe, if I get really 'shitfaced', I won't have anymore fuckin' dreams with Him in it.}

"Well, well, well." A figure approached him. "A Blood-Childe. You know, we don't like *your* kind in here."

Heaving a sigh, before turning to face the other vampire, Spike's only regret was that his drinking was going to be cut short. "Listen mate. I just went a few rounds with a couple of tossers down the street. Neither one of them is walking too good now. So if you want to start something..."

"Yeah. I want to start something. I want to start something with you...William. Blood-Childe of Angelus." The man said with a smirk. "But why don't we go outside first?"

Looking over the vampire carefully, Spike didn't recognize him. {He knows who I am?} "Fine with me *mate*. That way, after I break both of your legs, I can come back in here and finish my drinking."

Gesturing toward the door, the man was amused. "After you."

They were hardly out the door, when the stranger grabbed Spike by the lapels of his duster, shoving him up against the wall. "You need to go home to your daddy, boy. You've made too much of a spectacle of yourself here. Word has gotten around and people are starting to wonder about you."

"Just who the fuck are you?" Trying to break the grip on him, Spike was surprised to feel the man's strength. Raising his arms, moving to push the stranger away, he saw it. The mark of a Blood-Childe. This vampire carried it also. But his was partially concealed and could only be seen up close, as the man had had his neck tattooed with large black tentacles.

"We never formally met. But I *remember* you Childe. Now. Are you going to do what I say? Or do I have to use some physical force to persuade you?"

"Well if you remember me, then you should remember that I *never* do what people tell me to do. And if you want to go a round, I'll be happy to oblige." Giving a shove, Spike was able to put a little distance between him and the other vampire.

Throwing his head back with a laugh, the man was not at all intimidated. "Yeah, I've heard first hand how *well* you listen. All the more reason for you to go home to your Sire. Don't know what Alex was thinking...thinking that she could control you."

{Alex?} "You know Alex?"

"Yeah, just had a talk with her in fact. That's how I was able to find you tonight. She needs to pay for what she's done. Hopefully she'll do what's honorable, and put herself to death."

"What the fuck are you talking about? What did Alex do?"

"Broke a sacred law of ours. Took a Blood-Childe away from the protection of his Father. Angelus is most displeased. He's put a price on her head. If she doesn't..."

"Listen mate. It was my idea to go with her. She didn't break any law. And are you sure about your information? My Sire is souled again. With a soul he's not that interested in my welfare, nor is he interested in putting a price on someone's head."

"Who said he was souled?"

"Why that was the plan. Alex was to curse him with a soul..." Breaking off, a thought suddenly hit Spike. {She did curse him, didn't she?} "He needs to have a soul. That was the deal. Souled, the Council and Snow would let him live."

"And even if he is souled, what makes you think that the Council will keep their word?" Humans aren't any better at keeping their word than demons are. But just another reason for you to go back to your daddy, boy. You should warn him. I've heard rumors. Souled or not souled, they're not planning to leave your Sire alone, believe me."

Studying the man in front of him, Spike tried again to place him. His coloring was dark. Darker than Angel's, but not as dark as Djoser.

"What rumors? I've not heard anything. And what's your interest?"

"My interest? I'm a Blood-Childe, boy, and that makes it my interest." Lighting a cigarette, but not offering Spike one, the stranger eyed the younger vampire with curiosity. "Snow and the Council have turned their sights on the Ventrue Clan. You've heard that, haven't you? Know a few Ventrue vampires. Their Clan managed to capture a couple of Council people. Tortured them for some information. Your Sire's name came up."

"Goddamn Motherfuckers! What's this world coming to when the humans are as underhanded as the demons! Pretty soon, we're not going to any advantages over them at all!"

Laughing, the vampire started to walk away, his head still turned toward Spike. "You know, I think I like you. You don't seem as high and mighty and overbearing as your old man. When this is all over, I'll look you up again. And maybe we'll have a couple of drinks together. That is, of course if your Father permits you to associate with me."

**

"Hey Alex. You sleeping? Need to talk to you. Met some vampire who knows me. Said he was here talking to you...Alex?" Bursting into the vampiress' bedroom, it occurred to Spike, after the fact, that he probably should have knocked first. No Alex. But her loyal servant sat on the floor, face impassive.

"Where's your mistress?" Sniffing the air, he found no trace of his Guardian's scent.

The minion could only point to the bedroom's balcony.

"Listen you stupid cow. In case you haven't noticed, the sun is out. She wouldn't be out on the balcony."

"She did the honorable thing." Voice devoid of emotion.

"What do you mean? The honorable...OH FUCK." Grabbing a blanket to shield himself from the sun, Spike ran out onto the balcony. He could see ashes floating in the air, and laying on the patio below. {Jesus Fuckin' Christ! Alex, you stupid bitch. What the hell did you do?}

Coming back into room, the distraught vampire snarled at the minion. "Get the fuck out of here!" Sitting on the bed, he spoke to the vampiress as if she were still in the room with him.

"I would have explained it to him. Told him it was my plan, my idea." Guilt and that old feeling of abandonment filled him, and his only defense was to start shifting blame. "If you were going to kill yourself, you should have waited until I was back with my Father. Wasn't it your sworn duty to protect me until I was back with him? And my Sire? Did you curse him, or not?"

Falling back on his Guardian's bed, he threw both arms across his face. {How could she be that afraid of the souled Poof? Or maybe that's why she was so afraid, because she never cursed him. And an uncursed Poof, with his temper, was not a person to cross.}

**

Pausing for just a moment more, Wesley stood in the hallway, giving Angel one last look. Shaking his head, Wesley slowly started for the stairs. He felt helpless, like he was sitting on a keg of dynamite with his hands tied. He knew it would soon explode, and he could do nothing to stop it.

Angel was that keg of dynamite. Cordelia and Gunn both believed that it was solely due to the reappearance of Darla, but Wesley knew that it was much more than that. He had told his two associates what had transpired in Sunnydale, but hearing it second hand and living it were two entirely different experiences. They didn't truly understand like he did.

Three years ago in Sunnydale, Angel had crossed paths with his maternal Sire, and according to Giles and Buffy, he had dusted her without blinking an eye. Her presence hadn't haunted and obsessed him like it did now. Angel clung to her re-emergence like a drowning man clinging to a life preserver. And Wesley knew, knew it was because she was all that he had left. His Clan was dead. His sons were dead.

The ex-Watcher recalled the confusion and the panic from five months ago. Initially he and Giles had thought that the vampiress Alex had cast some kind of 'harm' spell on Angel, because when the majik hit him, he collapsed on the floor in obvious pain. Rushing over to him with Giles, their attention diverted, the vampiress escaped with ease, as every minion in the household feared her about as much as they feared their Master.

When the smoke cleared, and they finally realized that Angel had not been harmed in any way, both Alex and Spike were gone. No one knew what motives the vampiress had. Had Spike gone with her willingly or not? Both he and Giles tended to believe that Spike had been part of Alex's plot, as his two bodyguards claimed that he attacked them. But it had them all baffled. Why would Alex and Spike want Angel recursed? And what were they escaping from?

And Angel. A newly resouled Angel went ballistic when it was discovered that Spike was missing. A fact that puzzled them all. Why was he so concerned about a missing Childe? In the past, a souled Angel had never worried about Spike.

But Sunnydale was turned upside down, as all of them, including every minion in the household searched for the pair. This went on for two days and nights, until Riley brought them the news.

He had heard the news at Willy's. It seemed that Riley had started a habit of stopping there for a drink or two. The gossip had traveled quickly through demon community. Spike and Alex had gotten in a skirmish with some of Snow's minions. Spike had been killed, but as far as anyone knew, the vampiress had survived. But her whereabouts were unknown. As a skilled sorceress, she undoubtedly had a few spells at her disposal to cover her tracks well.

Enraged, Angel passed the word among the demon population that he wanted any information on the vampiress' location. But no demon was able to come up with anything. In Sunnydale or in L.A. Time passed, and Wesley began to see a gradual deterioration in Angel. He was getting closer and closer to the edge. And now Darla's return was the straw that was breaking the camel's back. She just might be the factor that would push him over the edge. And Wesley didn't know how to stop it.

**

"What a Poof!" Spike walked through the hotel, taking a good look around. "Still thinks he's king of the fuckin' world. Has to have his palace to live in."

It had taken part of a day to track down his Sire, because Spike had first gone to the original Angel Investigation's office, only to discover that it no longer existed. But locating the new office hadn't been hard, and upon arriving, he had let himself him in. But the hotel was empty. No one was at home.

Going back down the stairs to the first floor, he debated with himself. His first impulse was to run out and try to track his Sire down, but that plan was impractical, with a city the size of L.A. He needed to just stay put and wait for Angel. But that was asking a lot of an impetuous, hyper vampire whose patience was at its breaking point after more than five months.

"Spike!" Reaching the ground floor again, he recognized the voice. "Spike! Aren't you suppose to be dead? Because I'm pretty sure that's what Wesley told us...er although I wasn't listening to him with my total attention. He tends to go on and on, and out of habit now, my ears just start to tune him out."

"Cordelia...you look like shit! Hate your hair." Coming down the last few stairs, Spike greeted the ex-cheerleader, and unlike Wesley and Angel, he immediately noticed her new haircut.

Giving him a look of disgust, the slim, brunette woman, walked over to her desk, setting her packages down. "Like I care what you think. The Billy Idol Wannabe who only has one outfit to his name. The 80's are over, you know."

"So where's the Lord and Master?" He asked, making himself comfortable on Cordelia's desk.

"Hey! Get off my desk. Sit in a chair. That's what they were made for. What's the matter with you? Born in a barn?"

"A horse stable. I think it was a horse stable...so, you expecting Angel back soon?" Impatience was growing again, caused by his Sire's essence surrounding him here in the hotel, inflaming his whole body.

"God only knows! He's out chasing after Darla again." Pulling her new outfit out of the shopping bag, Cordelia held it up to herself. "What do you think?"

"Makes you look fat." A quick glare and a quick retort. He didn't give a damn about her new outfit. "Who's Darla?"

"Makes me look fat! You can't tell that by just seeing it like this. What do you think of the color on me? Look again. Oh, and he's looking for *the* Darla. His Sire. You know...yeah you should know, cause isn't she your grandmother?"

With a cigarette between his lips, Spike mentally rolled his eyes. "Cordelia, what drugs are you on? Darla has been dead for more than three years now."

"Not any more smart-ass. And hey, this is a smoke free building. So don't even think about lighting that cigarette up. A big law firm here in L.A., Wolfram and Hart performed some kind of ritual and brought her back from the dead. She's human now. And Angel has been Mr. Obsessed-Man. All he thinks about is her. Trying to save her from Wolfram and Hart. Trying to save her soul. Chasing her all around L.A....it's enough to make you want to puke."

Looking down at her new outfit, Cordelia didn't notice Spike's jaw tightening. "Cordelia, are you feeling alright? Even if Darla was brought back, she wouldn't be human and have a soul."

"Hey, I don't understand it anymore than you do. But I'm telling you that she's back, she's human, and she has a soul. And all Angel can think about is her! She needs him and he has to be there for her."

"So Angel's all wrapped up with Darla, ehh." Jaw clenched so tight, that a tic was developing. "Hasn't mentioned anything about...oh...about feeling a little bad about losing both his sons?"

Never one to be overly sensitive to other people's feeling, and worried now that perhaps she did look fat in her new outfit, Cordelia missed the hidden question that Spike was asking. So with her usual blunt style, Cordelia answered the vampire. "Nope. It's just been Darla this and Darla that. I've not heard him say anything about you, or your brother...what was his name? It was a weird one, wasn't it? "

"Yeah, it's different. Djoser. My brother's name is...was Djoser." Standing up, Spike felt a terrible hurt that began in the middle of his chest and seem to radiate through his whole body. He hurt for his dead brother, and for himself, alive, but all alone.{Fuckin' Wanker! Always did love Darla more than any of us! When she was around, he never gave a damn about us. And I suppose he doesn't give a damn now!}

"Hey Spike?" Cordelia was finally able to think about something other than her new outfit, when she saw the vampire start to head for the door. "Where you going? You should be here when Angel comes back. He'll want to..."

Turning around, but still walking, Spike hid his feelings from the human. "Oh, I'll be back. Maybe come back tomorrow evening. The Poof...er Angel probably won't be back until dawn. So...I'll come back tomorrow. Oh and by the way...if you should happen to see Angel or Wesley too for that matter, could you not say anything about me? Want to give them a big surprise."

Something finally clicked in Cordelia's brain. A doubt began to germinate. "Ok. But you better be back here by tomorrow. Angel will want to know that you're alive now. If you're not back by then, I'm going to..." She broke off, as the front door of the hotel swung shut.

~Part: 2~

Sitting in a nearby pub, Spike knocked back another shot of Jack Daniels. His hand shook. His head ached. Running his conversation with Cordelia over and over in his head.{Darla! Darla's back! How is that fuckin' possible? And my Sire. My Sire. Enslaved by her again.}

Memories bounced around and collided in his head. So young he had been. It had taken time for him to fully understand. But later, later he would come to comprehend who Darla was. Come to know the power she held. Come to know the hatred she had for anyone that might present competition to her for her precious Angelus.

"Torture him. Impale him. Do it for me." Her words. Her request.

"And the Poof doesn't even know that it was his Darla who had me impaled. No one ever told him. I never told him." Talking quietly to himself, Spike stared moodily at the shot glass he held in his hand.

"Now what? Go back to South America. Yeah, I'll go back to South America, and find that fuckin' Tosser who insinuated that my Sire cared...cared that I was dead. Yeah he cared alright. Darla shows up and any mournful thoughts he had about me and Djoser goes right out the...oh fuck! I'm supposed to warn Angel about Snow. Bloody hell! Like I'm going to go see the bastard now that he's with Darla! Probably beat me for disturbing him. Wanker needs to have peace and quiet when he's with her.

Getting his brain to work when it was in an alcoholic haze, took a few minutes. "I got it!" Slamming his fist down on the bar, the inebriated vampire was pleased with himself. He had figured out the solution to his dilemma. "I'll call Cordelia. And she can tell his Royal Highness about..."

"Listen pal. I think you've had enough for tonight. Why don't you just go home now?" The bartender didn't like that Spike was sitting there talking to himself like a loon.

He never saw the hand reach out and grab him by the front of the shirt. "I really don't feel like going home just yet, *mate*. I need to make a phone call. When I get back, you better have another shot poured and a fresh beer waiting for me. Are we clear with each other?"

"Yeah...sure...whatever you say." Seeing Spike in full game face, the bartender now realized who he was dealing with. {Man, I need to get a job in a better neighborhood where the demon clientele have more class.}

Digging in his jean pockets for some change, senses dulled by the liquor flowing through his system, Spike never noticed the group of vampires, each with a band of white in their hair, coming into the pub. But they saw him. A vampire with the mark of a Blood-Childe.

Four minions. It was ridiculously easy for them. Intoxicated, trying to remember the number for Angel Investigations, Spike presented almost no resistance. Knocking him unconscious, they dragged him out of the tavern while the rest of the demon and human patrons looked on with disinterest. Outside he was thrown into a cargo van.

Coming upon the scene, a tall young mortal man watched with interest. He had been noticing more and more of these vamps with the white streaks in their hair. Wondered who they were, where they came from, and what they were doing here in L.A.

{Next time I see Angel, hafto ask him if he knows anything 'bout these vamps.}

**

The prisoner was pinned to the wall with railroad spikes that had been first dipped in holy water. Two through his wrists, legs spread with one through each calf, and one big one through the abdomen.

{The one through the abdomen makes the whole picture symmetrical.}

The vampire with the sunglasses cocked his head studying the image before him. "Wake him. I want to speak with him." Clipped commands to the two minions in attendance.

Holding smelling salts to the unconscious vampire, until he awoke coughing.

Eyes filling with tears from the anguish, Spike felt himself trying to take deep breaths. A mortal habit that automatically kicked in, when he was in great pain.

"Not feeling any burning are you? How odd. Because I'm sure my mortal allies told me that you were poisoned." Stepping closer, the vampire spoke to Spike in a gentle voice, like a father speaking to his son. "My, my, my. Idiot minions got you confused with another. Reported that they had killed you. Oh...but wait...you were seen with Luc's Bitch. The vampiress who doubles as a sorceress. Ahh...now it's all clear to me."

Inhaling and exhaling like a human, Spike tried to control the pain that was radiating throughout his body. "You...know...me?" Looking into a face half covered by a pair of huge mirrored sunglasses.

"The flawed Blood-Childe of Angelus. The Childe who was responsible for the decline of the once mightiest Clan. But tell me." Snow stepped closer, as if he were going to whisper in Spike's ear. "What is it about you, that your Father, the mighty Angelus loves so much? You can tell me. I won't tell anyone."

Face covered in sweat, blood and tears, Spike glared into Snow's face, wishing he could see the man's eyes. Wishing he could see what was hidden behind the sunglasses. "How..." He panted out. " How...do you know me?"

"I was there at your Presentation. Saw the High Master condemn you to death. Saw the Master's consort request your impalement...She didn't like you much. Did you insult her at one time?"

"I-I..." He didn't quite know how to answer his captor.

"That disgusting mark!" Snow's mood abruptly changed. "It offends me. I don't want to look at it anymore." Turning to the minions again, he barked another order. "Bring me a scalpel."

