Standing the Test of Time

Author: Erin-Starlight

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters nor am I making money off this. This is just for fun.

Summary: When captured in the aftermath of a battle Spike finds himself at the mercy of his old rival--Count Dracula. Will he be saved before it’s too late or will he be lulled into something even more dangerous than the Counts’ wrath?

Warning: This is slash. It will have some Spike/Dracula and Spike/Angel in it. This is a challenge I took up to do a Dracula slash fic with the guys. I'm not usually a slash writer but I did it for this challenge, where I had to set in up some in my last fic.

Authors Note: This story takes place after my one shot “William Restored.”

Spoilers: For the Peter David IDW comics Spike vs. Dracula 1-5.

It was a down right humiliating experience, which he supposed was the entire point but it was a step too far. Thrashing in the midst of the guards Spike had held them off for awhile until Hans and Jon arrived. They had managed to drag him back to his chambers to strip him of his clothes but not without a fight. He did a fair amount of damage to one of the large vampire goons damn near dusting him when they tried to take his kit from the room. All Spike could do at the end was watch as his beloved duster and the rest of his apparel was taken away by a maid while he stayed hunched over on the floor starkers.

Spike briefly thought on his time in Sunnydale towards the end when he accepted his duster again. It was more than a trophy of the dead slayer now, it was his image, a symbol of his new mission he had taken. Without it he felt a bit like Samson after his hair was cut by his traitor of a lover. A William like impulse came over him to cover his nudity but he fought it not wanting to lose anymore dignity in front of these people.

His "new" wardrobe was not surprisingly rather dated, though it was the style that Spike would have worn in the old days. Nothing overly frilly but rather clothes worn for heavy labor.

Still unwilling to make things easy Spike refused to obey their commands to dress to the point where they were forced to hold him down to pull the clothing on. The material was itchy, much more so than Spike recalled and he just knew that it would make working in them a real bitch.

You’re going to pay for this you miserable bastard, he silently vowed.

Journal of Dracula,

I have outlived many supposed "legends" be they vampires, demons, slayers or mere humans. As such I have more experience than most of those beings that still linger on this decaying twilight of a world. Needless to say that I do not surprise easily, yet I find myself constantly caught off-guard by Spike, a being who is but a child in his years compared to myself! How is it that he always manages to gain the upper hand?

I had never thought much of Spike, a fact that I have never hidden, yet his current actions have disturbed my view of him. A simpleton that I have believed whole heartily survived through luck has show such willpower that I am forced to reexamine my opinion. There is much I do not know of his life and once Victor has returned I will have a fuller picture. For now I take great pleasure in finally making the once proud William the Bloody scrub my floors. His suffering is a much desired distraction from the daily difficulties in these lands.

Perhaps I am too distracted (as my brides have often complained me) with my foul mouthed prisoner. I find my curiosity of him heightened due to his resistance to the magic of Magda. I must know what other secrets he hides, what strengths he has that I have overlooked, and what weaknesses I can exploit. When I am not concentrating on the rebels I find myself seeking him out.

I suppose it is somewhat childish in hindsight the measures I have taken against him. Still it is a rare form of entertainment in these dreary days. Never in my long years have I witnessed such emotion from a being. The raw anger, an extreme form of passion that he displays on each of our visits. Weariness can not take the fire from those eyes, not even the beatings he receives.

Though I have seen evidence of Spikes’ strong passions in the past I had not counted on them to be more than the affect of youth that would quick burn out in the ambers of time. He is stubborn to a fault and will hardly give an inch. One would drive themselves insane trying to get him to see reason!

Spike has a weakness that I confess I share for protecting those he favors. His loyalty to Darla and Drusilla survived throughout the decades where even when they were apart he would rush off to save them if they were threatened. He has shown similar behavior to this "Fred" woman, his friends that he allowed to escape though it cost him his freedom in the Trove and now Peter. The last I can not use against Spike. The boy is under my protection as gave my word to Elsa that I would always look after her family. I do not go back on my word.

Peter has however provided an opportunity to view Spike with his defenses down. As such, to my lovers displeasure, I have taken this opening to follow the pair about. Watching unseen from a branch I can see and hear them interact unaware of my presence. Who would expect a bat? Spike it seems can sense something is amiss as he tenses and constantly glances over his shoulder in my direction. Not that he ever finds me.

Regardless of his alertness Spike still relaxes with the child weaving tales for the benefit of the boy. I have come to suspect that a few of these stories are based on the slayer, Buffy Summers and her band of misfits. The tiresome antics of one of the characters does appear to be my former man servant, a strange young man with a misplaced sense of humor. He did not have a strong will and made it quite easy to bend his senses to mine.

Throughout these meetings Peter is more content than I have seen since his father died last spring. Elsa had often complained of the boys’ listlessness and wanted to take measures to ensure his happiness. All my attempts on her behalf have failed and yet Spike has succeeded? How can this be?

