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.

The noise coming from the halls was disturbing, it had interrupted his time with Spike making the dark lords' mood sour. Hitching up his pants with grumbled protest Dracula dressed to discover what the devil that racket was himself. He didn't dare glance in Spikes' direction knowing that if he did he would see the other man in all of his indecent glory then he would be truly lost. His greatest mistake was assuming that the vampire would stay in the room while he went check it out himself.

"Go back to bed, this matter does not concern you."

"Oi! 'M not one of your birds that comes whenever you snap your fingers! Me own man here, don't take orders mate!"

"No, but you are still to remain here where you may recover from your ordeal." The wavy curls softened the contemptuous glare Spike sent his way making his un-beating heart clench at the sight. Spike was trying to resist him even now. Dracula had never wavered on his resolve to have this hot tempered vampire. Yet he felt...he refused to acknowledge it as hurt...it was vexing. Putting up the brave front tended to make it easy to forget how fragile Spike could be. Weaken as he was from his injuries would not help matters.

"That does it--" Wincing Spike attempted to rise, he was not allowed to do more than shift his weight.

"Indeed it does. I will not tolerate this behavior. Be still or will I have to resort to drastic measures to ensure your safety?" The shuffle at the door seemed too clumsy to be the guard, it had to have been Hans and Jon. They would not do much in their present state against greater threats they were however stronger than Spike currently was. "Now be still. You would not like it if I were to resort to chains."

The smell of Spikes' sudden arousal made the dark lord pause at the threshold. His mouth stretched into a wicked grin and he had to glance over at Spike when he asked: "Or would you?"

At Spikes' stunned expression he left feeling himself return to better spirits. They would have time to discover each others desires in full later. The chains were a welcomed addition, one Dracula definitely approved of. Internally he scoffed at himself for letting his libido take him over--again. To be fair it was more than distracting to have a ravished William the Bloody laid out in front of him. Though it might have been for the best given the soreness of muscles that had not been used in many years.

Going down several flights of stairs Dracula marveled at his guards' inability to do their jobs. Perhaps it was time to find new employees but it was not like he could easily post in the wanted ads. Who knows what sort that would attract anyway. Following his enhance hearing to the sounds of the struggle Dracula came onto the scene. The sight in front of him seemed quite unreal. An achingly thin brunette girl was one-handedly holding back a straining Anselina. He could not place where he saw her before she spotted him. She beamed cheerfully at him calling out in southern drawl, "Oh hi, you wouldn't happen to have a souled vampire would you? We're looking for one, their kind of rare, though technically you could give more vampires souls but I think that would be messy."

"What--oh yes. We met at Worfram and Hart when I severed my relations with them. You are Spikes' friend." He answered distractedly. His manners were overridden by the fact that the girl he had threatened with ease was now holding back a vampire herself. As if cued by his confusion her body language shifted.

"I tire of these games half-breed." The womans' accent disappeared along with the warmth in her countenance. Her brown eyes blinked to ice blue before his amazed eyes. "Return Spike or suffer my wrath."

"What are you?"

"Illyria, God-King." With that said she threw Anselina across the room forcing Dracula to rush into action to save the bride. He did not have the chance to recover before a hand smacked him hard into the wall.

"What ever you may be, you will suffer for this girl!" No sooner were the words out of his mouth when a boot connected with the side of his head.

"Such insolence. I will remove the tongue from your head to cease this ranting of yours! Now where is my pet?" Her speed was amazing, her strength was without peer here. Having lived so long Dracula had known (grudgingly) when he was outclassed. He would not give up by any means, the woman had mentioned Spike, but he would do so on his terms. His body became intangible to blanket the hallway in a thick fog.

The blue woman did not move from her spot merely narrowed her frigid unforgiving eyes. "This is what you use to battle a god? Pathetic. In my day such tricks were used for the amusement of the young when the prey would attempt to ply on pity that was not there. Their lives were not spared and neither will yours. Return my pet and I will grant you a quick death, half breed." There was a pause where she seemed to consider her words. "I will only keep you alive one month instead of decades."

She made it sound like her offer of prolonged pain was very generous. "It is said that you are a ruler. If this is true you are a very poor one that flaunts power you fail to command. A true master would have crushed their enemies to dust after such an opening. Instead you are outwitted by a child."

Not allowing himself to listen to he chose that moment to attack in the form of a wolf, the woman did not even glance at his location she merely lifted him up when he neared. "A drooling breast. This is your best attempt. How fitting."