A frightening realization was beginning to break through the fog in Spike's brain. {This Wanker is a real nutter!}

A hand lightly held a scalpel. A scalpel that had first been dipped in holy water. A delicate cut and SEARING PAIN, as the scalpel cut away his skin. Layers of skin cut away. His mark removed.

"There." Stepping back a few feet, Snow studied his handiwork. A bloody gaping wound. The sight made him happy. Temper vanishing as quickly as it appeared. "Much better. I'd like to come visit you tomorrow. If that's alright with you? And we can talk again." Throwing the bloodied scalpel down, he turned and left the room, followed by the minions.

Spike, eyes closed, head hanging, felt the pain where he had been cut. It hurt him more than the spikes, more than any wound he had ever suffered. That bloody mark. It had only been a major aggravation to him. But still. It was the one gift, the one sign of respect that his Father had ever bestowed on him.

**

{IT IS HIM! The informant didn't lie.} Hidden up in the ducts, looking out the vent, the vampire assessed the situation.

"We've got to get him out of here." A hiss in his ear. So soft. Only he could hear it.

A slight nod of his head. So slight, but enough to communicate to his companion. Moving away from the vent, melting deeper into the shadows, the two vampires waited and watched. So well trained, they remained absolutely motionless, watching the scene below.

"He's recovered slightly, hasn't he?" The Master of the lair asked his minions.

"He tries not to eat. But we forced some pig's blood down him yesterday."

"You should eat Childe." A soft hand caressing his face. "You do need to keep up your strength."

Tears of blood ran from his eyes, but no scream had come out of his mouth. Spike refused to give them that satisfaction. His tongue was bloodied from biting it so much, but a voice kept whispering in his brain. 'You are of the Bloodline. Your Father is Angelus, son of Heinrich Nest who was a direct descendant of Caine himself. You are above these common vampires. You *won't* scream for them! Make your Father proud.'

But even so, he couldn't help but gasp as a metal spike was again shoved through his stomach. That had been the pattern. Torture him until he was at the brink, then ease up, even feeding him some blood. And when he was slightly recovered, they would start the torture all over again. It was never ending. And that was the greatest torment. Knowing that it would never end.

Up in the ducts, the leader of the two vampires couldn't help but flinch as the metal spike was shoved in the prisoner. His lithe body tensed. The name William rested on his lips, while murderous thoughts about Snow ran through his head.

"Funny. Your body isn't burning up like it's suppose to. But still, something isn't right with you. Your wounds aren't healing much." The face with the sunglasses examined the ugly injuries that covered his hostage. "It might do. A few more weeks, and you'll be in such bad shape that I think you'll make a big enough impression on your Father. Oh it will be glorious. The Great Angelus. How I would love to see his face when he see his cherished son, dying. Dying in pain and torment."

If he could have, Spike would have laughed in the eyeless face. Through his pain, he held on to one small kernel of satisfaction. {Bugger thinks that my Sire will care. Guess he hasn't heard that Darla is back.}

As always, Snow took his leave by saying he would come visit tomorrow. He said it like a friend who would return and visit an ailing buddy. And Spike, unable to see the man's expression could never figure out if Snow was just plain crazy, or was playing with him. And it frightened him.

Seeing them exit the room, the hidden vampire repressed the urge to go crashing out the vent. His training told him to wait. Wait and be totally sure that the coast was clear. Each minute seemed like an hour, but he disciplined himself. When enough time had passed, the two concealed vampires began to slowly make their move.

Since Spike presented no danger to anyone, Snow only kept one guard on him. And the sentry, bored with sitting and watching a motionless hostage for hours on end, was lax. Half asleep he never sensed or heard the two intruders until it was too late. Moving in sync, one grabbed him from behind, twisting his head, snapping his neck, while the other plunged a stake in his heart. It was over before it had started.

Hearing and smelling the arrival of more people, Spike wearily opened his eyes. {That Nonce Snow is back already?} But it wasn't Snow who stood in front of him. Black eyes staring at him, causing him to believe that he had finally died and was in hell. Because there standing in front of him was his brother Djoser.

**

He was trying to run, but he couldn't. Two bloody punctures in each calf where the spikes had been. They hurt him. Made his legs weak, so he kept falling when he tried to run. He was being chased. Chased by a mob of vampires led by Snow. A Snow who no longer wore glasses. But he had no eyes. Just big black sockets. Stumbling again, he tried to get up, but wasn't fast enough, as the horde caught him. Hands on him...all over him. Fighting. Trying to escape the hands...

"William! Wake up! Wake up, damn you!"

Panting heavily, trying to catch his breath, Spike awoke, pushing some unknown hands off of him. He hated being touched by strangers.

"He's not hot to the touch, but he's breathing."

"I'm breathing, because I was running, idiot." He found himself in a strange bed, being held from behind by his brother with some unfamiliar person standing over him.

"You say he was poisoned?" The unknown vampire moved to exam Spike again.

"KEEP YOUR BLOODY HANDS AWAY FROM ME!" Cringing away from those unfamiliar hands. "And I was cured. Some mortals cured me. I'm not poisoned anymore."

Realizing that his patient was not going to cooperate at all, the healer nodded his head at Djoser. "I'll let the Master know his status." And slowly backed out of the room.

Taking stock of his surroundings, Spike saw he was in a well furnished bedroom. Leaning up against the hard body of his brother, he felt relieved and contented despite his pain. "Djoser, is this hell? Because it's not as bad as everyone says."

A smile touched Djoser's mouth. "We're not in hell. We've been taken by the
Ventrue Clan. We're at their Master's residence."

"Bloody hell! They're not going to kill us?" Mind trying to make sense of everything. Hesitantly he laid a hand on one of the arms that held him. "You're alive. Alex said you were dead. Said that Snow and the Council killed the whole Clan. Said that no..."

"It'll take more than some commoner who thinks he's better than he is, and a group of mortals to kill me. They have no idea who they're challenging."

"Give it a rest, will you. You're as arrogant as the Almighty Poof." A bit of contempt tinged his voice, but to counter it, Spike pushed himself back into his brother's embrace. "Hey, did Ramose ever find..." The memory of the night before flashed before his eyes. Ramose had been there too. "Where's Ramose?" Panic began to fill him. Ramose following behind them. Covering their backs. "WHERE IS..."

"William. He died proudly. He died protecting his Sire's Blood-Childer. He will be remembered with honor."

"GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING SNOW!" He couldn't help it. Tears began to fill his eyes. Pushing himself away from Djoser, he wanted to scream, he wanted his hands around Snow's throat, he wanted...wanted his Sire. A Sire, not under the influence of Darla, who could make everything right again.

Jumping up out of bed, he collapsed on the floor as his legs were too weak to hold him up.

"William. It's alright. We're safe here. The Ventrue Clan has always honored the Blood-Childer of other Clans. And I think that the Master here is going..." Kneeling down on the floor beside his brother, Djoser was interrupted by the entrance of minions, followed by the Master of the Ventrues.

What immediately struck Spike was the Master's splendor. Tall with mesmerizing eyes, he was so regal. The Ventrue's Master was old. Older even than the now dead Heinrich Nest. But unlike Nest, he didn't reject his human traits. Beautiful human face.

{Christ, he looks kinda like his royal Poofiness...oh wait, he's older, so I guess the Poof kinda looks like him.}

Seeing Spike on the floor, the Master immediately signaled to the minions to help him up.

"NO! I'm alright." Shaky, but with his brother's help, he managed to crawl back into bed.

"I've thought it over." The Master turned to Djoser. "I will accept your Father's proposal. And as a gesture of goodwill, I will release you and your brother over to him. It would be better if both of you got out of New York anyways. I'm making arrangements now. You'll be smuggled out of New York to Philadelphia, and from there put on a plane to L.A."

{Proposal?} Spike didn't like not knowing what was going on. And he also didn't like the Ventrue Master's highhanded ways. {Another Angelus! Just gives orders and expects everyone to fall in line. No wonder Snow wants to kill all the Bloodline vampires. A bunch of pompous Poofs.} "I don't want to go to L.A."

"WILLIAM!" Djoser hissed at his brother. The Ventrue Master was finally seeing things his way. They would be set free and reunited with their Sire.

"You will give your Father a message. I will agree to an alliance with him, but he and whoever's left in his family must pledge their allegiance to me." The Master continued, ignoring Spike.

"Like we're going to bow down to a bunch of artsy, fartsy Nancy boys." Tired, confused and in pain, Spike just wanted to be as obnoxious as possible. "AND you're not sending me to L.A."

Sighing to himself, hoping that William didn't blow the whole deal, Djoser would have given up a couple of fingers for a muzzle.

Liquid eyes turned to Spike. "You have to go back to L.A., Childe. You have to go back to your Sire."

"Don't want to go back to that Poof!" {If one more person tells me that I have to go back to Angelus, I'm going to start ripping some throats out! FUCKER! Like I'm going to subject myself to that Wanker again when he's in love. Never again! Not after the Slayer!}

"WILLIAM!" Djoser couldn't help but give him a discreet nudge in the back. "Shut . . . ."

"Whether you want to go back or not is not an issue." The Master interrupted the exchange. "You still carry poison in your system. You need your Sire. You need his blood."

~Part: 3~

{Thank the gods!} Leaning back in his seat as the plane took off, Djoser felt profoundly relieved. He finally was on his way back to L.A. Five months. Four of them, a hostage of the Ventrue Clan. He had not been mistreated in any way, as the Ventrues had held him as a privileged prisoner, befitting his status as a Blood-Childe.

But even so, the Ventrue Master had been wary of him. Wary of his overtures. The Ventrues had for centuries been dominated by the more aggressive Tremeres. And the Ventrue Master knew, knew how treacherous and manipulative the Tremeres were. So all of Djoser's requests were denied. No message could be sent to Angelus, telling him that Djoser was alive. And Djoser was helpless. Helpless, because his prison, ironically was also the only safe haven he had from Snow, so escape was not even an option. The Ventrues were his only hope for getting out of New York alive.

"Two tomato juices." He told the flight attendant.

"Yeah, but put vodka in mine." Giving his brother a dirty look, Spike didn't like it that Djoser had ordered for him.

"NO vodka." Grabbing the glasses of tomato juice out of the human's hands.

"Listen you bleedin' Tosser. Who the hell do you..."

"No liquor. Won't do you any good in your state."

"Oh thank you very much Doctor Djoser. But what the hell do you know about it? Booze is just what I need. It will help kill the pain..." Realizing what he just admitted, Spike stopped himself.

"Your wounds haven't healed at all, have they? You're still in a lot of pain."

"They've healed...a little." He lied sulkily.

"Humpff." Snorting in disbelief, the vampire checked around him. The flight attendants well away from them now, and no one paying them any attention. Turning his body away from the aisle, he unobtrusively slit his wrist, letting some of his blood drip into the tomato juice.

"You don't have to do this. I'm really ok." It was a half hearted protest, as the scent of his brother's blood was making his mouth water. His brother's blood. A weak version of his Sire's blood, but still, better than most.

"Must you argue about everything? I can't wait until we get to L.A., and you're back in our Father's custody. You're such a pain." After trickling a fair amount of blood in the glass, Djoser sucked on his wrist. "Go ahead. Drink. You need it."

Taking a sip, Spike was silent for a moment. Not looking at his brother, staring down at the glass in his hands, he spoke quietly. "I'm not going to go back with our Sire."

"William, why are you being so difficult? You're a Blood-Childe. Your place is with your Father. Besides, you heard what the Ventrues said. You're still poisoned. You need his blood." Dealing with his brother was becoming so exasperating, that the idea of a Bloody Mary was now starting to sound attractive to Djoser.

"Djoser. Darla's back. He's back with Darla."

Startled, Djoser sat up straighter, staring at his younger brother. {That fucking Snow not only broke him physically, but mentally too.}

"Don't look at me like that." Face twisted in a scowl. "I'm not addlebrained. Some...a..." Racking his brain, trying to remember what Cordelia had told him. "A wolfman performed a ritual and brought her back from the dead." He finally just blurted out.

"A wolfman? A wolfman brought..."

"NOT a wolfman! Some lawyers. They're named Wolfman...Wolfman and...something. Anyways, they brought Darla back from the dead. She's back, and according to Cordelia, has our Sire wrapped around her finger again."

"Who's Cordelia?"

"Cordelia. The dark haired Twit who's his secretary. You saw her in Sunnydale. She's..." Heaving a sigh and wondering if his brother always had been this obtuse. "It's not important who Cordelia is. What's important is that Angelus is with Darla again. She hates me. If I go back with him, she'll want to kill me...she's the one who had me impaled, you know."

"SHE'S THE ONE WHO HAD YOU IMPALED! How do you know that? I didn't think that you had any memory..."

"Broken memories. Thought they were dreams...err nightmares for the longest time. But after I was told what happened, I realized what they really were. And I remember her, Djoser. I remember her face, how she looked at me with hate. How she made her request to the Master."

"Jesus Fucking Christ!" Djoser muttered half to himself, while turning to look for a flight attendant. He needed some vodka. "Did you actually see Darla?"

"Well...no...I went to the...Snow's minions jumped me. Never had a chance."

"Don't you think you need to verify this Cordelia's story? Or do you consider her such a reliable source?"

"Jesus!" Spike mumbled, turning to look out the airplane window. {I'M AN IDIOT! And of course it's my brother who's the one to point that out to me.} Contemplating quietly, while Djoser got the flight attendant's attention to request some vodka.

"I want some too."

"Don't push me William. I've had just about enough..." The look on Spike's face made the words die in his throat. Hunched down in his seat, the younger vampire looked small and forlorn. Defenseless, vulnerable, and all alone. Changing his tone, and in a gentle voice he tried to put his younger brother at ease. "When we get to L.A., I'll go and see our Sire. See if what this Cordelia said is true about Darla being alive. I'll get a motel room for you. You can stay there until I know something for sure."

"He's thinks I'm dead. If Darla is there, don't tell him any different."

{Dead?. . .oh Christ, I need another drink.}Motioning to the flight attendant, Djoser requested more fortification, while asking Spike in a quiet voice. "Why does our Father think that you're dead?"

"Well...I got Alex to recurse him, and then I..."

"Recursed him! He's got a soul..." Voice raising another decibel.

"Will you stop interrupting me? Do you want to hear what happened or not?"

Downing his second drink in a couple of gulps, Djoser sat and held his head while Spike told him everything that had transpired five months ago in Sunnydale.

"What the hell did you do, William? If he's resouled now, he probably won't want to have anything to do with us. And any hope of an alliance with the Ventrues is a lost cause."

"Hey, I was just trying to save his sorry arse. And if you wouldn't have gone and supposedly got yourself killed, then maybe he wouldn't have gone around the bend. He heard you were dead and flipped. He was getting ready to march to New York, backed up by a whole army of three. Alex, Wesley, and some imaginary vampire ally. The deal with the Council was the only way to go."

Heaving a huge sigh, Djoser could only close his eyes for a moment. "William, our Sire has lived almost twice as long as you have. Why would you think him to be that stupid? And what the fuck was wrong with Alex that she let you talk her into your crazy scheme?"

"Djoser, he had lost it. He was like he was three years ago, when he wanted to suck the world into hell. Totally irrational."

"You have no faith in him at all, do you? For your information, that imaginary vampire's name is Damon, and our Sire was probably going to New York to negotiate with the Ventrues. See if they would ally with him against Snow and the Council. When I was in New York, he had me approach them. Feel them out."

"I thought he sent you to New York to spy on his brother and our Clan."

"A little of both. Our Sire wanted the Ventrues help. Proposed that if they helped him take over the Tremere Clan, then he would agree to have the two Clans form an alliance. Together, the two Clans would be powerful enough to take on Snow and the Council."

'I've got a few aces up my sleeve.' Spike remembered his Sire's words. "Bloody hell! He really did have some aces up his sleeve."

"WHAT? You do know that the Ventrues won't ally themselves with him, if he has a soul."

"No shit, Sherlock! Well...I'm not positive he's souled."

"Not positive? You just said that you had Alex resoul him." Nothing was ever simple with William.

"Well, right before I left South America, some Wanker who I think was a friend of Alex, tried to suggest, that perhaps, Alex never really recursed him. But I don't know for sure, because she took a dive in the sun before I could ask her." Speaking to Djoser, but not looking at him, because he was afraid of what he would see. Total disgust at his screw-up, younger brother. "I fucked up, didn't I?"

Running his hand through his thick black hair, Djoser was thrown. He didn't know what to do, but he wanted to say something, anything that would reassure his younger brother. "We'll follow the plan. I'll go and see him first. There really is no other choice, you know. You need his blood..."

"Listen, with or without a soul, if he's with Darla now, *I am not* going to ask him for one measly little drop of blood."

"You can't go around in the condition you're in. If Darla's with him, I'll figure out a way to separate them, and then you can go to him..."

"Forget it! Women bring out the worst in him. I sat in that wheelchair for months after Slutty dropped an organ on my head. I begged, pleaded with him. His blood would have sped up the healing process. But all he did was laugh in my face, and then to taunt me further, he turned around and gave some of his blood to Dru. I *refuse* to be humiliated like that again by him. And if you're thinking you can make me go and see him, then think again. I *won't* do anything, I don't want to do."

Blue eyes met black. Djoser could feel Spike's emotion, his furor. "I would never see you humiliated like that again. If our Sire has reverted to a crazed madman, like you say he was three years ago, then I will defy him myself."

**

Balancing himself easily on top of the wall, Djoser looked down on the courtyard. Hidden in the dark for a moment, he watched and listened to the man and woman below, while contemplating his next move. Confront or leave?

