The Crypt: Standing the Test of Time by Erin-Starlight

Standing the Test of Time

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.

Another night another backbreaking night of work leaving Spike to soak in the already prepared tub. It seemed that the Count was taking measures to ensure that he regularly bathed. The servants were a tad odd bickering at each other about whether they should listen to orders. From what he could gleam they didn’t know if they should leave him alone. The eldest had to drag his assistants out leaving Spike with the first relaxing drip he had since he came to Romania.

Sighing with contentment he went at his own pace to wash his hair and add less of the bath oils in. It was still too much of an overpowering smell for his taste not that he had much in the ways of selection. Leaning further into the warmth his hand lingered on his stomach as his eyes drifted shut. Just when he was considering taking full advantage of being alone a voice drew his attention to the doorway.

"As I suspected, you are truly beautiful to behold when you do not hide it behind your image." Anselina said allowing herself to view his form in the tub without shame.

"Bloody hell!" Spike exclaimed one hand automatically cupping himself as the other searched fruitlessly for the misplaced towel. "Give a bloke half a warning!"

"Why? You have nothing to be ashamed of," she commented, "and as I said you hide far too much."

"Not much I can hide at the moment." Spike mumbled feeling his old gentlemanly manners rearing their head in light of her unexpected interruption. Her confident stance also threw him completely off his game, she had all the cards. "Why come here?"

"I wanted to see you," she answered. At his snort she smiled fondly at him and he couldn’t help but return it.

"That right? S’ppose you seen it all now." He remarked doing the tongue thing that drove Angel insane. Not in the pleasant way, mind.

"Not yet." Anselina murmured coming closer to him. Spike leaned further against the tub to hid his sudden desire. It had been awhile since he had gotten laid and even though he knew it would be a bad idea not-so-little-Spike wasn’t listening.

"Let me help you."

His eyebrows shot up at that struggling to retain his cool. "Yeah, alright if that’s--I mean you could--"

Raising her hand she produced a towel for him to dry off with. Her eyebrow raised as if to say "what else were you expecting" making him feel foolish and wrong footed. Taking it from her Spike carefully slipped it on over his waist and careful walked away from her. Anselina didn’t seem to get the message and stayed close to his side.

"I have brought you new clothes to wear." She opened the dresser to reveal it now had three new outfits folded next to his less than impressive clothes Dracula had sent him. They were not the heavy labor style he was currently wearing nor were they as dated. Three pairs of black leather pants with three silk shirts of scarlet, azure and black. A thrill of excitement washed over him at touching the butter soft leather and smooth shirts. They were more than he had hoped for but he could for see an oversight in the selection.

"Sorry luv, s’nice and all that just can’t see it lasting long with the ponies." Spike said glancing longingly at the clothes.

"There may be an occasion that you may be called upon to wear them."

"Yeah when the wanker finally stakes me." He commented slipping his work pants on and tossing the towel onto the floor. What was it with his sudden shyness? "Now if you got something t’ say just say it..."

Spike frowned, Anselina had slipped out without a word. Muttering about crazy bints that like to tease sex crazed vampires he went back to dressing for his job at the library.

The master of the castle was not to be trifled with. His frightening temper had not vanished the next day as they had prayed it would. Madam Drake had spoken on behalf of the staff to beseech the brides to do something to lessen his anger. Most had little interest in doing so as they were benefiting from the Count frustrations. Why ruin a good thing? Elsa, if she were not locked away under the influence of the power of Miahi would have simply to ease the burden from Madam Drake. The lone bride that had a strong insight into how disastrous it could be was Anselina.

Dracula needed to focus on his mission to protect his people not get distracted. They would all be doomed if things kept up this way. He was ignorant of his attraction to Spike and would not see it. Mentioning such a thing was out of the question, Anselina knew that he would not react well to it. There were only to clear options: either make her lover aware of it or take Spike out of the picture all together.

Killing Spike held little appeal, true it would keep Dracula from losing sight of the oncoming battles but it might backlash with his wrath for acting without his say. Making him see the truth for himself though, it would be tricky. The rewards for such a task were very tempting indeed. The master could be very generous for her efforts and having another male lover in Spike...well it would be worth the risk. Smiling confidently she strolled down the corridor already plotting her course of action

Finding the lord of the manor proved more difficult than Anselina had thought. For hours she had searched to of no advil coming across fearful staff speaking gibberish about Draculas’ dark mood. He had never loitered long in on spot proving arduous to catch. Thwarted by his speed and unknown whereabouts she had given up deciding to seek out the comfort of her rooms.

Halfway there her sharp hearing picked up a familiar sound and she moved swiftly towards it. Reaching the origin point of the noise she came to a sudden stop as the door flung open by Marishka. The woman smirked at her through heavy lidded eyes giving off a very pleased with herself vibe as she made her way to the direction of the "family room." Anselina could hear the faint giggling of her fellow brides. Smelling the scents wafting off of Marishka she had very little doubt what was occurring. At least she finally knew where he had been.

Inside laying alone in his vast bed was her lover looking anything but relaxed. With is long dark hair pooled in disorder on the pillows and deep scowl he looked like a banshee she had seen in Ireland ready to wail his painful cry of distress. The not-quite-pout a second later however ruined the image. Now accompanied with his crossed arms he seemed more like a child who’s favorite toy had been taken away. It was so unlike anything she had seen or thought of him before that Anselina found that it deeply troubled her.