All my time watching Spike has made me more determined to find his secrets as I ponder this mystery. I have taken his punishments further by taking away his dreadful clothes and replacing them with more humble attire.
--

Dracula was in a good mood when he summoned Spike to his next task. His eyes gleamed in triumph when he saw the other wearing the new clothes. They were more old fashion that the threads Spike seemed to favor but served the purpose for being durable in the work place. They were a mixture of earth toned browns rather than the blacks the younger vampire seemed to prefer. A strong pair of leather boots and the flowing wool coat though seemed a little too familiar though, perhaps he would take those away.

Overall the garb did look like the type Spike had worn when they had first met. The only thing that truly threw that illusion off was the slicked back blenched hair. Dracula frowned wondering where he had gotten anything to slick his hair back with.

"I am delighted to see that you have been rid of your filthy tattered garb, at least that much has been made decent. Yet there is still much to be desired." He commented causally noting the return of the fire that sparked in those blue eyes of his foe.

"Right, ‘cuz you’re the big strapping man that knows all about style don’t you mate?" Spike glanced around at the hallway with a snort. "Have the huge ceilings, great big hunks of furniture, huge paintings, mainly of your pasty self ‘course. Seems like your trying to make up for some short comings, don’t it?"

Resisting the urge to slap him down like the brat he was Dracula gestured to the doors to Spikes’ next chores instead.

"Huh, big honkin’ doors? What a bleeding shock."

Throwing the doors open the Count walked inside and waited for the other to trail him. A curse behind him reminded him once again that he would have to call for Spike. A strange side effect from all the spells was that inside the castle he would have to invite the vampire in and out of each room. Some of the staff also had trouble moving about without the leave of their master. He was not sure if this was because they belonged to him (as Spike now did) or not. Outside there hadn’t been much of a problem. At least none that he had heard about. At first he found it quite diverting but the humor in it had long since worn off.

"Enter freely and of your own will." The Count said automatically.

"S’not like I got much of a sodding choice poof, so much for the "of your own will" statement." Spike answered sullenly walking up to his rival.

"Today you will be cleaning up the library. It will likely take you days to complete, more so if you inevitably do not do it well." Dracula stated completely disregarding what Spike had said. "What you need is provided on the table where you will be re-shelving the books in the order."

There was a pause where Spike stared wide eyed at the enormous library with a seemly endless piles of books. When he met Dracula in the eye the flames of defiance were stroked. He found himself wanting to see Spike riled up more and more. What would happen when that intensity was built up higher? Would it burn him? Dracula discovered that he couldn’t help but play with the fire.

"That is...you do know how to read, do you not? Or was I assuming too much?"

Anger bubbled to the surface momentary before Spike regained his thin shred of composure. Much to the elder vampires irritation he got to work without his usual snark. It was almost...disappointing. A half an hour pasted in silence as Spike sorted through a pile of the tomes. Not wanting to deter the progress or alert his keen interest Dracula did not interrupt.

Skimming through much adored favorite novel he tried to focus on it and not his foe. It was an impossible task as Spike was a very animated figure that refused to stay still for more than a few seconds. At one point the crash from one of the piles and the smirk that accompanied it gave him a fleeting impression that he was the one being tested.

Refusing to raise to the bait Dracula merely raised an eyebrow and went back to his pretend reading. That was when the humming had started. He had no idea what the tune was though he guessed that it had to be modern "music" from the way Spike bopped his head. Pursing his lips he said nothing as the swaying figure rocked back and forth. He was the model of patience, calm and at peace in a world of chaos. He was–

"How many ways to get what you want," Spike sang out destroying the fragile peace Dracula was constructing, "I use the best--I use the rest--I use the enemy!"

Even more annoying that the song was the bothersome fact that Spike wasn’t truly that bad a singer. The Count vaguely wondered how his voice would sound singing actual music and not the noise he was belted out at the moment.

"I use Anarchy!"

Of that I have no doubt, Dracula thought darkly.

"If you are quite done making a fool of yourself, " he asked at his wits’ end, "could you be more organized with your assignment?"

Looking over at the neatly organized shelves Spike gave him a look that clearly said "you’re a draft wanker, aren’t you?"

"I lived with a bleeding librarian! The most anal pillock who ever graced the Oprah book club and showed us how big a mistake wearing tweed truly was--as if we didn’t already know--but a librarian nonetheless! So don’t tell me that I don’t know sodding well where to put the bloody books or I’ll shove them right up you smug arse you--"

"Master, I have..." Madam Drake doesn’t mean to but she can’t help staring at the two men glaring so furiously at each other only a foot apart. Spike gripping the old tome in his hand with such force that she is half expected it to crumb in his hand.

"Go on." Her Master said never looking away from the other vampire.

"I’m sorry to intrude Master I didn’t realize you were...I just wanted to let you know that Victor has arrived. He was injured on his way here. Do you wish to speak with him?"

Still gazing harshly at Spike he does not give his answer right away. It’s uncomfortable for the blond and even though he frowns at the attention he does not back off. Seeing what he needed Dracula tells Madam Drake to take care of Victor and that he will visit him later. For now he has other matters to attend to that need his attention more.