He struggled to make up his mind. His brother needed their Sire, but he couldn't deny his own eyes, his own senses. William had been right. Darla was somehow back from the dead. Alive and very human. But even as a human, she unsettled Djoser. Perhaps even scared him. In the past, she had been powerful. But she hadn't derived her power from her physical strength. Her power came from her ability to control and manipulate. Control the ones in power. The Old Master. His Father.

A semi understanding had been reached between the two people below. Darla, a master manipulator, had decided to go along with her Childe for the moment. Soul or not, she had no doubt that given time, she could get her way with him. She had always gotten her way with him before

And Angel, desperately hoping that the Host of the karaoke bar would have the answer they sought, was determined to find a solution. He would not have her die as a human, nor would he turn her back to a demon. Taking Darla's hand, he started to head back inside, when a scent hit his nostrils. A familiar scent. A scent he thought dead. Stopping in his tracks, head whipping around, eyes searching the darkness.

"Angelus?" Now mortal, Darla could not smell it. Could not smell him.

Superior eyesight spying the man on top of the wall. "Djoser." A disbelieving whisper. "Djoser. My Childe."

"Djoser?" Peering into the darkness, Darla tried to see what Angel was seeing.

Half glad that he had been detected, because now he had no decision to make, the vampire, in one smooth, graceful move leapt down from the wall. Warily he approached his Sire and GrandSire.

"Djoser!" Instinctively Angel moved toward his Childe, but was held back by two still surprisingly strong hands.

"Angelus! Be careful. He's dangerous."

{Dangerous?} "Darla. My Childe is back. I thought he was dead. He's..."

"He's not your Childe anymore. He's a soulless demon, and you're...you're not."

{He *is* souled.} Narrowing his eyes, Djoser stood still, body tensed. He had never known his Sire when he was souled, but he had listened carefully to his brother, and knew that a cursed Angelus could very well be a dangerous enemy.

"Angelus." Keeping her body between the two men, Darla continued to poison Angel against his son. "You refuse to turn me. You want to save my soul. How can I believe that you're sincere, if you go and protect your soulless son? And we all know that he is soulless." Turning to look at her GrandChilde, Darla gave him a small smile that said, 'you'll never best me, boy.' "Tell us Djoser. Tell us how many you've killed in the last century? Or has it been so many that you don't even know the number any more? And why don't you describe to your Father...your Father who has now dedicated himself to protecting the innocent, how you killed your last victim. I'm sure he'd be fascinated by the details."

"Darla, Djoser was with me in..."

"Stop being such a damned hypocrite Angelus. You're either a protector of the innocent, and the slayer of evil, or you're not. If you say you're not, then turn me now, and you, me and your Childe can live happily ever after." Pulling her hair back, she bared her neck, daring him to make a choice.

And Angel could only hesitate. And that moment of hesitation told Djoser all he needed to know. A cursed Sire now reunited with a human Darla only spelled trouble and possibly doom for him and his brother. Moving so quickly and agilely, Djoser was up and over the wall before even Angel had time to react.

"He doesn't want you. He doesn't want a Father who has a soul." She was so convincing, as she grabbed Angel's arm before he could start after his Childe. "And why would you, who is now souled, want him?"

If he admitted to wanting his Childe, then he would have to then give her what she wanted, and Angel was still not prepared to do that.

**

"William. Wake-up. You're dreaming again." Djoser shook the younger vampire awake. His brother had always had a sleep plagued by nightmares. But now, after Snow, his nightmares had taken on a stronger intensity.

"Bloody hell!" Spike awoke, panting and gasping for breath. Couldn't seem to outrun Snow, no matter what.

"William, we need to start thinking about leaving L.A." Djoser could only eye Spike with worry. They had been lying around the motel room, watching television for three days. Depression, and uncertainty had kept them there, immobile and listless.

Lighting up a cigarette with a shaky hand, Spike pretended disgust. "I was ready to leave this crummy town three days ago, but you're the one who had to stay. Stay and see if Soulboy had a change of heart. I'm telling you, if he does show up looking for us, it will only be to stake us. We should leave before he decides to do that. And before Snow figures out that we're not in New York anymore. L.A. will be the first place that Snow looks."

Lying back on one of the beds, Djoser threw an arm over his face. "We can go to Mexico. There's someone there who will take us in for a while. In Mexico, I'll make arrangements for us to go to my birthplace. We'll lose ourselves in the desert there. The largest desert in the world. It's harsh and deadly for both humans and vampires. But I know it. I know how to survive in it. No one will find us there. Not Snow. Not Darla....Not our Sire."

"Never been to the desert. Don't want to go there"

The older vampire sighed deeply. There hadn't been one suggestion that he had made, that his brother had agreed with. "There's some powerful majik in my country. Perhaps there, something can be done for you."

"You're not doing any mojo on me. Don't trust it. Something always goes wrong."

"William!" Now Djoser was totally frustrated. "Something *has* to be done for you. You can't spend the rest of your existence...like that." Waving a hand at Spike's wrists. Wounds that had not healed. Skin gone, revealing flesh that resembled dark red hamburger.

"Sunnydale. We need to go to Sunnydale."

"Why? What's in Sunnydale?"

"Rupert Giles. He's the one who cured me. Gonna go back and tell him that he didn't do it right. Needs to do it again and get it right."

"And why would he help us? He only helped us the last time, because of our Sire. I smelled fear on him every time he was around..."

"Yeah, the Old Boy really gave it to Rupert three years ago. But I have to give the mortal credit. He didn't cave. Tougher than a lot of vamps I know." Stretching slim arms above his head. "He'll help me. He's a soft touch. Show him my wounds, and he won't be able to say no...and the only thing that we might have to do in return is help them save the world, or kill some demons, or some such rot. You up to that?"

A snort of contempt. "I could put the Slayer out of business, if I chose to."

"Don't have a problem with modesty, do you?...Nay, I have faith in Rupert. He'll cure me, and then..."

"You'll come with me to the desert."

"Yeah, right. So you can abandon me there? Not bloody likely."

"William!" Startled, the warrior vampire began to protest, but then remembered. He had abandoned William once before, so why wouldn't his brother expect a repeat performance. Sitting up, staring intensely at the other man. "It's been the biggest regret of my existence. I spent almost a century trying to make amends, make it..."

"Yeah, I know what you did. Alex told me. Chased me around, being my guardian demon. Listen, come with me to Sunnydale, and after we get Rupert to whip up a cure for me, I'll then *consider* going with you to the desert."

Djoser had no problems with that plan, as he nodded his agreement. "We're Blood Brothers. We need to stick together. If you absolutely refuse to go to the desert, then I'll go with you wherever you want...but..." He watched his brother turn the television on. "Shouldn't we leave for Sunnydale now?"

"Nay, want to see if that Tosser from yesterday is going to win a million dollars. If he does, it will be a crime against humanity. No one that stupid should have gotten as far as he did. We'll go tomorrow at sunset."

~Part: 4~

"Where the fuck is that Wanker? The library closed more than an hour ago. He should have been here by now." Spike and Djoser were sitting on their stolen vehicle outside of Giles' residence.

"Guess he wasn't at the library."

"Pfft." Spike could only give his brother a look of scorn. "There is nowhere else he could be. The man has no social life. The only thing he knows how to do is read books...although, I did get him to watch 'Passions' with me last year. He kind of got into it. Wonder if he still watches it?"

Djoser could only groan to himself. He didn't want to be reminded of television. Four days of soap operas, talk shows, and reality T.V. had given him a stomach ache. "Someone's coming. But it's not the Watcher. The walk is that of a younger person."

"How the hell do you know that?" Looking at his brother with amazement. "Gotta teach me your tricks sometime." Peering down the street, Spike began to make out the figure of a man. "Oh, it's the Whelp. Wonder if he ever found the rented videos he lent me? Never gave them back to him. Hid them in the mansion."

Getting closer to Giles' house, the alarm in Xander's head began to sound off. He could see a vehicle with two men sitting on top of it, but in the darkness, he couldn't make out who they were. Slowing his step, he fumbled in his pocket for a stake. Always be prepared in Sunnydale. As he drew nearer, one of the men slid off the car and stood up.

"Hey Xander." British accent. "You know where Giles is?"

"Spike?" Squinting in the darkness. "And...and Spike's brother?" Couldn't remember Djoser's name. "Aren't you two dead?"

"Well, yeah. We're vampires, so I guess you could say we're dead, or undead." Hands in pockets, Spike took a few steps toward the mortal.

"I know that you're undead. I mean...aren't the two of you dead, dead?" Xander paused a minute at Spike's questioning look. "Dust dead. REALLY dead."

Remaining silent for a few beats, giving the boy a look of, 'you're a stupid shit.' Spike didn't even bother to retort. "So...do you know where Rupert is?"

"Why do you want to know?" Suspiciously looking at Spike, and Spike's older, bigger, and meaner looking brother. "Where's Angel?"

"Busy." Spike sighed at the mention of Angel's name. "Listen, we're not here to kill, maim, or do any other kind of bodily damage to anyone, unless of course, they start something with us first. I just want to talk to Rupert for a moment."

Xander thought fast. Giles was at his shop, but Buffy was there with him. Maybe sending these two unsupervised vampires to the Slayer was not a bad idea. "He's at the Magic Shop."

"Now? At this time of night? They're not open anymore."

"Giles is now the owner of the shop. He's closing down. Counting his receipts and such."

"Really." Shrugging his shoulders, Spike looked around at Djoser. "Let's go see him."

Standing up, Djoser stared at Xander. "If you're headed back there, we'll give you a lift."

"Yeah." Suspicious again.{Why would he give me a ride?} "Giles sent me here to get a book for him. I ..."

"We won't eat you. We know you're a friend of the Slayer, and we're not interested in antagonizing her at the moment."

{Damn. Wouldn't want to play poker with this guy.} Xander was uncertain. The dark vampire's face was unreadable, although he sounded sincere.

"Come on Xander." Spike was surprised. He had no idea why his brother wanted to give the boy a lift, but he played along. "Ride with us, and maybe I'll tell you where I hid those videos."

"Hey!" Suspicions forgotten for the moment. "They've put a block on my account because of you. I can't rent any more until I either return those videos, or pay for them."

"So ride with us to the Magic Shop, and I'll tell you where you can find them."

"Alright. But just remember, Buffy will not be pleased if either one of you even takes a nibble off of me. But give me a minute to get that book for Giles."

Watching the boy sprint toward the door, Spike turned to Djoser in confusion. "You want to give that kid a lift? I would have thought that two hours in the car with him to L.A. was all one could handle for a lifetime?"

"When that human is nervous, he has loose lips. While he's in the car, we can toy with him a little, nothing physical, just a few mind games, and then we can find out what's been going on around here. What's been going on with the Slayer. It never hurts to know."

"Right mate." Spike looked at Djoser with new respect. {Always one step ahead of his opponents. Poof Junior's handy to have around.}

**

Closing the book with a thud, Buffy was frustrated. None of the texts had the information she wanted. " God Giles, if there were just a few good descriptions of what took out the other Slayers. Maybe it would help me to understand my mistakes. To keep it from happening again."

"Accounts of final battles would be helpful, but there's no one left to tell the tales. You would need to ask..." A thought occurred to Giles. "You would need to ask the other person who was there."

"Giles, the other person would be the vampire who killed..."

"Rupert. I need to talk to you." The door swung open with a crash, revealing Spike, Djoser and Xander.

"Spike...you're alive...or I mean to say, you're not dust...and your brother." Giles looked from one vampire to the other. "Is also still among us."

"Such powers of observation." Spike gave the mortal a mocking grin. "Guess that's why they call you a 'Watcher.'

Buffy rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Spike what are you and..." She couldn't remember Djoser's name either. "And...HIM doing here? Where's Angel?"

"Where's Angel? Is Angel around?" Spike mimicked the Slayer's voice. "Is that the only question you people know how to ask?"

"Well, it does interest us Spike, since Angel is the Sire, and...and..." Giles didn't like the fact that Djoser and Spike were here in Sunnydale without being in Angel's charge.

"And what?" Spike couldn't help but start becoming belligerent. {These fuckin' humans. Think the world revolves around that Poof.}

"And..." Giles decided to just be honest. "He's the only one I know of, who can control both you and your brother."

"Well his royal Poofiness is tied up at the moment. But I assure you that Djoser and I are not here to cause any trouble. Just need your help on a little matter."

"Alright Spike. I'll listen to you." Giles was resigned. The faster he listened to the vampire, the faster he could send them back to L.A.

"What's with the new look?" Buffy was giving Spike the once over. Black, leather duster now in Snow's possession, Spike took to wearing his brother's long tunic. It was too long and too big for him, but that suited him. Covered his injuries, and being a predator, he knew the importance of hiding your wounds.

"Yeah Spike. I must say, you make quite a fashion statement." Arms folded across his chest, Xander couldn't help but smirk.

"Look who's talking, Mr.Blackwell." Giving Xander a look that could kill. "I...I was chilled." He made up an excuse.

"Right Spike." Buffy snorted with disbelief. "It's 65 degrees outside."

Now giving the Slayer a look that could kill. "Hey, you'd be chilled too, if you didn't have any body he.."

"Spike." Giles was now holding his head. "Just tell us what you want."

Scowling, the vampire turned to the Watcher. "Your cure didn't work. You need to do it again. I'm not right."

Head jerking up. Spike, now had all of Giles' attention. "What's not right with you?"

Spike hesitated. He didn't want the Slayer to see his wounds. To know that he was weak.

"Show him." Djoser had no such qualms, as he grabbed his brother's wrist, and held it out for the Watcher to see. "His wounds aren't healing."

A whistle from Xander, as he leaned over to look too. "That's pretty gross."

Holding the vampire's arm gently in his hands, Giles was truly concerned. "Wounds? You're wounded in other places like this? What happened?"

"Had a run in with some railroad spikes. A healer told me that I still carried poison in my system. So I came back here. You said that you had cured me, Rupert, but you didn't. You need to fix it."

"But of course. You never finished the course of treatment."

"Excuse me. Course of treatment? You never said anything about a course..."

"I most certainly did. I told you that it would take more than one dose of the medicine."

"Did not. I never heard you say that."

"Perhaps it was because you weren't listening."

For once Spike had no more argument left in him. "What?" Glaring at his brother who was giving him a 'you are a COMPLETE MORON' look. "I had just heard that you had been killed, so I was upset. And when I'm upset, I don't hear very well."

"William." Djoser, stoically patient. "Your hearing doesn't work well, whether you're upset or not."

"Well...good news anyway. Since all I need is a couple more doses of medicine, I guess the problem is solved."

"Certainly." Giles let go of Spike's arm. "I still have all the ingredients. Just need to know when Angel will be coming."

Spike heaved a sigh of exasperation. "I already told you. Angel tied up with some important business now. So just..."

"Spike, you don't seem to understand. I said that I have all the ingredients here. And I do, except for the most important one. Angel's blood."

{Goddamn son-of-a-bitch! It always go back to my Sire.} Spike stared bitterly at the Watcher. {It's like that fucking umbilical cord just can't be cut.} Turning to leave, he motioned to his brother. "We're out of here."

"Spike..." Giles stood up. "Spike, what's going on here?"

"Rupert..." A debate raged within. Tell the mortals, or not. "Angel won't be coming. Angel won't ever be coming. So I guess, I'm just royally screwed."

"Something happen to him?" Buffy was immediately concerned.

"Yeah, his soul happened to him. Went to go see him last night. Won't have anything to do with us. Threatened to kill us, if we stayed in L.A." Exaggeration and embellishment were Spike's forte.

"Threatened to kill you?" Giles thought aloud. "Are...are you sure, because, after you disappeared last August, he had us all searching day and..."

"So he could kill me." Spike interrupted the Watcher. "You know that when Angel has a soul, he won't have anything to do with me...with us." He looked over at his brother.

Exchanging looks, the three humans were baffled. "So why did you let..." Xander couldn't remember the vampiress' name either. "that...that friend of yours recurse him?"

"To save his bloody arse." Spike mumbled softly, looking down at his feet. "But then she was suppose to...suppose to..." Lifting his head, he shuffled his feet uncomfortably. He felt bad about what happened to Alex. He had made a bloody mess of everything. Couldn't blame anyone else but himself.

""Without Angel's blood..." Giles pondered a moment. "I can't cure you, but perhaps I can come up with something to at least heal your wounds. Give me a few days."

"Don't want a bandage Rupert. If you can't completely cure me, then I've got another plan." Heading for the door with Djoser, Spike had one last point to make to the mortals. "My brother and I are going to leave Sunnydale peacefully. We haven't killed anyone, and we won't. But if any of you open your gobs to Angel and tell him that we were here, Djoser and I will come back here and start a killing spree."

"Right Spike." Buffy was scornful. "If you or your brother try anything here, you'll..."

"Buffy." Giles shook his head slightly at her. A quiet admonishment. "We won't say anything to Angel, Spike. You have our word."

~Part: 5~

"Well?" Spike asked, as his brother came through the door. "Any luck finding out where the Tosser went?" He felt exhausted. Seemed like he never had any energy anymore. They had been chasing around the border towns of Mexico, looking for Djoser's contact. The days and nights had blurred together, so now Spike wasn't even sure how long it had been since they had left Sunnydale.

"You're not going to believe it....here, I brought you some blood." Djoser set a bottle of blood on the nightstand between the beds. "I found his mistress. And according to her, he's in L.A."

Lighting a cigarette, but not reaching for the blood, Spike choked back a laugh. He wasn't surprised. His maternal grandfather had cursed him when he had been a small child, and since then his whole existence had been one wretched incident after another. "And? Will he be coming back soon?"