"I beg of you, please speak of this problem. I do not like to see you suffer so. Despite your current...activeness you have little relief."

"I do know not of this problem you speak of. It has been a great vexation to me. It is as if my sight has been taken away and I must search for the answers that elude me in the darkness." The Count tossed the sheets to the side going to the desk to retrieve a bottle of brandy.

Seeing the empty bottles next to the full one and the used glasses made Anselina frown, Dracula was usually the type to keep things organized and did not approve of the idea of drinking outside his usual assigned areas. The bedroom had never been one of them.

"Where have you been as of late, Anselina? You were not with the others." His disapproval was evident, normally he had not been this harsh about their goings, not unless he had called for them in advance.

"Forgive me, I was searching for you earlier my lord. I am afraid I was not quick enough to find your location beforehand." She slowly moved over to the makeshift bar much as one would face a predator, vigilant for any outwards signs to indicate his movements. Tracing the spills on the surface of the desk she circled pattens idly in an attempt to appear at ease. Quite the opposite was true, if her ploy should fail...

He drained the glass in one steady gulp when such behavior, such lack of grace would have disgusted him not long ago. Sighing regretfully as he glanced at the now empty glass he lifted his gaze to watch her over the rim.

"I asked whoever I could, Madam Drake, Hazel, even Spike..." She trailed off at the irritation that burned hotly in his face.

"You asked him?" He asked.

"I asked whoever I could, I do not know what either his or your schedules are."

"What is this? What are you hiding from me?" Dracula demanded yanking the item from her loose unresisting grip breaking the glass he held in his haste.

"Nothing my lord, I just felt that I should clean the messes that lie about."

He sniffed the towel taking in the scent of the previous owner. The reaction was instantaneous. The Counts’ eyes slid close even as his mouth opened to let loose a broken moan of desire. Anselina watched in amazement as Dracula held the towel to his nose with a tight white knuckle grip. His body responded unable to hide his abrupt lust to the potent odors. The blonds’ uncommon scent mingled with the bath oils and Spikes' arousal that Anselina had brought on.

It acted as a powerful aphrodisiac to Dracula, more so than she had planned. When his eyes sprang open she could see the dilated pupils. The growl that soon accompanied this discovery made her realize was taking a leave of his normal senses and embracing his animalistic urges. When she made an uncertain step backwards he was soon upon her.

Clothes were shredded, kiss were hard, bites broke skin and Anselina soon found herself tangled in his limps never reaching the bed. She was sure that if this was a sign of things to come she would be more than willing to offer whatever help she could in Draculas’ growing obsession with Spike.

Gasping for unneeded breath the two fell apart. He wore a horrified expression no longer clinging to blissful ignorance. During their intercourse all he could think about was Spike not Anselina. The blonds' knowing smirk, his voice, and his brilliant eyes. Flashes of bare skin Dracula had glimpsed after his bath, the curls that he longed to grip in the heat of passion having to settle for Anselinas' straight shoulder length hair instead.

Soft curves were almost forgotten for hard muscles and a flat taunt chest. Kissing her lips not that pouty mouth that frequently abused him. He blocked out her scent lost in the one that had sent his senses on fire. Never in his many years could he recall being so completely taken over by anyone. And why did it have to be Spike of all people?

If the other vampire knew of his consuming lust...he didn't want to think of Spikes' reaction. Not when he was too caught up in his own. What had made him feel this way about the other man? They had nothing in common outside his discovery of Spikes' apparent love of poetry. The younger vampire was headstrong, rude, used low brow humor, had been a long time enemy--the list was endless.

Was it the challenge then of Spikes' seemingly un-attainability perhaps? It seemed to most logical. The vision of bending Spikes' will, and body to his liking was highly appealing. A image suddenly came to him of the blond seated at his feet submissively begging his master for release. Though it did wonders for his libido he sadly could not imagine the others' defiant facade matching the stance.

The concept of being attracted to a man did not bother him nearly as much. He always could appreciate beauty in all it's forms. True Dracula had been known as a ladies man, his brides were a testament to that, but he had his reasons. He had not had a male lover in many years, the last were still sore topics that left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Dracula wanted to ignore this new temptation now that he knew of it. The idea made more sense in theory than in practice. For the Count knew himself only to well. He was a creature of passion that gave into his desires. He never attempted to resist the sirens' call before.

"What are you thinking?" Anselina asked softly besides him, wiping the sweat off her neck lazily. He had truly forgotten she was there in his musings.

"That you have taken a great risk in your plan." He said producing the towel.

"I know. I had to try."

"This is not enlightening news, I do not know which is worse: knowing what my discontentment is or not knowing." Pressing the towel to his face he inhaled the delectable scent savoring it a second only to shake himself out of it with distress. "I must rid myself of this weakness."

"What do you propose? A de-lusting spell?"

"No, I fear that will not work." He had fought off such spells and knew they only lasted for so long. Anselina while gifted in the ways of magic was only taught predictions and such. She was no where near talented enough with advance spells.

Turning to his lovely brides would prove futile as his coupling with Anselina just proved. It had done nothing to lessen his obsession with Spike. That meant to only way to rid himself of this disturbing development might be to seduce the blond into his bed. Dracula bit back a groan knowing that it was going to be awhile before he was finally able to be at peace again now that Spike was on his mind.