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.

Following the limo hadn’t been much of a challenge. Most of the equipment the council used had tacking devices built in for cases like this. Roger had made it clear that he only wanted his elite team to handle the situation leaving a bulk of watchers and slayers to deal with the fire. Carey and Jane were to go a different route to provide back up should the situation warrant it. It came as little surprise when the limo was soon ditched as Faith must have known about the car.

"What’s the story with Mr.Pryces’ team?" Jane asked suddenly.

"The trio?" At the nod Carey shrugged. "Not much to tell, Sarah and the others are untraceable."

"Like that mob movie?"

"That’s Untouchables, Jane, and I don’t know. Maybe. You notice how they only answer to their first names? I’m not even sure if those are their real names but no one can find out who they were. They’re cut off from their past, trained better than most of the girls in all sorts of areas. They do things that the rest of us don’t hear about. My guess is a kind of wet work team, black Ops and all that."

She could tell that Jane wanted to ask about what "wet work" meant but didn’t dare voice it. The other woman was more naive than herself about the way the world worked. "Does Mr. Giles know about them?"

"Yeah, don’t know if he knows who they were but he knows what they are. I’ve seen him go into meetings with them before. He may talk about how much he trust Summers and us to fight the bad guys but he’s realistic."

Adjusting her earpiece Carey looked over their supplies that the van had been loaded up with. Holy Water, stakes, axes, swords, high tech gadgets, first aid, a lap top, and food that they would need if this turned out to be a long trip. It had been prepared like this ever since she arrived, Carey was a firm believer in being ready for any occurrence.

Her watcher doubted this would be easy with the vampire, the girl who could be a potential slayer, Faith and the boy. There mission was to stop all of them before they crossed into Romania, Roger wanted the vampire alive for now but that could and would most likely change. The others were listed P.H. (Potential Hazards) which would be dealt with by what ever means they felt was needed and Faith had gone rogue. Again. Carey figured that she should have been pissed at the betrayal, probably would be later, but didn’t much care at the moment. Orders were given and had to be carried out.

Jane was not able to shut down her emotions in a crisis as well as her friend. Having no siblings she came to regard all the slayers like sisters even the ones she didn’t like. Having one leave the family to help the enemy was making her uncomfortable. She’d squirmed in her seat biting her lip and nails when she thought Carey wasn’t looking.

"It will be okay." Carey said squeezing Janes’ shoulder. She wasn’t really what you called a comfort person, wasn’t much for hugs or such. She tried though knowing that Jane was the touchy sort.

"I suppose your right," Jane smiled back gratefully, "I just need to have faith--umm--well you know what I meant."

Their friendship was peculiar, they had little in common and very different mannerisms. Jane was shy where she was free-spoken. The other girl dated at ease with men while Carey had only had one date that scared her from the dating scene. She had little belief in god while Jane was devoted to the point where she came across a bit preachy. Jane was a health nut carrying around reduced fat, low salt, soy type of products. Though Carey didn’t mind all of them that much she preferred to eat things with more flavor.

It was mainly a supportive relationship, the first real friend that either girl had among the other slayers. They trust one another and had each others’ back when no one else would.

Glancing at the time Carey reached into the cup holder for her bottled water and opened up the glove compartment. Inside where two containers filled with two different sets of pills. One was marked with a yellow highlighter while the other was with a blue one. Her brow furrowed as she studied both before she took the yellow one. Taking off the cap she took a small capsule and downed it with the water. It was going to be a long trip, she just knew it.

"We have visual and are pursing. Requesting back up." Sarahs’ voice came from over the headset.

"Request denied. You are to engage the run aways, if you are unable to deal with them--which with your training you should be able to--then you may request back up. Is this clear Sarah?" Roger asked in his no-nonsense voice.

"Yes, sir."

The line went silent again and the girls in the van waited to be of use.

--

Emotions were a problematic aspect of human life, if not the most problematic. Illyria did not understand it and it infuriated her. In confusion she was suppose to have her guide explain these meaningless yet powerful sensations. Her guide in Wesley was gone now leaving her with her pet Spike but with his absence she found herself without any to turn to, none who’s judgement she trusted. Wesley and Spike were bluntly truthful in most respects.

Angel, the fallen king with no kingdom and few depleted subjects to rule over did not respect her. He had a great disdain for the god-king never forgetting that she only lived because of Freds’ death. She was merely a tool to use in his eyes, he beared no affection and no loyalty to her. Illyria could recall all too well how the vampire wanted her to die.

Wesley had similar reactions yet he harbored feelings for the shell and fascination in her. In return Illyria could not help but feel what she thought affection must have been for humans. She would never know what could have been now and that nagged at her though she knew the thought was pointless.