"According to her, he'll be there indefinitely. She spoke with him on the phone. He, himself doesn't even know when he'll be back....William, eat." Djoser pointed to the blood.

"Not hungry now. Maybe later." Blowing smoke rings and watching them rise to the ceiling. "What exactly can this mate of yours do for us again?"

"Give us money, get us some travel documents..." Frowning Djoser had to find a way to get William to eat something. "Would you prefer, I bring you back something alive? I can go and..."

"Can't call attention to ourselves, can we? Snow might catch wind. And besides, the mandate was never rescinded, you know."

"Mandate? What mandate?"

"The Poof's mandate. No hunting or killing. Remember? He's never told us that the mandate was ended."

"William." It was painful for Djoser to even look at Spike. His brother was dying little by little before his very eyes, and there wasn't anything he could do. "Let's go back to Sunnydale. That Rupert Giles had said that he could, at least do something for your wounds, even if he couldn't cure you."

"NO! By now one of those idiotic humans probably opened his gob to his Royal Highness, and..."

"And what? He's with Darla now. We're not important to him. If we go back, as long as we behave ourselves, he won't care."

"Then you go. But I'm going to...going to..." Turning on his side, face away from his brother, Spike didn't know what he was going to do.

"William." Kneeling on the bed behind his brother, hand on his shoulder. "What are you so afraid of?"

Tears now running down his face. He couldn't stop them. He knew what he was most afraid of. "We'll go back to bloody Sunnydale, and Giles will look at me with pity, the Slayer will have a mocking smirk on her mug, and the others won't be able to look me in the face. One of them will have talked to him, and they'll know. His indifference will be thrown in my face. And even though I know he's indifferent, and have been telling myself that I don't bloody care, it will still hurt. It always did, it still does, and bloody hell, it always will."

Silence, as Djoser felt his brother's words pierce him. "I'm sorry Will. I wish I could change it. I wish I could make it right, but it's not within my power...but something needs to be done for you. Let me take you back to Sunnydale. While the Watcher helps you, I'll take a side trip to L.A. See if I can track down Nic."

"Nic? That's the Wanker's name? Who is he?" Taking the conversation in another direction. Helped him not to think about it, about HIM. Helped him get his emotions under control.

"He's our uncle. Half-brother of Angelus. Has a lower rank in the Clan...er had a lower rank in the Clan, because his mother was a mortal, but he's a Blood-Childe of Heinrich Nest."

"How many fucking Blood-Childer did the Old Goat have?"

"Five." Djoser couldn't help but smile. He had never heard The Old Master, Heinrich Nest, being referred to as an Old Goat. "As far as I know, he was the most prolific vampire in history. It's what gave him such power for a while."

Head resting on his bent arm, Spike was tired. Tired of being in pain. Tired of being scared. Tired of running. Too tired to even argue. "Alright, I'll go back to Sunnydale with you." {Hell, it's as good a place as any to die.}

**

"Goddamn fucking kid! And goddamn Wesley and his fucking Powers That Be. Stay and save some fucked up kid, instead of doing something important like looking for Darla, and...{Djoser}." Muttering to himself, Angel stopped at his car, staring at the ground. {Djoser. My Childe. Are you still here in L.A., or have you left...gone back home...}

"NO! Damnit! I'm home! He's only home when he's with me." Pounding his fist on the hood of his car, leaving a dent, but he didn't care.

"You're still a bad tempered son-of-a-bitch, aren't you?" A voice behind him. A voice he knew, but hadn't heard for more than a century.

Spinning around and grabbing the other man at an unhuman speed. "You're not welcome here in L.A., Nic. You had better leave NOW, because I'm in no mood to..."

"Just came here to check and see how your Childe was doing. Wanted to make sure he made it here without incident? Was trying to do something nice, but I guess I shouldn't have bothered." Pulling Angel's hands off of him, the vampire straightened his clothing.

"What are you talking about? Checking to see if my Childe made it here yet? Were you with Djoser?" Stepping back, Angel studied the man in front of him. Hadn't aged of course. Now sporting a modern hair cut and clothes. He had made one big change to his appearance though. Black tentacles tattoos now covered his neck.

"Djoser? I was talking about your youngest Childe, William." Lighting a cigarette, the man was calm and cool. "Ran into him in South America, and...ufff." His back hit the brick wall behind him with such force that he could feel his teeth rattle.

"DON'T FUCK with me." Pinning the other vampire to the wall with a hand around his throat. "My William is dead. And don't you dare..."

"Jesus, Angelus! Your Childe isn't dead. Alex cast a spell. Guess they thought they were saving you from Snow. But I talked to Alex. Reminded her that she had broken one of our sacred laws. Reminded her that she had taken a Blood-Childe of the High Master. A *very* serious crime..."

"WHERE'S MY WILLIAM, NIC?" Powerful fingers tightening around his younger half sibling's throat. So intent on finding out where his Childe was, Angel never noticed his brother's reference to him being the High Master.

"He should be here in L.A. Christ, he left South America more than a month ago." A bad feeling was starting to well up in Nic. "I told him that he needed to go back to you. I told him..."

"Told him! Told him! Didn't Alex escort him back here? It would have been her duty to." Angel still held the other vampire easily by the throat. He was stronger to begin with, but his rage was making him even stronger.

"She...she." It was hard to speak with a strong hand wrapped around your throat. "She realized her crime, and put herself to death. And..."

"And she instructed *you* to escort him home." Voice soft, but still so menacing. "Didn't she? DIDN'T SHE!"

"Yeah. But...but..." {A big deal was going down for me. Oh Christ, I AM so fucked.} Nic had no legitimate excuse to give for his conduct.

Demon coming forth as his wrath escalated. "Still a Fuck-up, aren't you? You had better pray to all the gods that nothing has happened to him. And I'm obligating you to stay here and help look for him. You can't leave, until he's back safely with me."

"Hey Angel. You still here. Good, cuz..." Gunn came strolling out of the building. It hadn't taken him very long to realize that he didn't want to stay and help Wesley and Cordelia with the devil worshipping freak. "Who's the dude?"

Not turning to look at Gunn, still holding his brother by the throat. "Gunn." Voice almost a whisper. "I need you to help me look for someone."

"Yeah man, I know. I'm here for you. We'll go to Wolfram and Hart, and see if they can tell us anything about where Darla and Drusilla are."

"Gunn. Right now, I don't give a fuck about Darla and Drusilla. I need you to help me look for my son." Slowly, Angel released his hold, and took a step backwards. But his eyes never left the man in front of him.

"Son? You mean Childe, don't you? Wes gave me a crash course on Vampires 101. Any vamp you sire is your childe, right?"

"William is both my son and my Childe. What contacts do you have who would know about a new vampire in town?"

{Son and Childe? What the fuck?} "Plenty." Gunn, confused, but he knew that this was not the time to be asking any more questions. "What kind of places does your...does this William like to hang out in? Cuz that would determine who'd I ask."

"He likes hanging out in bars." Nic offered his help while massaging his neck. "And if you find him in one, he's probably in the middle of a fight."

Snarling, Angel grabbed Nic by the throat again.

"Hey...it's the goddamn truth. And you know it." Nic pushed the arm away from him. "He's another Victor. And this time, no one can make me the scapegoat. You can only blame yourself for how he turned out."

"Ah...I don't want to get in the middle of any issues you two have, but if he likes the bars, we shouldn't have any problem finding him. What's he look like?" The three men began getting into Angel's car.

"On the smallish side. Fair. Wears black jeans, and a black duster." Starting up the car, Angel felt a myriad of emotions flow through him. He wanted his William back. He wanted Djoser back. And then he'd figure out what should be done about Darla and Drusilla, about Wolfram and Hart, about whether he wanted to continue fighting the good fight, or not.

{Fair. Black duster.} The description triggered a memory in Gunn. "He doesn't by any chance have short, white blond hair?"

Nodding his head, Angel looked at Gunn, not liking the expression on his face.

"Then my man, we've got a problem. I saw a vamp fitting that description having his ass hauled out of a bar by some other vamps. Vamps who all had a white streak dyed in their hair. Was gonna ask you 'bout them, but with this whole Darla thing, never had a chance. Happened...prob'ly, I'd say 'bout a month ago."

Angel wasn't even looking at the road, as he screeched the car to a halt. {Snow!} "Nic!" Reaching back and grabbing the other vampire by his shirt. "Was that your car back there?...Good. Sunnydale. It's about a two hour drive from here. Go there. Damon was suppose to meet me there five months ago. Go and find a snitch called Willie. Ask him if Damon ever got there. I'm assuming he did and left. I want to know where he went afterwards. Call my cell phone number, as soon as you know anything." Handing the other vampire one of his cards with his cell phone number scribbled on the back.

"And then prepare yourself. You'll be coming with me to New York.... And Gunn, I want you to look for someone for me."

"Darla? Or another someone?" Gunn had gotten out of the car, and had walked over to the driver's side.

"His name is Djoser. I know for a fact he was here in L.A. about three weeks ago. He's probably with another vampire named Ramose. They've probably left L.A. I want to know where. If by chance they haven't, and you find them, show them this." Angel pulled a small metal disk with a pattern stamped into it. "Tell them that I sent you, and they won't hurt you."

"Hurt me, huh...like to see them try." Gunn muttered to himself, while inspecting the metal disk that Angel had given him. "And you? Where you headed?"

"To Wolfram and Hart. I'm going to need all the bodies I can get when I storm into New York. Darla and Drusilla are going to find themselves recruited." Deadly serious, Angel gave the young mortal one last look before roaring off.

~Part: 6~

Arriving in Sunnydale, Nic stopped at the first gasoline station he came to. A pack of cigarettes, gas, and directions to the cemetery. His fellow vampires should know where to find this Willie. To keep himself from killing the gas station attendant, an act that would certainly undermine his whole trying to keep a low profile, he took a moment to call his mistress. He wanted to talk to her. Tell her what was going on. Break it to her that it was very possible that he might never be coming home.

Marching into New York, even with his powerful, and usually charmed older brother, the vampire still didn't like the odds. And if by some small miracle, they were to survive, William was, by now, probably dead. So if he wasn't killed battling Snow, he would most certainly be killed by a vengeful Angelus. He had been charged with the responsibility to see that William was placed safely back with his Father, and he had failed. Angelus would never forgive such a failure.

Listening to his mistress scream at him on his cell phone, Nic pushed open the gas station's door, heading for his car. A man was kneeling at the back of his car...switching license plates!

"HEY!" Snapping his cell phone shut, cutting off the angry vampiress on the other end. "What the fuck do you think..." Blinking in shock, as the thief stood up and faced him. {Djoser!} "Djoser! Stop stealing my license plate. The car's stolen anyway. And fuck, am I glad I ran into you. Angelus is looking for you. You need to go to him in L.A. He's planning to storm New York. Your brother has been taken captive by Sn..."

"My brother is no longer in New York. He's here with me." Djoser, too was blinking in surprise at running into his uncle. The very uncle he had been looking for.

"WILLIAM IS HERE? WHERE?" {Fuckin' Lady Luck has finally decided to give me a fucking break! Goddamn. Gotta remember to make an offering to the gods for this one. Mi Diabla. I'm coming home!}

"I left him at the Magic Shop with an ex-Watcher. He's injured, and the Watcher is going to try and help him."

"Injured? How?...Fuck, Angelus has got to know about this." Fumbling in his pocket for the card with Angel's cell number, Nic was taken by surprise by the hard fist that caught him in the jaw. Head snapping back, cell phone flying out of his hand. {What the fuck!} Another blow to the face, before Nic was able to gather his wits to fight back. Blocking Djoser's next punch, he grabbed his nephew in a headlock. "Djoser! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You're NOT going to tell my Sire that we're here in Sunnydale!" Grabbing his uncle by the front of the shirt, Djoser pulled him to the ground in an effort to break the headlock.

Both vampires, Tremeren vampires. Vicious and strong. Skilled as fighters. Djoser was a trained warrior, but Nic, who had been earning some of his keep as muscle for hire for some of the biggest crime bosses in the last century, was no slouch. Evenly matched, the vampires would have beaten each other to a pulp, except for the arrival of the Slayer.

Rounding the corner, Buffy saw Djoser on the ground with an unknown vampire holding him down in a headlock. Grabbing Nic by the back of the collar, she hauled the stranger up, forcing him to break his hold on Djoser. And Djoser, never one to let a golden opportunity to pass him by, quickly began to pummel his uncle from the front.

"For Christ sakes Djoser." Nic managed to spit out, as hard fists hit him in the face, stomach, and genitals. "Angelus is looking for both you and William. What the hell..."

Hearing Angel's name, Buffy let go of the man in her grasp, giving him a chance to step away from more of Djoser's blows. "Angel? Did you say Angel?"

Bent over from blows to his genitals and solar plexus, Nic knew who Buffy was. Knew she was the Slayer. Knew she had been involved with Angel. "Slayer. I was sent here by Angelus to get some information. He doesn't know that his..." Pausing a moment to wince with pain, Nic waved at hand in Djoser's direction. "That his two Blood-Childer are here in Sunnydale. All I was trying to do was to call and tell him that they were here, when...when...this..." Pain now passing, Nic stood up straight to look his nephew in the eye. "When this disrespectful brat started in on me. What the hell is the matter with you Djoser. Weren't you taught to esteem your elders? I'm sure that's a lesson Angelus would have drilled in your thick skull."

"My Sire has a soul now. And he's been reunited with Darla. A human Darla. She poisons him against us." Face impassive, Djoser eyed his uncle.

Momentarily stunned at such crazy talk, Nic could only stare at his nephew. {This kid is off his rocker!} "Djoser, did you hear what you just said? A human Darla! Since when did you start sniffing glue? And by the way, Angelus is *not* cursed."

"Not cursed!" Buffy didn't like the sound of that. That's all she needed, a soulless Angel, on top of a sick mother, a new sister, a temperamental Riley, and some unknown demon named Glory.

"Don't listen to him Slayer." Djoser was disdainful. "He's a chronic liar, cheat and a thief."

A snort of laughter from Nic. "I'm a vampire. That goes without saying." Cautiously taking out a cigarette. Hoping that he wouldn't be attacked again. "Slayer, our law states that Blood-Childer are the property of their Father. I just came from L.A., and I swear to you that Angelus is most anxious to have his sons back in his custody. Just let me call him, and tell him that they're here." Cigarette dangling from his mouth, Nic began to slowly inch his way over to where his cell phone lay on the ground.

Seeing his intention, Djoser moved to stop him, but was held up by Buffy. "He's right, you know. Angel needs to be called. I was, in fact, looking for you. Giles sent me to catch you before you left town. Spike is in a bad way, but he won't let us call Angel. Says if we call Angel, he'll leave before Angel can get here. You're his brother. You need to talk to him."

"Bad way? What's wrong with him? What happened to him?" Picking up his cell phone, Nic was once again fumbling for Angel's card.

"You ARE NOT going to call him." In a blink of an eye, Djoser had grabbed Nic's cell phone out of his hand, taking the other vampire by surprise.

"Djoser. Don't you get it?" Buffy was fighting the urge to slap the vampire upside the head. She didn't have time to solve these two runaways' problems. She had enough of her own. "Spike is dying. If Angel isn't..."

"DYING!" Nic didn't have a problem slapping Djoser upside the head. "Your brother is dying, and you didn't take him to Angelus? Did your brain melt and leak out your ears, boy? I thought you were smarter than that."

Djoser growled softly at his uncle, but did not retaliate for the blow. "I went to see my Sire a few weeks ago. But he was with HER. And she began whispering things in his ear, turning him against us." A flicker of emotion crossed the normally stoic vampire's face. "SHE won't let him help us. And I won't have my brother subject to his rejection again."

"She? Is this she, the Darla you were talking about? Who's Darla?" A bad feeling was welling up in the pit of Buffy's stomach. Her slayer intuition had already told her the answer.

"Darla. My Father's maternal Sire. You know her, Slayer. She was living here with the Old Master..."

"Darla IS DEAD, Djoser. She was dusted by..."

"She was brought back to life by a firm of L.A. lawyers. She's back, and she's reunited with my Sire. I saw her myself in L.A."

"Goddamn Son-of-a-Bitch!" Nic swore softly, while taking a long drag of his cigarette. "How is it possible that, that Bitch can still make my fuckin' unlife miserable without trying, even after more than two centuries?"

Moments passed as the Slayer and the two vampires stood looking at each other, each with their own private memories of Darla. "Djoser..." Both Buffy and Nic began simultaneously, causing them to glare at each other. "Djoser, give...give..." She had no idea who Nic was. "...him his cell phone, and let him call Angel."

"Slayer..." Djoser began his protest, giving Nic the opportunity to grab his cell phone back.

"Djoser." Nic was no fool, as he backed up behind Buffy. "If William is dying, then Angelus has to be informed. Let me call him, and I'll be sure to tell him, *not* to bring Darla here. Once he's here without her, then you need to talk to him. Tell him what Darla does."

"He doesn't listen! He never listens when he comes to *her*." Quiet desperation was now evident in the vampire's voice.

"HEY!" Buffy had had enough. There were enough dilemmas to be solved. She and the rest of the gang didn't have the time or energy to waste babysitting Angel's two Childer. "Maybe all of you need to go and seek family counseling, but I have enough of my own problems to deal with. I DON'T need you and your troubles here in Sunnydale." Turning to Nic, she barked out an order at him. "Call Angel now! And tell him to get himself here as fast as he can. Tell him to come get his family and take them back to L.A. Tell him he can find his two Childer at the Magic Shop. And tell him to hurry, cause Giles says that Spike may not have much time left."

**

"Spike, just try a little." Giles coaxed the vampire.

"Smells funny, Rupert." Suspiciously sniffing the mug set before him. "Wot's in it? You're not trying to poison me, are you?"

"Spike, what would the point of that be, when you're already poisoned?" Giles heaved a huge sigh. "It's just a little human blood..."

"Doesn't smell like human blood."

Another huge sigh. "It has some herbs and a few drops of some elixirs in it, that's why it has a different odor. Drink a little. It will dull your pain."

"Is there sugar in it?" Spike peered in the mug, as if by staring at it he could ascertain its content's exact ingredients.

"Sugar?" Giles glared at Spike with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Yeah, I like sugar in a lot of things. Put some sugar in it, and I'll give it a try."

"Sugar. He wants sugar. Human blood isn't enough. He has to have sugar too." Giles mumbled this to himself, wondering how it was possible that he seemed to have so many peculiar types of vampires and demons in his life.

"I'll call Xander, and tell him to bring some over." Anya, counting up the register, had overheard Spike's request. She didn't find the vampire's request odd at all.

"Yes...yes...good of you, Anya." The words 'weird and strange' kept flashing through Giles' mind, as he looked both at Anya, now talking to Xander on the phone, and Spike who was sitting at the table staring in the coffee mug.

"Giles, I found Djoser before he left town." Giles' musing was interrupted by Buffy, coming through the door, followed by two vampires.

"Oh thank God, you found him...and...and...someone else." Taking off his glasses, Giles stared at the newcomer.

"Hey." Spike noticed the newcomer at the same time. "You're the Tosser from South America. You've got a lot of nerve coming around here. Fucking liar. I'd like to..." Standing up, Spike found that his legs were shaking, shaking so hard that he had to sit down again. "Djoser." He turned to his brother. "This is the Wanker who led me to believe that Alex never cursed our Sire."

"She didn't." Nic lit up a cigarette, staring at Angelus' youngest son, not liking what he saw.

"What do you mean, she didn't?" Giles plucked the cigarette out of the stranger's mouth. "I really would prefer that you not smoke in here. I saw her cast the spell..."

"She tried to recurse him, but she wasn't able to." Nic interrupted, giving Giles the evil eye. He wasn't used to humans treating him with such a lack of fear.

"Wasn't able to? How...how...?"

"Don't believe him. He's lying." Djoser deliberately bumped shoulders with his uncle as he walked past him to stand by Spike. "I saw my Sire in L.A. a few weeks ago, and he was definitely souled."

"Oh, is one of the many talents you were taught as a child, being able to see souls, Djoser?" Nic was scornful. {Fucking arrogant know-it-all! If he isn't like his Old Man.}

"Hey! Watch it *Mate*." Spike didn't like the stranger's tone. It was an attack against his brother. His Blood Brother.

"Listen." Nic backed down. He didn't want to upset William. William looked fragile enough. As it was, Nic was sure that after Angelus got a look at his youngest, there would be hell to pay for him, as he was partially to blame for his nephew's current state of health. "I'm only telling you what Alex, herself told me."

"She told you that she wasn't able to curse Angel?" Giles looked at the newcomer intently, trying to determine if he was lying or not.

"Well...those weren't her exact words. What she said was, 'I wasn't able to duplicate the gypsies' curse.' I took that to mean..."

"That doesn't mean she didn't curse him." Giles hastily interrupted the vampire.

"What does it mean, Giles?" Buffy asked.

"Well it means...it could mean that...that she cursed him, but..." Giles stopped a moment pondering. "that he's cursed differently."

"Rupert." Spike put the mug down. He had ventured a sip, because the pain was starting to become intolerable. "Either he's cursed or not. How can he be cursed differently?"

"Like humans." Giles was half talking to himself, as his mind was going a mile a minute. "Humans have souls. But their degrees of humanity vary from being a saint to a serial killer."

"So are you saying that Alex cursed him with a weaker soul than the gypsies?" Spike wasn't sure if this was good news or not. "Bloody hell!...But you know, even though I don't want to speak ill of the dead." {Sorry Alex.} Spike silently apologized to the dead vampiress. "But Alex wasn't much of a sorceress, was she? She bollixed spells left and right."

"William." Djoser looked at his brother in surprise. "How would you come to that conclusion? Alex had been highly skilled in the black arts."

"Last spring." Spike looked around at everyone in the room. "Last spring, she desouled him. But she didn't do that right either. It was like she only partially desouled him." Seeing everyone's skeptical look, including that of Xander who had snuck in and was trying to catch up on what everyone was talking about, Spike pressed his point. "Oh come on, you can't all tell me that he was the same soulless Angelus, as he had been after he got done shagging...shagging Slut..."

"Watch it Spike." Buffy gave the vampire an evil look. "You're skating on thin ice here."

"Yeah Spike." Trying to be helpful, Anya was spooning sugar in Spike's mug. "Buffy, went and called Angel. He's probably on his way now. Keep it up, and she'll have a litany of complaints about you when Angel..."

"Anya!" Giles quickly interrupted the ex-demon. "I *think* you need to finish the day's totals."

"Giles, I finished counting the register. I totaled the receipts. Everything is ready to put in the bank's night deposit box. There's nothing more for me..."

"Then let's go home." Xander had caught Giles' look of desperation, and knew instantly that Anya had put her foot into it again.

"Now? I wanna stay and say hi to Angel. He's probably going to be here shortly. I want to see what he does when he sees..."

"You let them call HIM." Spike turned to Djoser. Surprise and accusation shone from his eyes.

"William. We can't keep running. You're too ill." Guilt and reason were battling inside Djoser.

"Bloody Traitor! Can't trust you! Can't trust anyone on this bleedin' planet. Fine! All of you can sit here and wait for his Royal Poofiness to show up, but I *am not* gonna hang around here and..."

"Oh for Christ sakes boy. Will you stop acting like you're in the middle of a fucking Soap Opera. You're a Blood-Childe. Your place is with your Father. And it is especially so now, between you looking like death warmed over, and Snow out for all Blood-Childer. So *stop* fighting your destiny and do what you're suppose to do." Nic couldn't believe that such a speech was coming out of his mouth. Him, of all people. The disgraced Blood-Childe of Heinrich Nest. He had never done what had been expected of him.

Djoser caught the irony of the situation too, as he snorted in contempt.

Spike had finally managed to make it to his feet, but found that he had to hold onto the table, or fall over. "Hey fuck off. I didn't ask for your advice, in fact just who the bloody hell are you?"

"He's our uncle. The one we were looking for." Djoser said this quietly to Spike.

{Our Uncle?} A look of incredulous disbelief, followed by a cynical laugh. "I don't suppose you're going to be giving us any help and money, so we can go to the desert."

{Help? Money? Desert?} A few seconds to put the pieces together, and then giving Djoser a murderous look for having such a hare-brained plan, Nic silently offered a prayer to the gods. {Angelus, get your ass here NOW.}

**

Making his way to the stairs, Angel could hear voices. They were all down below. The humans. Darla. Drusilla. He would wait. Wait for the killing to end. He would let the two women kill the lawyers. His olive branch to them.

After all, what did he care about a group of heartless lawyers? And afterwards, he could make his peace with Darla and Dru. Convince them to back him up against Snow and the Council. Convince them to help him save his Childe. His William.

He heard a groan coming from the woman laying on the floor by the front door. She was dying. He debated with himself. Snap her neck mercifully, or let her lay there and die of blood loss. Still considering as his cell phone rang. Making himself comfortable in a chair, as he pulled his phone out of his coat pocket. He had time, with nothing much to do.

"Nic? You find out anything about Dam..."

"Angelus, BOTH of your Childer are here in Sunnydale. GET HERE FAST! There's a problem with William. Oh, and DON'T bring Darla with you. That BITCH has been fucking things up again. You'll find all of us at the Magic Shop."

"Nic, what's wrong with William? And what has Darla done?"

But he was talking to a dead phone. {Fucking cell phones!} With no phone number for Nic's cell phone, Angel couldn't call his brother back. Waiting a moment, hoping that Nic would call him back, pondering. He'd go to Sunnydale immediately, but first he'd say his good-byes to everyone.

He had no idea what Nic what talking about as far as Darla fucking things up. Darla had been here in L.A. since her rebirth. He'd leave Darla and Drusilla alive. He might still need them. But still, drop a small threat. Keep them guessing. And if by chance, Nic was actually telling the truth, and Darla had somehow been involved with William being taken hostage by Snow, then he *would* kill her.

****

Caitiff Vampires are clanless vampires. Usually because they were abandoned by the ones who made them.

~Part: 7~

"Are you sure he's alright?" Nic looked closely at his sleeping nephew. "What did you give him in that drink? Because mortal, if you did something to..."

"I only gave him a sleeping potion. He could use some sleep. And this keeps him...keeps him here until Angel arrives." Giles was tired. A long day at the shop, and then having to deal with Spike, Djoser and now Nic. He, like Buffy couldn't wait until Angel arrived and took his family out of Sunnydale.

Eyeing the group of humans with distrust, Nic was uneasy. He was used to human company, but the humans he normally associated with were criminal types, not Slayers, Watchers, and middle-class American youth. Smacking Djoser across the head, because he needed to release some nervous energy. {If William dies before Angelus gets here, I can kiss my ass good bye.} "You seem rather calm." He spoke in a low voice to his nephew. "Thought you didn't like being around mortals."

The dark vampire shrugged his shoulders. "My Sire trusts them. And William here seems to trust them. Relax. He's breathing quietly. Always breathes when he sleeps. You only need to worry when he starts to pant and breathe heavily, because then he's having his nightmares."

"Nightmares?"

"Relives being tortured by Snow. Is always trying to outrun him."

"He relives... Jesus Fucking Christ! Angelus is going to hit the roof when he see what kind of shape William's in. And this is partially my fucking fault. Wonder how I'm going to look with all my body parts rearranged?"

Dark eyes met dark eyes, as the two vampires exchanged looks. Both had the same conflicting emotions running through them regarding the arrival of Angel, wishing his presence and fearing his presence.

"You know Giles." Xander was seated at the store counter with a open book in front of him. "Maybe those two." Waving his hand in the direction of Djoser and Nic. "Can make themselves useful and help us research this Glory demon, while we all wait for Angel."

"Splendid idea, Xander." Giles picked up two more books. "We're researching a female demon called Glory." Shoving the books in the hands of the two reluctant vampires. "See if you can find anything. If there's nothing in either of these books, then there's some more books you can start on." Pointing to a stack of books sitting on the counter.

Exchanging looks again, the two vampires began to open the books slowly and very unenthusiastically. What had life come to for them? Helping a Slayer and her mortal friends bring down a fellow demon.

**

"Do you mean to tell me that William was with you in L.A.? And that you knew he was ill, and you didn't say anything to me. You didn't..." Growling with rage, body poised to attack. He wanted to punish and hurt.

"Got it." Giles quickly stuck the needle into Angel's arm.

Body jerking slightly, Angel looked accusingly at the ex-Watcher. He knew Giles' timing was just a little too convenient.

"Sire." Both Djoser and Nic were keeping a safe distance from Angel. "My intention was to talk to you about William, but...*she* was there."

"She meaning Darla? So what if she was there?" Watching the blood flow from his arm through the tube into the bag, Angel willed it to flow faster. He wanted to get up. For some inexplicable reason, his eldest had lost all sense of reason. Blatant disobedience, compounded by a lack of respect. It hadn't escaped Angel that Djoser had not knelt down before him. That boy needed to be given a lesson.

"It was William's wish that you not be told about him, if you were with *her* again." Uncharacteristic insolence evident in his voice.

Noticing that the bag was now full, Angel didn't wait for Giles. Ripping out the needle, he flew across the room, grabbing Djoser by the throat. "Down on your knees boy. How DARE you speak to me in that tone. How DARE..."

"That's right Angelus. Take it out on Djoser. He was only doing *your* job by taking care of William. You..."

"Nic." Holding his Childe down by throat, Angel growled a warning at his brother. "If I were you, I would keep my mouth SHUT. I haven't forgotten your part in this whole fiasco."

"That's right." Nic waved his hand in exasperation. "It's my fault that William is in this grave condition. It's Djoser's fault. It's everyone's goddamn fault, except yours! He was in *your* custody last August. So what the hell happened? How did he manage to run away? And then the part that really kills me is that he comes back to L.A. The city that you say is your city now, and you have no idea that he's there. Runs around and gets captured by Snow. Djoser rescues him, and then both of them return to L.A., and for more than a month they're running around loose within a 250 mile radius, and you are totally oblivious. You are..."

"I *thought* William was dead." Angel defended himself, but his brother's point was starting to make itself clear in his head, causing him to relax his hold on Djoser.

"Yeah, you thought." Voice full of scorn. "You're as clueless as our now dust Sire. So full of yourselves. The Old Master could never see what was going on under his own nose, and neither can you."

Throwing Djoser down to the floor with a snarl, still in a rage, but unable to deny the words of his brother. Pacing a moment, seeing Djoser and Nic eyeing him warily, Buffy and the gang watching them with fascination, and Giles attending to an unconscious William. Stopping his pacing, Angel once again addressed the other two vampires. "I think it best that the two of you leave my presence for a time. If you stay, I might just hurt you. My fault or not, both of you have been irresponsible also. " Turning to Buffy. "Can I ask you to take them to see Willie. I'm trying to track down a vampire named Damon. He was supposed to meet me here in Sunnydale last August."

"Angel." Buffy was remembering Nic's claim that Angel had not been recursed. And she was concerned. Angel certainly acted more like his soulless self. "My mother is ill. I've got Dawn to think about. I don't have time..."

"Just do this one favor for me. And in return, the two of them will patrol for you tonight, and every night that we're here in Sunnydale."

"EXCUSE ME!" Nic was outraged. "I fulfilled my part of the deal. Not only is William back with you, but you have Djoser back too. And it's been a touching family reunion, if I say so myself. But I am out of here. My lover is waiting for me. Business partners are waiting for..."

"You're not going anywhere." Temper now somewhat under control, Angel walked over to Giles and a sleeping Spike.

"Angelus! You *can't* do this to me. I have a life back in..."

"What kind of life do you have? Associating with a bunch of Caitiff vampires. So beneath you." Angel spat in contempt at his brother. "I was thinking about what you said. About me now being the High Master. It's true. I am now the Master of the Tremere Clan. And you, a Bloodline brother to the Master, have certain duties and responsibilities."

"What Clan? There is no Tremere Clan anymore."

"There are four Bloodlines Tremeren vampires right here in this room. The Tremere Clan still exists."

"Son-of-a-fucking-bitch!" Nic mumbled under his breath, as his brain worked furiously searching for another argument, and finding one. "I was thrown out of the Clan two centuries ago. I am no longer considered a Tremeren vampire."

"And you forget brother, so was I. But everyone from the old regime is dead, and I am the one now in power. You've been reinstated. And I'm counting on you." Eyes now glowing yellow. "Counting on you to help me exact my revenge." Looking at his Childe's wounds. The one on his neck. The ones on his arms. "Snow will suffer for this offense. When I get my hands on him, he'll be screaming and begging to be sent to hell."

**

He couldn't move his arms or legs. Exerting a tremendous amount of energy to try and move one or all of his limbs. He needed to move, because HE was coming for him. The enemy. The enemy with no eyes. The enemy who wanted him. Wanted him...

"MOTHERFUCKING WANKER! I wanna see your eyes. I want to..." Turning his head to scream at his pursuer.

"WILLIAM!" A raised voice in his ear. A familiar voice. Slowly returning to consciousness. Arms and legs being restrained. A hard body beneath him. Water around him. His cheek pressed to a broad chest.

"Djoser?" As the fog dissipated around his brain, Spike was surprised. To be held by his brother when he was sleeping was out of the ordinary. Djoser never slept anywhere near him. Not since years ago, when the two of them had shared a bed, and Spike, with his usual flailing had broken his brother's nose, and had blackened an eye.

"William, my Childe. How are you feeling?" A gentle hand stroking his head.

{Angel?} "Angel!" Spike's head jerked up. He now was totally aware of where he was and with whom he was with. Lying on top of his Sire in a bathtub filled with hot water and blood. Sire's blood. He was lying in a pool of healing waters.

"Father, Childe. I am your Father. You will address me as either Father or Sire. It is not proper for you to address me by my name."

{Still a Poof! After everything that has happened, he still has to give a lesson in etiquette.}

"And Darla?" Part of him wanted to pull himself away from the strong arms that held him, but another part of him felt so safe in those arms. "Where is *she*?"

"She's in L.A. She won't be coming here." Puzzled, Angel tried to look his Childe in the eye, but Spike wouldn't make eye contact. "Why are you so concerned about Darla? You've never met her. She..."

"I met her once. I remember her well." Hate tinged his voice. "She was there. She was there when I was presented in Court."

"Yes, Darla was there at your presentation, but you barely remember that night. How is it that you remember her in particular?"

"Because she was the one who requested that I be impaled." Silence for a moment, as Spike bitterly played that memory over in his head, while Angel stiffened in shock. "You weren't in the room. You never..."

"The Master made me wait out in the vestibule. I was out there with Djoser, Alex, Anton, and...Victor. So none of them knew what had happened inside either. We didn't know, and no one ever told us." Voice just a whisper, as he tightened his arms around his Childe. Neither spoke for a few moments, as they both were lost in memories of the past. "She will pay for what she did to you. I will see her become dust again. But this time, she won't die easily by a stake. I will see her suffer first."