She liked making Spike cry out in there training sessions, he was pleasing to the eyes and ears. He was most vexing as he presented an mystery to Illyria. A true predator yet he felt these emotions so strongly that he could be completely overtaken by them in a way that was all too human. Spike did not see her with the same eyes as Wesley and Angel, to him she could never be Fred nor could she entirely be blamed for the death. Still he needed more training to be a proper pet.

Angels’ scion Connor was uneasy around her, from her memories of Winifred Burkle she could deduce a connection. For the most part he was obedient which she approved of though much like Spike (and indeed the world) he needed more training to be a true disciple of the god-king.

The slayer Faith Lehane was a curious element, unpredictable and undisciplined. She had made herself a traitor to her people, a concept that Illyria could relate to in other circumstances. She could not fathom what Faith hoped to achieve by allying herself with a smaller force when she could have reclaimed the throne. The slayer had radiated with this growing concern like a small flame building up on a pyre until she had finally acted. Now that concern was coupled with dread, regret, and a deep pain that Illyria did not wish to examine further. She did not like feeling that consuming hurt, it served no purpose and made you weak.

The young woman was not the only one whose emotions Illyria had watched. Spike had said that if you could master a understanding of human emotions then you could truly know humans. She had many growing questions that had been withheld. Wesley had said as a watcher he learned about unknown creatures through observing them.

"Questions are an important part of learning Illyria, there are however other avenues in education. Some things can’t be explained in words. They must be witnessed and discovered without assistance."

Thus she had withheld her inquiries to the best of her ability to attempt to make sense from the puzzle. Connor was the easiest to comprehend, he did not hide how he felt and his emotions were mainly focused on his father. Worried for his condition, a little confusion, respect and a gnawing elusive emotion that she could not name.

The half breed Angel was simply put an emotional mess. Conflicts were at war within, anger, sorrow, and dozens of other feelings stirred and fought for control. He reminded her of the water. Many people came to believe if the surface was still that all was peaceful and calm. If you traveled farther you could see undersea volcanos, unknown life forms, and many other neglected things. The water covered all of this hiding the wonders, the obscure and the peril from prying eyes.

Her own feelings were expected, she had grown accustomed to them even if she had not welcomed them. Fury for what was taken from her, loss at her absent pet and though she would not accept it a little fear. Illyria missed her pets’ joy of combat, the satisfying grunts of pain he would cry out when hurt, the tone of his voice and the visually pleasing picture he presented.

"We have to shake them and catch a ride. We can get more supplies when we cut across--"

Angel was telling them the plan assuming the role of leader, again. She found that she did not care much for his presumption to order her but with no idea how to find Spike she was left with little choice. It did give her the chance to ponder these conflicting emotions.

The air shifted subtly, the displacement like a ripple in the water alerting her to the dangers the others hadn’t sensed. Narrowing her eyes Illyria could see movement in the shadows to the right and left. To human ears it was deadly silent apart from the sounds of distance cars rushing pass. To Illyria the sounds became as blaring as a trumpet. Her companions were busy bickering about options, the slayer pre-emptying strategies, the boy offering vague suggestions and the fallen-kings' raising frustrations.

How they had survived for this long the god-king could not conceive. She would make certain that they all made it out of this predicament despite their best efforts to get them all killed. Besides Illyria had long learned that venting these inconvenient alien sentiments was best handled in the physical sense. Slipping away without a word she retreated back into the shadows moving more stealthily than any human could.

"Target alpha in sight. Orders?" A woman draped in black asked over an earpiece.

Cocking her head to the side the demon watched the slayer finger a long firearm with one hand and grip a strange metal device in the other.

The earpiece screeched that horrible electric babble and the woman released the device. She made to lift the gun when she suddenly turned and fired at Illyria. Moving her body sightly to the left the shot, a dart, missed it’s target. Still dressed as the shell the movement must have seemed odd even to the slayer as her eyes widened in alarm. The barrel of the gun was lifted for another shot when it was kicked out of her grip firing upwards in the process.

Not pausing the attacker punched out hitting Illyria directly in the face throwing the demon back a few feet. She simply gazed back emotionlessly backhanding the slayer the ground. Using the momentum the woman flipped herself upwards delivering a kick to the right knee.

"Traitor! You and Faith are helping a monster! Betraying your own kind!" She hissed hitting the image of Fred with a relentless barge of hits that would surely cripple a lesser foe. Staring impassively back at the woman Illyrias’ brown eyes changed to an unnatural blue. Striking the enemy sharply in the face she glared at the woman who now was lying on the payment ready to renew their fight.

"You are where your natural place is, at my feet. How dare you assume that I am on of your kind. I am beyond your repellent, parochial breed! Know this slayer," blue hues bleed through her hair and skin, "I am the god-kind Illyira. I once commanded the very flames from flickers to full forms of illumination." The floral print dress’ texture hardened, the colors darkening. "I split the earth to imprison my rivals. Get used to your position slayer for I will be your future ruler."