"Yeah...right Mate." Spike was not so ready to believe. "Darla. Your Maternal Sire. The one you used to follow all around Europe. Couldn't stay away from her. And now just like that you're going to...wait a minute. Did you say dust her? Isn't she human? Cordelia told me she was human. And Djoser thought..."

"Wolfram and Hart brought her back as human, but she was just turned recently by...and you're not going to believe this, by Drusilla."

Spike couldn't help it, as a snort of laughter escaped him. Darla turned by Drusilla. Interwoven together. All of them. They couldn't escape each other, no matter how hard they tried. Pressing his face once again into the hard chest, he still felt tired and very weak. Pain was better, but still there.

"I staked Darla, and sent her to hell when she threatened someone I loved. Believe me Childe, I will have no problem sending her back to hell. Especially for you...my beloved Childe. My beloved William. And Snow. He, too will suffer for what he did to you. But I'm thinking that death is too good for him, so I'm planning something special for Mr. Snow."

Spike couldn't miss the sincerity and the determination in Angel's voice. "You mean it. You bloody well mean it. After all this time you..."

"I've been telling you over and over Childe. I'm here for you now. Just trust me. I will take care of you from this day forward." Bending his head to nuzzle a neck. "I know I've done you wrong. Let me make it up to you. Let me make it right. Don't leave me again Will. Don't ever leave me again."

A warmth began to spread inside Spike's body. He felt warm inside and out. Wrapping his arms around the wide body beneath him, he closed his eyes. He was safe now. He could, at long last sleep. Snow couldn't get him. Couldn't hurt him, because his Father was here protecting him.

"William." Angel could see his son starting to drift off. "Aren't you hungry? Why don't you feed from me? You need to eat."

Shaking his head just slightly, Spike's eyes were so heavy he couldn't keep them open. "Not hungry now. Just want to sleep. I don't have to run anym..." Falling into a deep slumber, he finally found the restful sleep he needed. Without nightmares. Without fear.

**

Heavy drapery blocked out the sun, leaving the room in cool darkness. One arm firmly around Spike, while the other supported his head, Angel watched his son closely. Waiting to see if there would be more nightmares. Pondering why his Childe refused to eat. A Childe refusing Sire's blood was unheard of. Wondering if Giles knew what the fuck he was doing.

The wounds looked better, but were far from healed. A sure sign that all was not right. Anxious, he wanted to know if William would eat.

Right before sunrise, Djoser and Nic had found their way to the mansion, and Djoser coming to look for his younger brother, had found him wrapped in his Sire's embrace. Feeling more forgiving of Angel, Djoser relaxed a little. Relaxed enough to tell his Sire what had occurred in New York. Told him about how Snow had tortured William. Told him how the torturers forced fed his brother animal blood. Forced him to eat, so that there would be some bodily restoration, and they could then continue the torture. And since being rescued, how William refused to eat any animal blood. Refused to eat just about anything at all, and how his condition had been on a steady decline.

Waking up, Spike could feel himself being held down, and instinctively he began to fight. "Bloody bastard. Let go of me!"

"Will!" Having to use both arms to keep himself from being hit. "You're safe. Stop fighting. You're here with me."

Now fully awake. Remembering where he was and who he was with. "Sire." Spike couldn't hide his relief, as he let himself go limp. Taking stock of his surroundings. "And Djoser?"

"He's in the next room sleeping. Took out a few demon lairs last night...are you hungry Childe?"

{Hungry?} Spike wasn't sure. After not eating for so long, he didn't even know what hunger felt like anymore. Pushing his body up against his Sire's, because instinct told him that that's where he would find strength again.

Biting his lip, Angel cut it open. Brushing lips against lips, smearing blood. "Eat Childe. I know you're hungry." Enticing. Wheedling.

Hesitantly licking his lips, tasting Sire's blood. Its deep, rich flavor usually irresistible. But even Sire's blood couldn't overcome the knot in Spike's stomach. "Not hungry."

"What do I need to do?" Angel's larger body now blanketing his son's. Licking lips, eyelids, face and neck. A huge feline cleaning his off-spring. "Do I need to feed you?"

"No...I'll eat later." Stalling. "But I do want...I want...I want..." Basic instinct was screaming inside his head. His body. Trying to consciously understand, as his hands working independently from his brain, reached down and began to stroke and fondle. Close physical contact had given Angel an erection, and Spike had felt it rubbing up against him.

Angel couldn't help the small moan that escaped his lips, as he now began to lick a cool neck. "William." A hoarse whisper. "Don't...now...now is not the time. You need to ea..." Another moan, as the experienced hand that gripped him began to tighten and move faster.

"Come on Sire. It's been months. I know you want to." Spike was now beginning to understand his inner voice. It spoke deep inside him, telling him that if he become one with his Father, he would become better. His weakness would be taken by his Father, and his Father's strength would become his. Spreading his legs. Seducing. "I want this. And I want it *now*."

Desire overcame reason. Although a small part of Angel's brain began to wonder if everyone was right. That he was a selfish, egotistical bastard who only thought of himself and his own pleasure. Coating fingers with his own pre-cum, he lightly worked them in and around his Childe's sphincter muscle. Stretching him while searching for prostate.

Wonderful sensations flooded his body. Spike hadn't thought he would ever feel such bliss again. Receiving pleasure equal to the pleasure he was giving. Another whisper in his ear. "Are you sure Childe? Because soon I'll be to the point where I won't be able to...." Not bothering to answer, just guided Angel into him.

Gently pushing himself in. Slowly. Trying not to hurt, even though physical impulses were telling Angel to thrust and pound into the slighter body beneath him. "You still ok?"

Feeling his Sire totally in him. Spike felt good. He felt complete. "Try not to move for a minute." Voice pleading. "Just stay here. Don't leave me."

Tremendous willpower to keep his body still. "Alright Will. But why don't you eat from me then?" Ripping a vein open in his chest. Pulling a head up, and pressing a face into the wound. Waiting a long moment, but then feeling his blood, his essence being drawn out of him. Smiling with satisfaction, because he Childe was eating. The first step of recovery. The first step to having his son whole again.

~Part: 8~

"No wonder you always were one of the favorites of my Sire. You're just like him. And you're just like your Old Man. Dull. Duller. And Dullest." Making his way down the stairs, a revived Spike could hear the conversation. All his senses told him that his Father was still here in the mansion. Searching for him, he followed the voices.

"And you think being a frivolous wastrel is so much more redeeming." Contempt was evident in Djoser's voice.

"At least I know the meaning of the word fun. You're either training or sitting around reading highfalutin literature. Who the hell are you trying to impress?"

"Hey, Sod off." Spike entered the room, ready to defend Djoser. The two had bonded since their escape from New York. "I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but why don't you get the hell out of here. We're back with our Sire now, and...."

"There's nothing I would love more, but the Great Angelus has mandated me to stay here."

"What the hell for?" Spike was never one to mince words. "You don't look very impressive to me, so what good are you to us?"

"Listen boy." Nic was starting to lose his temper. "I'm your Elder, so have some respect. And that goes for you too, Djoser. Angelus has given me back my rank in the Clan. I'm his Blood brother, and your Uncle, which means...."

"You outrank us?" Spike was confused. He had never paid much attention when his Ventrue teacher had given him lessons on the history and culture of the Vampire Clans and the Bloodlines. He had been an outcast, not given his rightful place, so he had rebelled, refusing to learn anything about his heritage. Years later, when Drusilla would be busy with her dolls, he, sometimes would sneak looks at books. But they had all been written by mortals, so most of what was written was either inaccurate or just pure supposition. Knowledge about the Bloodlines was safely guarded. Humans and most vampires knew little, if anything about them.

"Not exactly. Both of you are the Heir Apparents. But as a Bloodline Uncle, it's my duty to watch over you."

"Like we need you to watch over us...Nonce." Spike added the insult in for good measure. "Djoser, here could kick your arse from here to the border."

"Oh, is that a fact, Smart-Ass? I'll have you know that Iwas the one kicking his butt yesterday..."

"All your drinking and carousing has eaten away what little brain you had to start with." Djoser, of course remembered the incident completely differently. "I had you pinned to the ground...."

"Dream on Djoser. I was the one who had you pinned to the ground. You're just lucky that the Slayer showed up when she did." Voices escalated, as each vampire was sure in his mind that he had been the almost victor.

"I hope the two of you have this much energy when you're on patrol tonight." Standing in the doorway, leaning against the jamb, Angel assessed his family.

"PATROL! We patrolled last night. We did our good deed for the century." Nic had found an old deck of cards in in a pile of magazines. Sitting down, he began to lay out a game of solitaire.

"As long as you're here in Sunnydale, you'll patrol every night. That's the deal I have with Giles."

"Christ! I'll never be able to hold my head up in vampire society again. Helping a Watcher, patrolling for a Slayer...hey, why the fuck do we have to patrol for her? Isn't patrolling for demons her job? Why...."

"Nic!" Standing with his arms folded across his chest, Angel gave his brother a ominous glare. "Giles is our only hope for William's cure. He wants us to help Buffy, because she's under a lot of stress lately. We WILL DO whatever Giles wants until William is cured. Is that UNDERSTOOD?"

"And what makes you think that mortal can cure William?" Giving his nephew an apprising look. " He looks like shit. Either you forgot to feed him, or that human is playing us all for fools."

His brother had hit a nerve, because that same doubt that had been starting to grow in Angel. Demeanor becoming menacing, as suspicions and fears ran through him. "WOULD HE DARE?" Fists coming down hard on an end table. So hard that the table split in two.

Silence, as Djoser and Nic had already felt Angelus' temper, and had no desire to experience it again. Spike too, knew enough to not to enflame the situation, although he still couldn't help but poke his brother. "Do I really look like shit, cos I am feeling a little better, you know." A disadvantage to not having a reflection. You had to rely on other people to tell you how you looked.

The sound of a cell phone ringing broke the tension in the room. Angel looked over at Nic who waved his hand, gesturing toward another room. "It's your phone, not mine."

Angel exited the room, muttering expletives. Following the ringing, because he couldn't exactly remember where he had left his phone.

Spike poked his brother again. "Didn't you tell me that our Sire was cursed again? He doesn't exactly act all souly...." Looking over at the broken end table. "The real Angelus is the one who smashes things, not Soulboy...right?"

"He was in the garden with...with Darla, talking about helping her. Darla herself commented on him being souled again."

"Didn't we have this whole conversation last night?" Nic was cheating at solitaire. "I told you what Alex said."

"That she couldn't duplicate the gypsy curse." Djoser gave his uncle a scornful look. "So what does that mean? And why didn't you ask her to explain herself?"

"HE DOESN'T HAVE A SOUL, Djoser." Nic threw down his cards in disgust. He had still lost, even after cheating. "Does he act like he has a soul? You're a stupid Son-Of-A-Bitch!" Mumbling softly. "And I thought you were supposed to be such a smart one."

"Alright, listen up." Angel came back in the room, looking harassed. "I'm going to have to go to L.A. This is the plan, and I'm only going to say this once. The three of you will follow what I tell you to the letter. There WILL BE NO deviating from it."

"I'm going with you to L.A." There was no way that Spike was going to be separated from his Sire again, even for a little while.

Voice taking on a gentler tone. "No Childe. There's business I have to take care of there. I'm going to leave you with Giles while you two...." Looking at Djoser and Nic. "Patrol. Afterwards, go and pick up William at the Magic Shop. If I'm not there, then the three of you will come STRAIGHT back here, and wait for me. The rules are simple. No hunting or killing of the innocent, and you'll cooperate with the Slayer and her Watcher...for the time being. Now, Djoser, Nic go and eat something. You'll need it for tonight. "

Sitting motionless, Spike could feel a coldness flow through him. His Father was leaving him again. How many times had Angel left him in the past, because he had 'business' to take care of?

"And exactly what kind of business do you have in L.A.?" Nic had gotten up, but was in no hurry to go and eat. The kitchen was stocked with animal blood, not a tastebud tempter.

"I'm meeting with an envoy of the Ventrue Clan. But first, I have to clear out the humans from...from the Hyperion. And then..." Looking over at his youngest. "I have some overdue business that I need to settle for William."

"Overdue business? What overdue...."

"Nic! Stop questioning everything I say or...."

"But you forget, brother." Nic grinned to himself. The one small satisfaction he had with this whole mess. "As your only Blood Brother, I get to have the position of ...of...." Nic couldn't remember the word. It was an old word, a word from their almost dead language. "Fuck! Can't remember what it's called anymore, but...you know what I'm talking about. Your personal advisor. Did you know that the Mafia Dons have the same position in their Families? Always wondered if they stole the idea from us."

"You mean a Consigliere?" Spike had seen all the mafia movies.

"Yeah, that's what they call it. Can't remember what we call it anymore, but I do know that as your only Blood brother, it's my right to be able to question and advise you."

Face darkening, as Angel turned to face his brother. His drunken, dead beat, brother. Hell would freeze over, before Nic would give him advice. "I don't need an advisor." Said abruptly, he just wanted the subject closed.

"Angelus, you ordered me to stay here and take on my responsibilities and duties as your Bloodline brother. Well, I'm doing my duty. If you don't like it, then release me."

Angel stared threateningly at his brother, but Nic wasn't going to back down on this issue. He was right, and by pushing his point he would either gain his freedom, or be in a position that in the past, he had only dreamed of.

"Alright." Grudgingly conceding to his younger brother. "While in L.A., I plan to kill Darla." Stating this, Angel quickly turned to leave the room. He knew this would spark debate, and he didn't want to hear it.

"WHAT!" Nic shouted this at his brother's departing back. "You CAN'T kill Darla."

"Why can't he?" Spike was feeling a little better about his Sire's leaving for L.A. He'd endure a short separation, if it meant the death of Darla.

"Because." Nic gave Spike an exasperated look. "Killing one's Sire is against our laws. And killing Darla who's special is..."

"Darla needs to die." Simply said, Djoser, as always looked very unemotional, but inside his feelings were churning.

"Djoser!" Another exasperated look. This time directed at his other nephew. "The Ventrue Master always was a stickler for following our laws. If you kill her, you can kiss any hope of an alliance with them good by."

Stopping in his tracks, Angel had not thought of that perspective.

"Darla needs to die." Djoser repeated himself. "She's a danger to William."

"And Snow isn't?" Nic looked pointedly at Spike's wounds. "Listen...I'm no fan of Darla, believe me. But I'm telling you that now is not the time to kill her."

Face grim, Angel had half turned, pondering his brother's viewpoint.

"Don't kill her then." Spike spoke up, surprising them all with his words. "Snow is the one we should be concentrating on. And if our only hope of survival is an alliance with the Ventrues, the let's just forget Darla for now."

"She had you impaled." Angel had that bleak, determined look on his face. "And I'm going to kill her for that. I'll tell the Ventrue Master that it was justified. She dared to harm one of my Blood-Childer."

"Hang on. Time out." Nic interrupted. "I'm lost. What's going on? Darla had William impaled?"

"You know bloody well what happened. Weren't you there?...Bloody Bastard...probably got a good laugh out of it." It was still a humiliation that Spike had a hard time living with.

"I...I...."Confused, Nic looked at both Angel and Djoser for a moment, before it dawned on him. "Oh Jesus! This happened at your presentation? Fucking A...oh Childe." Turning to Spike. "I am SO fucking sorry. I wasn't there though. I heard later through the demon grapevine that the Master had condemned you to death, but I wasn't...I had already been kicked out of the Clan for what...50 years or more."

Eyeing his uncle thoughtfully, Spike knew he was telling the truth. Knew he was sincere with his apology. And at that moment, Nic went from a person of suspicion to family.

"So this crime happened at the time of William's presentation? Who actually ordered the impalement? Darla or The Master?" No one bothered to respond. The answer was obvious. "As Master, he would have had the right to put a Blood-Childe to death. You have no justification to kill Darla....Besides, I heard that she was human now. Thought that was against your soulful ethics to kill a human." Nic looked closely at Angel, not wanting to miss his reaction. As far as he was concerned, Angelus acted like the true Angelus, and if he was planning to meet with the Ventures then he couldn't be souled, but because Djoser was so convinced that Angelus was recursed, Nic just wanted a little more confirmation.

"She's a vampire again. Dru turned her." Spike volunteered this information to his uncle.

"WHAT!...Jesus Fuckin' Christ." Nic shook his head. "This keeps getting better and better. You know, I think that bitch Alex threw us all into a warped alternate universe, before she ofted herself. Because I sure feel like I'm in the middle of a Twilight Zone episode. But Angelus you just can't...."

"She'll kill William if she gets a chance." Djoser still remembered Darla's hatred.

"I hear both of you." Hands resting on the one unbroken end table in the room, Angel contemplated his options. "I'm still going to pay Darla a visit. I won't kill her, but I'm going to hurt her badly. Put her out of commission for a while. One less person I need to be watching out for." Mind made up, Angel stood up straight, looking his brother in the eye with a slight smile on his face. "You know Nic...I think you're starting to grow up. Guess you will be good counsel for me after all."

"OH FUCK!" The realization dawned on Nic. "I just blew it, didn't I? Should have screwed up, then you would have let me go. Christ Almighty! Now I'm stuck. Stuck doing my duty and taking care of my responsibilities. Wonder if I went and begged the Slayer, if she would put me out of my misery?" The vampire stomped out of the room, grumbling to himself, while Angel and his two Childer gave each other amused looks. There was no doubt. Nic was back in the fold. He was once again, a Tremeren vampire.

**

Waiting for Djoser and Nic to finish feeding, Angel took a moment with William. He wanted to calm fears, and also offer more of his blood. "Are you hungry Childe?" Unbuttoning his shirt as he approached the sitting vampire.

"Don't bother undressing. I'm not hungry." Spike was slightly appeased that part of Angel's business was to 'take care' of Darla, but he still had the same empty feeling he used to have when his Sire would take his business trips. Bad things had always happened then.

"You should eat again." Gently pressing his Childe's face against his bare chest. "My blood. It's strong. It will make you strong again." Bending his head to whisper in an ear.

"Nahh." Spike shook his head. "Not hungry now, but I'll eat when you get home." Spike's only leverage to try and guarantee Angel's fast return.

"Eat now. You can also eat when I come home. And I will come home to you. I plan to be home before sunrise." Sensing his son's fears, Angel tried to reassure him.

"You're going to deal with your pet humans, meet with the Ventrue envoy, and also take care of Darla, all in one night? Super Angel. Can move at the speed of light." Spike had learned that flippancy was an effective way to hide fear.

Angel couldn't help but smile, as he kissed his Childe's forehead. "Ok. I might not make it by sunrise, but I will be home by tomorrow. I promise you that." Wrapping arms around Spike, Angel rested his chin on top of a fair head, concerned. His son still had no appetite, and again the refusal of Sire's blood. Something was dreadfully wrong. He would talk to Giles before he left for L.A. See what the Watcher had to say. Also get the supposed cure from him, and send it along to the Ventrues. See what their healers had to say about it. And if in fact, the mortal was double-crossing him, then Rupert Giles would soon be feeling pain unlike any he had felt before. Greater even than torture that Angel had inflicted on him a few years ago. Angel was tired of everyone assuming that he would control his demon, because of his soul. Perhaps it was time, especially for the humans to see exactly what Angelus, Angelus the New Master of The Tremere Clan was capable of.

~Part: 9~

"Ok Giles. Done with this book. Now will you send Xander for a telly? I'm missing my programs." Stuck at the Magic Shop with Giles and the Scoobies, Spike had been told to help them research a demon named Glory.

Buffy let out a loud sigh. "Spike, you did not finish that book. All you did was look at the pictures."

"Yeah, and...." Caught in the act, Spike scrambled for a defense. "And how do you know that all I did was look at the pictures? You're suppose to be reading your own book, Summers." Waving his hand at the book in Buffy's lap. "Anyway, there were no pictures of a demon named Glory in this book. Don't have to read the bleedin' thing to know that there's nothing in it about her."

"Spike." Giles, eyes closed, held his glasses in one hand, while rubbing his forehead with the other. Spike was more of a hindrance than a help. The Watcher wondered if he should send Xander to look for Djoser and Nic. Have them come and get Spike. Would one evening without a patrol cause the world to end? "Perhaps we should send word to your brother and uncle to come get you? The three of you could go back to the mansion and wait for Angel."

"Then who's going to patrol?" Xander looked up from the book he was reading, happy for the interruption.

"Well...maybe...for one evening we can...."

"No Giles." Buffy slammed her book shut. "We're helping them, so they can keep their end of the bargain by doing the patrol. Spike here will help us out in another way." The near fatal blunder Buffy had made not long ago still weighed on her mind. And here was an opportunity to find out what had happened, the mistakes that other Slayers had committed just before their deaths.

"Wot?" Spike was wary. The Slayer looked too smug. Although for the life of him,
Spike couldn't figure out what terrible thing she could have him do that was worse than reading an effin' book.

"You're going to sit here and tell us all about the two Slayers you killed. The one during the Boxer rebellion in China, and the one in New York."

"Why?" Normally bragging about the two Slayers he had offed would be right up Spike's alley, but because it was something that the Slayer wanted, he was instantly suspicious.

"It's something that I want to hear about. Now...you either can tell me about them, or you can pick up that book whose pictures you were looking at, and start reading it."

"Alright Summers." Weighing his options, Spike had made up his mind that he would just about do anything to get out of having to help with this bloody boring research. To play it safe, he decided that he would get the Slayer to take him somewhere away from Giles and his mountain of books. "I'll tell you what you want to know, but it will take a while, so I'm going to need something to keep my throat from going dry. So...take me over to the pub and buy me a couple of pints. I'll tell you all about it there."

"Spike." Giles knew going to the pub was a bad idea. "Your instructions were to stay here until either Djoser and Nic came for you, or Angel...."

"Rupert, stop being such a Nancy Boy. The pub is just down the block. And I'm going to be in the company of Miss Super Slayer who promised my Sire that she would look after me." Spike grinned at Buffy. He knew that it irked her that she had to make sure that nothing happened to him. "When Djoser and Nic show up, tell them to go and pick me up at the pub. My Sire won't be home until sometime tomorrow, so he'll never even have to know."

"Spike. THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA." Giles was adamant.

"It's ok Giles." Buffy didn't think it was such a bad plan. "I'll take Spike over to the bar. He can tell me about the Slayers, and the rest of you can continue to research Glory in peace and quiet."

"Ahh, damn. You mean we can't hear about the Slayers too?" Xander was disappointed. He'd rather hear about the Slayers than do research.

"No Xander. You guys continue to see what you can come up with on this Glory demon....Come on Spike. Let's go." Buffy had stood up and was headed for the door.

"Alright, but you need to buy me buffalo wings too."

"Buffalo wings?" Giles' head shot up. "Spike are you hungry? Angel said that you weren't eating much. I have some blood here...in fact, I have some of Angel's blood here. Would you like some?"

"No." Spike considered a moment. "Don't feel like blood, but do have a taste for spicy buffalo wings."

Standing in front of the door, waiting for Spike, Buffy could only shake her head at her former mortal enemy. "You are the weirdest vampire I ever had the displeasure of meeting."

**

The air smelled of gasoline and burnt flesh, as the two vampiresses sat under a spraying fire hydrant. Badly injured, Darla wasn't even feeling the pain yet, as confusion clouded her mind. "That wasn't Angel...wasn't Angelus either. Who was that?"

Stopping to glare at them from across the street, Angel etched the scene in his memory. Later he would want to describe it, maybe even sketch it for his Childe. "William's Revenge." He muttered to himself.

The women's cries serenaded him to his car. Next stop, to the Hyperion again. Hopefully the Ventrue envoy would already be there. If not, Angel would only wait until sunrise. He had made a promise to his son that he would be back in Sunnydale by tomorrow, a promise he meant to keep. His Childe's trust in him was fragile, and he needed to handle it carefully. Not shatter it in pieces again, because this time it might never be put back together.

Zigzagging through traffic, Angel contemplated making the envoy wait while he took a shower. He wanted one badly, and it might be good strategy to put the Ventrues in their place. They were of the opinion that he needed them, but in reality they needed him just as much. It would send a pointed message to their Master. He was still Angelus, Blood-Childe of Heinrich Nest. A pure blood Tremeren vampire. He bowed to no one, not even to the Ventrue Master.

Entering his domain, he felt their presence. More than one. The envoy had brought bodyguards. Slowing his steps, Angel readied himself for battle. For years now the only dealings he had had with other vampires were to hunt them down and kill them, so he felt unsure of himself. He had forgotten what it was like to associate in a nonviolent way with his own kind.

Walking cautiously into the hotel lobby, he spied them across the room. A seated figure rose, flanked by two other vampires. Tall and majestic, it was the Ventrue Master himself. "Angelus." Voice smooth like syrup. "It has been many years. We have much to talk about."

**

"Yep, killing me that Slayer in China was the best night of my life." A bold face lie, but Spike hid it by taking a couple of good swallows of beer.

"You got off on it." Buffy was disgusted.

"Well, yeah. I suppose you're telling me you don't?" Pretending scorn, Spike set his glass down.

**

China, 1900

"Oh, Spike, look at the wonderful mess you've made. That's a Slayer you've done in. Naughty... wicked... Spike." Looking at the dead corpse, Drusilla's eyes glowed.

"Yeah, a fella could get used to this." Feigning an arrogance he didn't feel, Spike, too studied the dead Slayer. He didn't want to look Drusilla in the eye, because then she would read him and know. Her ability to know people's true feelings could be very bothersome at times.

"My Spike. My Slayer killer. You're going to be famous now. People will talk about you." Clapping her hands, Drusilla danced around the dead body.

"I bloody well hope so." He muttered, still looking down at the ground. {And will the word get to my Father. Will he hear about this, and be proud? Will he know that I've finally become the son he wanted? And then will he come back for me?}

Two years had passed since Angelus had deserted his family. The household had long been disbanded, but many still whispered about what may have happened to Angelus, The Scourge of Europe. Spike had heard all the rumors and speculations. Killed by a gypsy clan. Cursed by a gypsy clan. Killed by mercenary demons hired by Angelus' brother Luc.

Djoser had left him, shortly after his Sire, never telling anyone what he had learned from Darla. So Spike was never able to resolve the two fears that resided in him. He feared his Father to be dead, even though his blood told him differently. The blood that flowed through his veins; the same blood that flowed through his Sire's veins screamed to him that Angelus still lived.

He feared his Father to be alive. Because if Angelus still lived, then Spike had truly been abandoned by his Sire. Abandoned, because he was such a failure, such an embarrassment.

For the next century, consciously and then subconsciously, Spike would desperately remake himself in his Father's image. So it was the perfect irony that when he finally met up with Angel again, a souled Angel, he would be rejected. Rejected for the very traits that he had changed to please his Sire.

**

"Ok, so what about the Slayer in New York?" Vampire and Slayer were now playing a game of eight ball, while Spike continued to regale Buffy about his two triumphs.

"The first was all business but the second, she had a touch of your style." Spike studied the pool table. "Corner pocket. And if I make it Summers, you owe me another plate of buffalo wings."

Buffy rolled her eyes upward. "How many plates of those things can you eat? I'm gonna tell Angel and Giles that there are no problems with your appetite. You're a bottomless pit."

"Buffalo wings aren't food for vampires." Spike, aiming carefully was getting ready to take his shot.

"HEY...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Nic, followed by Djoser came storming into the bar. "The instructions were that you were to stay at the Magic Shop, until..."

Nic's yelling caused Spike to miscue, giving Buffy the chance to win the game. "Bloody hell! You just cost me some buffalo wings with your bellowing. So you can bloody well buy me a plate of them and another beer too." Straightening up, Spike glared daggers at his uncle.

"The hell I am! We're all leaving now, and going back to the mansion. And there, I'm going to call Angelus and tell him what a brat you are, and what a brat your brother is too. And that he better wrap up his business and get his ass back here, cos I'm tired of babysitting you two."

"Wot'd you do?" Spike looked at his brother, scarred eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Almost got me killed. Fuckin' Jerk." Nic was not a happy vampire, as he gave Djoser an angry stare. "You let that Gargorus demon get right past you."

"The problem was that you fell over your own feet."

"Ok. Ok. Enough!" Buffy had put the eight ball in the corner pocket, winning the game. "Nic, take a break, and go have yourself a drink, while Djoser fills me in on the patrol, and Spike finishes giving me some information."

"We're not suppose to be here Slayer." Nic protesting a little, remembered Angel's instructions, although a couple of shots of whiskey sure sounded good.

"It's ok. I'm watching over Spike. Go have a drink." Buffy motioned Spike and Djoser over to a table. "Alright Djoser, what happened on the patrol?"

"He needs a beer first before he can tell you, and I need a refill." Spike motioned to a passing waitress. "And I think that this should be your treat, Summers."

Heaving a sigh, Buffy pulled out more money. This evening was starting to get expensive. "Alright, but Djoser, you and Nic had better have cleared out a lot of demons."

"A lair of Gargorus Demons, and we also stumbled across a lair of....." Taking the beer from the waitress, Djoser hesitated. He didn't know how much to say to the Slayer. "Are you still going with that blond soldier boy?"

Taken by surprise, Buffy could only stare at the dark vampire for a few seconds, confused by the unexpected question. "Riley? Yeah, and what business is it of yours?" She felt uncomfortable, remembering that supposedly Djoser once had an interest in her.

"Yeah, why you asking 'bout Captain Cardboard?" Leaning back in his chair, Spike looked at his brother with curiosity.

Djoser was uncertain. Faltering, he didn't know whether he should tell the Slayer what he had seen or not. The decision was made for him though, as an upset Riley came flying through the doors of the bar. Riley had just come from the vampire 'whore' lair where he had been a regular customer. The lair had been attacked, and while Riley had been making a quick, but discreet exit, he had gotten a glimpse of one of the attackers. A tall, dark vampire, a vampire he had seen before in Sunnydale.

"Buffy I need to talk to...You!" Stopping in mid sentence as he realized he was staring at the very vampire he had come to tell Buffy about. "What the hell are you doing...and him too?" Now also seeing Spike.

"Havin' a pint, a friendly chit-chat, and a few dances with Summers here." Giving Riley a wink, Spike deliberately provoked the other man. He hadn't forgotten Riley's insults from last summer.

"Buffy, you need to leave NOW." Grabbing Buffy by the arm, Riley wanted her away from the vampires' company. He didn't like them, and he wasn't sure what, if anything Djoser had seen at the vampire lair.

"Riley, stop..." Brushing Riley's hand away from her arm angrily, Buffy, at the same moment realized how her being in the company of Djoser and Spike looked. "This...I'm...it's just a business chat I'm having with them."

"I don't care. You're leaving with me..." This time Riley was stopped from taking a hold of Buffy's arm.

"Do you not hear so well human?" Now standing, Djoser held Riley's arm in a viselike grip. "The Slayer is conducting business with us, and you're interrupting."

Emotions and fear of being found out made Riley act before he thought. Trying to pull his one arm free, he simultaneously tried to wrap his free arm around Djoser's head. But Riley had forgotten. Forgotten that he was no longer the 'enhanced' Riley, made stronger and faster by chemicals and drugs. Djoser had him around the throat before he was able to mount any kind of an attack.

"An inferior mortal is not allowed to touch a Blood-Childe." The vampire hissed in Riley's ear. "You've gone over the line, human."

"Djoser, LET HIM GO NOW!" Standing up quickly, Buffy pulled Riley out of Djoser's gasp.

"I can't...can't believe that you...associate with these...animals." Coughing and gagging, Riley was truly humiliated.

"We're animals, are we?" Djoser was standing nose to nose with Riley. "You didn't seem all that repulsed this evening when you were being sucked off by one of us animals."

"Sucked off? What's he talking about...Riley?" Puzzled, Buffy laid a gentle hand on her boyfriend's arm.

"Nothing." Riley wouldn't break eye contact with Djoser. "He's lying." Brushing off Buffy's hand.

"Am I? Show the Slayer your arm then." Breaking eye contact for a minute, Djoser gave Buffy an unreadable look.

"Let's just settle this. Roll up your sleeve." Buffy still didn't quite understand, but she didn't see what harm it would do, if Riley showed them his arm.

"Come on Mate. Roll up your sleeve, and let's take a look." Spike was now standing next to Djoser, beer bottle in one hand. He knew what Djoser meant by being sucked off, and was enjoying Riley's predicament.

"I'M NOT." Backed in a corner, faced down by two vampires, the only thing Riley knew how to do was to come out swinging. This time he lunged at Spike whose taunting grin was angering him, but the result was the same, as Djoser had him quickly around the neck.

Downing his second shot of whiskey, Nic was starting to feel a little better. His nephews being entertained by the Slayer, should behave themselves with her. He'd have a couple more shots, buy a bottle to go, and back they'd go to the mansion to wait for Angelus. By tomorrow his brother would be back, and Djoser and William would be his problem. Turning his head just to glance over at the trio, he was most annoyed to see that Djoser had some blond human around the neck. The Slayer was yelling at him to let go, and William stood by, watching the whole scene with a happy grin on his face.

"Djoser!" Grabbing the newly filled shot glass, he reached them in time to help the Slayer separate his nephew and the mortal. "What were your Sire's orders right before he left for L.A.? No hunting or killing innocent..." A thought suddenly occurred to Nic. Looking over at Riley, he asked. "You are an innocent human, right?"

"He's not." Spike chimed in, wanting to stir up trouble. "He's a trained demon killer, and he attacked Djoser, and then he attacked me. Attacking two Blood-Childer, isn't there a double penalty for that?"

"SHUT UP Spike." Buffy gave the vampire an evil look. She knew what he was trying to do. "Riley is just a common civilian now. He's not a threat to anyone." She was defending Riley, but didn't realize that her words wounded him more than anything the three vampires could ever do.

Spike, Djoser, Buffy and Riley all began to talk and quarrel at the same time, with Nic trying to make heads or tails with what they were all saying. So busy arguing that the five didn't notice the group of vampires with a white streak in their hair come into the bar. And along with the vampires were some extremely angry Gargorus demons. They were the few survivors of the lair that Djoser and Nic had taken out earlier. Arriving into town, Snow's followers had run into them, and the Gargorus demons were all too happy to point the way to the two Blood-Childer who had destroyed their lair.

Nic was the first to see them, as he had turned to go back to the bar for another drink. He needed one. His two nephews, the Slayer, and the blond mortal were giving him a headache. Shot glass dropping out of his hand, he yelled a warning to the others. Djoser, quick to protect Spike, grabbed his younger brother. His intention was to get him safely out of the back exit, but as the two vampires started for the rear of the bar, another group of white streaked vampires, backed up by a couple more Gargorus demons came through the back door. Both exits shut off, the vampires were blocked in, with no way out.

~Part: 10~

"Still burdened by the gypsy curse, are you not?" The Ventrue Master was extremely perceptive.

Keeping his expression neutral, Angel thought quickly. His regained soul might kill the whole possibility of an alliance. "Since the sorceress recursed me last summer, the soul seems to be weaker. It doesn't control me as much. You needn't concern yourself over...."

"I was never concerned about your soul, Angelus. In fact, it pleases me that you finally acknowledge it."

{Acknowledge my soul?} "I don't follow...."

"No you would not." The Ventrue Master gave Angel a knowing smile. "Your Sire would never admit it to himself, so all his off-spring remained in ignorance. All of you. Your whole Clan. All Tremeren vampires have lived all these years never understanding, never knowing who and what they are."

"And what are we?" Puzzled, Angel watched the Ventrue carefully.

"Hybrids. Half human, half demon. We walk with one foot in each world, neither one or the other. We have souls, all of us."

Arms folded across his chest, warning bells began to go off in Angel's head. {The Ventrues were never known for manipulative, underhanded thinking. What game is he playing? }

"I see disbelief written all over your face Angelus." The Master had expected such a reaction. "But it is true. Your Sire would never accept that. He tried to reject everything human, but that ultimately was his downfall, was it not? Your youngest Blood-Childe was condemned to death, because according to your Sire he was flawed. Flawed, because he was too human, and the day they tried to put him to death, was the day you revolted, no?"

"You don't need to tell me what happened. I was there." Suspicion made Angel answer abruptly. "The gypsies cursed me with a sou...."

"The gypsies cursed you with a self-hatred spell. Caused you to hate and reject who you were, thus the guilt and remorse over what you were, what you had done. A soul is bestowed by the Deities; it is not something that can be given by a simple majik spell."

Pacing in front of the Master, Angel considered the older vampire's words. He had never heard such a theory, that vampires were souled creatures. And just because such a theory came out of the mouth of the Ventrue Master, didn't mean he believed it. "Alright, so my soul or whatever is not anything that will stand between us coming to an agreement. Good, then we can proceed."

"Ah...but there is one issue I would like to address...your attack on your Maternal Sire."

Angel's head reared up in surprise. {How did he know?} "I just came from...."

"I know. My scouts witnessed the whole incident. They got here just before you did." The vampires were now circling each other, cautiously.

"I am now the Master of the Tremere Clan. Darla is a Tremeren vampire. What I do with my people is none of your concern."

"Darla is your Maternal Sire, and she is unique. You know that. And with all the Blood-Childer who have died now by Snow's hand, she is even more special. She needs to be protected!" Looking Angel directly in the eye, the Ventrue Master silently dared him to challenge his words.

"She threatens my Blood-Childer. And even though she's special, she's still just a turned vampire. She does not even come close to the value of a Blood-Childe."

"How does she threaten your Blood-Childer?"

Angel hesitated. Nic had been right. Darla had not actually done anything tangible against William, but he knew he had to be careful with the Ventrue Master. Angel had dealt with the Ventrue many years ago as an emissary for his Sire, and the Venture Master did not tolerate lies or manipulations of truth. "She was the one who requested William's impalement many years ago. She holds a deep hatred for him. I believe, that given an opportunity she would harm, or even kill him."

"A serious crime to be sure." The Master's expression was enigmatic. "But the hostility between them is not anything we need to worry about anymore. The problem will be resolved shortly on its own."

"How?" Angel's body froze. He knew before the Master answered that the news would be a disaster.

"Your youngest Blood-Childe is dying, Angelus. My healers had an opportunity to exam him after he was rescued from Snow. They poisoned him for a second time. And again, we do not know the type of poison. To complicate matters further, he was never cured from the first poisoning. My healers say he has two unknown poisons running through him, and it is very possible that they're reacting with each other in some mysterious way. Even if we had the services of the Council itself, nothing probably could be done for him. The best solution is to put your Childe out of his misery. He is just a burden. Without him, you will be free to concentrate on defeating Snow and the Council."

Speechless, Angel felt like something was wrapped around his chest, squeezing, causing immobility for a long moment.

"He serves no use to you or the Clan. And now as Master, you have to start thinking in terms of what's good for the whole. The whole Clan. Your people."

"There's only a handful of us left. I have no people. And William is my..."

"There is you Angelus." Stepping closer, the Ventrue Master's eyes were an incandescent red. "You can produce again. And your eldest, Djoser. For the last one hundred years, he has been chasing around after William instead of reaching his potential. The rumor is that he has some interest in the Slayer. The same Slayer you had relations with. If either of you were to impregnate her...think of what kind of Blood-Childe that might be. If you want the Bloodline of The Tremere Clan to continue, then you must think of yourself and your oldest. Your crippled Blood-Childe William is expendable."

**

"WILLIAM! Protect yourself, get down on the floor behind the bar." Djoser pushed Spike toward the bar, just as a couple of Gargorus demons launched themselves at him. But Spike was never one to run away from a fight. Grabbing a cue stick, he began swinging it at the advancing vampires.

Nic, Buffy and Riley also had their hands full, as they were converged upon by Snow's vampires and the surviving Gargorus demons. Outnumbered and trapped inside a building, their prospects looked bleak. But the Higher Powers, deciding that it was not their time yet, intervened.

Another group of vampires, vampires who had been tracking Snow's followers came rushing into the bar. Joining the Tremeren vampires and the Slayer, they evened the numbers out, and Snow's followers and the Gargorus demons soon found themselves in a losing battle.

Although weakened, Spike, with the aid of the cue stick, had managed to keep the enemy at a distance. Unfortunately because of slower reflexes, he was not fast enough to duck out of the way of a projectile cue ball. Hitting him in the left eye, it caused the eye to swell shut, making it difficult for him to see. Pressing a hand to the swollen eye, he resisted the urge to rub it, as he watched the surviving enemy flee. "Mates of yours?" He asked as he walked over to Djoser. They watched in interest as the leader of the unknown vampires ordered some of the minions to pursue the handful of Snow survivors.

Shaking his head no, Djoser looked over at Nic who was studying the leader with a puzzled look on his face.

Buffy, seeing that none of her allies seemed to know who the unknown vampires were, kept herself ready for battle. "Do we have to take these guys on now too?"

But the leader of the unknown vampires only looked over at them with disinterest. Nodding his head slightly at Nic, he turned and left the bar followed by the minions.

"Oh, he's a mate of yours." Spike looked over at his uncle. "So tell us, who is he, and why did he help us?"

"I don't know him, although he does look a little familiar." Nic was racking his brain, trying to place the unknown vampire.

"Hmmpf." Djoser snorted in disgust. "Probably someone you met while you were in an inebriated stupor."

"HEY!" Nic gave Djoser a shove. "My friend who-I-can't-remember-cuz-I was-in-a-intoxicated-coma, just saved our asses, so count your blessings. All my drunken socializing has not gone for naught."

"Cut him some slack, Djoser." Spike could relate to his uncle. He was sure that there were countless demons and humans walking around who he had met at one time in a drunken haze, and now had no recollection of who they were, or where he had had met them.

"It's just that he's such an embarrassment to...." Turning to Spike, Djoser got his first good look at his brother. "William! What the hell happened to you? I told you..."

"Oh Jesus Christ!" Nic swore loudly, as the group all turned to study the injured vampire. Spike's eye was now totally swollen shut and turning different shades of purple. "He wasn't suppose to leave the Magic Shop." Rounding on Buffy. "This is all your fault Slayer. You brought him here, so you can DAMN well explain to Angelus when he gets back why his orders were disobeyed, and how William got hurt."

"It wouldn't have mattered if we had stayed at the Magic Shop. They tracked us here through the surviving Gargorus demons. If you would have done your job better, and not let any of them get away, then none of this would have happened." A sense of familiarity washed over Buffy as she argued with the vampire. Squabbling with him was like squabbling with...she turned to look at the Spike, and it hit her. {Spike is like his uncle. I guess, genes work with vampires like they do with humans.}

"It wasn't my fault that those Gargorus demons got away." Nic was shifting blame to everyone. "Djoser didn't hold his own." Looking over at his nephew. "You let them get away, so you're to blame for all this too. When your Sire gets here...."But Djoser wasn't listening, as he was already half way to the door with his younger brother in tow, being the only one of the group who was smart enough to know that the best thing to do was to get Spike back to the Magic Shop and Giles.

**

"How does that feel Spike?" Giles had taken a bandana, soaked it in Angel's blood, wrapped it around some ice, and fastened it over the vampire's eye.

"Too tight around my head. And you didn't get any blood in my hair, did you?" Feeling good, Spike was a major aggravation, but injured in any way, he became intolerable. "And did my effin uncle get a hold of my Sire yet?"

Sighing heavily, Giles loosened the bandana around Spike's head. "We're still trying, but Angel doesn't have his cell phone turned on, and no one is answering at Angel Invest...."

"Just spoke to Cordy." Willow interrupted the Ex-Watcher. "Says that earlier this evening, Angel fired them all and threw them out of the hotel. She hasn't seen him since."

"Fired!" A surprised Giles stood up quickly to face the young woman. "What...did Cordelia say why?"

"Said that Angel arrived back all creepy, and weird. Told them to 'get the hell out, because they were all fired'."

Giles didn't like what he was hearing. The uncertainty about what the sorceress did or did not do to Angel was unsettling. Straightening up, he eyed Angel's two sons, wondering if he should just get them out of Sunnydale. Send them all to L.A.

"He couldn't have humans around when the Ventrues arrived." Djoser read the doubt in the Watcher's eyes.

"The...the Ventrues." Trying not to appear too interested.

"Seems that the Council broke the truce they had with the Ventrues. Killed one of their Blood-Childer, so now the Venture Master looks to ally himself with our Sire against the Council and Snow." Djoser didn't bother to hide his contempt for the Council. "I guess humans are as traitorous as demons."

Giles turned his head to look over at Willow so the vampires couldn't read his expression. Ventures allying with Tremeren vampires had always been one of the biggest fears of the Council for years. The highly intelligent Ventrues with a Master who some said was more than a thousand years old, allied with the aggressive and violent Tremerens. Such an alliance could prove fatal for the human race. "Keep...keep trying to reach Angel. He needs to know what...what happened to Spike." {While I try to contact the Council and find out who the bloody idiot was that decided to break the treaty with the Ventrues, pushing them right into the arms of...of Angel.}

**

Running hard, because his legs were stronger now, but even so the enemy was gaining on him. Protection was up ahead of him. His Sire, tall and imposing was running ahead of him. Screaming at him to stop and wait for him. To come back for him. To save him. But the figure ahead kept running. Long legs. Long strides, increasing the distance between them.

"SIRE! DON'T LEAVE ME! WAIT FOR...."

"William! Wake up, you're dreaming." Hands shook his shoulders.

Spike lifted his head off the table, tears still running down his face. Disoriented, he tried to shake off the nightmare.

Studying his nephew, Nic didn't like what he saw. Spike's injured eye now the size of a golf ball. "Gonna call that fucking Watcher. He's gotta do something for William. Look at him." Turning to Djoser. "He's looks terrible. Angelus is gonna have a fuckin' fit."

Hearing his Sire's name, hope spread through Spike's body. "Is he coming? Will my Sire be here soon?"

"He won't turn on his fucking phone, so we still haven't...." The bleak look on the younger vampire's face made Nic change his tune, wanting to reassure. "You know how your Father is with cell phones. Probably fell down under the seat in his car, and he doesn't even know it's there. Thinks it's on and in his coat pocket. He's most likely tied up with the Ventrue ambassador. There's been so much mistrust between our two Clans, that it will take a couple of hours for them to just agree on if they're going to sit or stand, and then when they decide they'll sit, it'll be another hour of negotiation on who gets the comfortable chair."

"He PROMISED me. He promised he would be back by today. And it's...." Spike looked around in confusion. They were back at the mansion. "What time is it?"

"Sunset. Our Sire will probably be back later tonight." Djoser too was trying to set his brother's mind at rest. "Let's turn on the television. Isn't it time for...." Trying to remember what programs his brother watched in the early evenings.

"Don't wanna watch telly. I want my Sire." Pain and fear caused Spike to act childishly. He still was unsettled by his nightmare. His Sire running from him, abandoning him again.

"I tell you what." An idea had occurred to Nic. "Let's have something to eat, and then we'll go see the mortals." Something to do. Something to distract his nephew.

"When our Sire returns, he'll look for us here." Djoser argued with his uncle.

"When he doesn't find us here, he'll know that we'd be at the Magic Shop." Nic had made his decision. "Besides I think that William here needs some kind of...help. That Watcher needs to whip up some kind of healing potion...." Trailing off as said Watcher and the Slayer walk into the room.

"We spoke with Angel." Giles and Buffy had come to the mansion with a purpose.

"That friggin' Poof better be on his way here." Tough talk to cover his panic, Spike wiped the tears off his face.

"No, actually not." Giles stepped closer to the vampire, studying his swollen eye. "Spike, your eye doesn't look any better than it did earlier. Were you icing it down like I showed you?"

"He kept taking the ice off. And what do you mean that Angelus isn't on his way here? And why didn't he call us?" Lack of sleep, worry, and now anger began to boil up in Nic. {If that isn't just like my arrogant asshole of a brother. Pawns off his brats on me, leaves, and then doesn't even have the courtesy to let me know what the hell is going on.}

"Well actually...he did try to call you, but he said that his call wouldn't go through on your cell phone." Giles looked mildly at the vampire.

"Wouldn't go through?" Nic scrambled to look for his cell phone which was buried under a pile of newspapers. "What the hell? It's turned off...oh...." Embarrassed grin. "Battery ran out."

Rolling his one good eye, Spike couldn't help the uncomplimentary slur that fell out of his mouth. "Brainless Wanker!"

Djoser, also muttered a derogatory insult at his uncle in the language of his human mother, causing Nic to glare angrily at both his nephews. "So what's going on? When is Angelus coming back?"

The Watcher and the Slayer exchanged uncomfortable looks. "I...I spoke with Angel at great length." Taking off his glasses, Giles took a moment to find the right words. "And he is aware of the situation."

"Situation? What situation?" Nic stepped closer to Giles, eyes narrowing. He was an accomplished prevaricator, so he could tell when someone else was lying or trying to be evasive.

"The situation is that all of you need to leave Sunnydale now." With the confidence of youth and being a Slayer, Buffy didn't have any problems being blunt and to the point.

"You...you see, the Council is on its way here." Part of Giles couldn't believe he was feeling so guilty about what he had done. Called the Council. Betrayed the trust of Angel and his family. But he had needed to clarify the situation with the Ventures. Since the decline of the Tremere Clan, the Ventrues had been the ruling Clan. Highly intelligent, the Ventrue Master had negotiated a truce with the Council, allowing both sides to exist peacefully. The relationship between human and vampire, although strained had benefited both. Without the constant battling, the Council and the Ventrue Clan had flourished. But now, if the Ventrue Master was looking for revenge, and was looking for guidance from Tremeren vampires, it meant that he was gearing up for a war.

"On its way here?" Face now in Giles' face, Nic had become menacing. He never really trusted their so called allies here in Sunnydale. "I've spent many years working as a 'Bull' for some of the biggest Mafia Bosses, and they have a word for people like you. A stoolie. And you want to know how many stoolies I've killed?"

"That's enough!" Grabbing Nic by the arm, Buffy pushed him back. "They're coming here because they have some important information on Glory. We need their help, because we just keep hitting dead ends." Buffy scanned over the three men, also feeling a twinge of guilt. She wasn't totally lying about the Council coming to share some significant data on Glory, but they were, in fact also coming because of Giles telling them about the possible alliance between Angel and the Ventures.

"You betrayed us Slayer." Djoser's eyes looked even blacker. "We had helped you like you had asked, and this is how you repay us."

Arrogance and the stress of having an ill mother and a sister she was desperately trying to protect, caused Buffy to be defensive and short with the vampires. "Helped me? You call pulling me in the middle of you and Snow's followers, helping? I *don't* need that kind of help. I have enough of my own problems. I've got my family to protect, and some being that may or may not be a goddess to fight. I'm giving you a break by warning you in advance that the Council is coming."

"And you Giles? Discharging me as your patient, even though I'm not right?" Spike was resigned. Sooner or later, didn't everyone in his existence betray him?

"Spike...I...I...." Giles kept having to repeat to himself over and over that the creatures before him were just soulless demons. They were the enemy. He had taken a vow to fight such creatures, not to protect and save them. "Spike, I don't think there's anything more that I can do for you." Angel had told Giles about the new development in Spike's health. "But here are the ingredients for your cure...." Handing Spike a bag. "For whatever it's worth."

"Wot you mean, for whatever it's worth?" Opening the bag, and peering inside.

"Well...it's just that in light of this new...." Breaking off, Giles realized that he was bringing up a subject that best stay closed for now. It was Angel's responsibility to tell Spike.

"New what?"

"New...." Exchanging a look with Buffy again. "You need to ask Angel. Now I suggest that all of you get ready to leave, because Angel is waiting. And he told me to relay this message. 'Tell Nic that he's to bring my two Childer straight here to the Hyperion. He is to make no stops, and take no detours.' Is there anything about that message that any of you don't understand?" Knowing that he needed to toughen up in dealing with the vampires, Giles took himself back to his younger days, his Ripper days. Donning his former persona, he hardened his heart. "Now, I want all of you out of Sunnydale as soon as possible."

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