The dark lord decided that he truly detested her then. The feeling was confirmed a moment later when she slammed him into the floor. Was there no end to the insufferable creatures tormenting? He had seen children playing with insects in such a manner. Wings would be stripped and legs to be broken. Strangely this Illyria seemed more like one of these insects than human. Her almost detached study of him while she slowly smacked him about held no emotion that his eyes could decipher. Yet Dracula was able to see that she was clearly the type that wouldn't mind using a magnifying glass to set him ablaze even if she did not have a dispute with him.

He's not sure how long he has been engaging this enemy (he refuses to believe that the battle is one that he is losing or can not escape from.) Through the leather covered limbs that strike out at him the count sees movement from the stairs. Amazingly the self proclaimed god halts her violence to glimpse at the intruder. Slowly but determined Spike steps down into the battle zone leaving a confused pair of vampires lingering on the stairs in his wake. It was not hard to imagine that Spike had been able to outsmart them to get the duo to escort him out when they should have been standing guard.

"Spike. I am pleased to see that you remain undead." Illyria gave the injured vampire an once over. "You are weak. Tell me who did this and their remains will be pinned to the walls of my castle so that all will know of their fate."

Blue fire burned in her eyes and Spike had to hide a small grin. Not many got this outraged at him being hurt. Usually it was ignored for more important matters. Sure she liked to bring a lot of the pain herself on to her "pet" but in a way it was the closest she got to showing affection. Nice to have proof that someone cared about him. Spike was also amused at the idea of Illyria scattering remains in her "castle" back home. He could imagine her pinning up the bits to the hotel much to Angels' horror. Unless she meant to claim this castle. You never could tell with that bird.

"He's dead, luv." The less said about that raw bleeding pain the better. "Quite an entrance you made. Nice and subtle." He would not ask--"Soooo...does anyone know that you went on a holiday...?"

Spike half yearned for and half feared the answer. After so much waiting for this moment, to have someone come to his aid for reasons other than need of information or needing another fighter... Did anyone else come with her? If they did was it because they needed him for the big battle? He felt all of his old insecurities flaring up made worse by his recent torture session.

Illyria of course didn't understand the importance of the question and true to form dismissed it. "Yes they do. I only wish I could have crushed the skull of your abuser myself. No one harms what is Illyrias' property."

A gasp of protest reminded Spike of Dracula and he tried not to feel too uncomfortable. A lot had been muddled during his imprisonment. The git had a thing for him, they had recently shagged and was finally was being rescued. Why did he feel so conflicted? Vlad was an old foe of his that must of taken advantage of his current state to get what he wanted. Spike didn't want to believe there was more to it than that. Who would go out of their way to woo him for long term? Even if it had been based on real feelings Vlad would find someone else soon enough. Where would that leave him?

Yet he had felt more welcomed here lately than he had felt at the hotel since that infamous night. Did Angel even want him back? Did anyone besides Illyria? Would it be more of the same if he returned? Spike didn't want to go back to that. He couldn't stand the coldness anymore. There was a third option and like usual he knew that he wouldn't work. Never had been the loner type and he had no where else to go.

Glancing at the vampire under her boot and back at Spike understanding bloomed. "You have shared fluids." Illyria stated knowingly.

Spike sputtered feeling entirely too hot for a creature without a pulse. Realizing that neither of them had taken a bath since THAT reminded him that they really needed to if anyone else with a keen sense of smell was coming around. "Let's...uh...you see we...that is...Illyria who came with you?"

"The spawn, the slayer--"Spike cursed feeling even more exposed. Buffy was here?!

"Need to change, get a bath, bloody hell!"

For his part Dracula was stuck speechless at the sight of Spike panic attack. With a tiny nod he sent Hans and Jons' away knowing that as usual they were useless. The woman finally released her hold on him. Unable to look at Spike the count told him on passing where he could wash up. There was no denying the hurt this time.

"Illyria?" He was tired of chasing her though the maze of a castle. The whole chase would have been much faster if she actually had a scent to follow. Connor had no idea how long they had been separated, maybe a half an hour? Less? There wasn't even the usual trail of chaos to lead him to her. That was beyond weird as far as Illyria was considered.

This place did reek of vampires and he had to keep a stake handy just in case. Angel said that Dracula had some magic tricks and the ability to use a thrall. Well Connor could deal with that. At least he hoped so. Shifting through the different scents he froze near the railing when he picked up a familiar one. Spike. Feeling exited he climbed the staircase two steps at a time. In the hallway outside what looked like a parlor stood Illyria watching a ranting man running a towel over his head. As he drew closer Connor listened carefully to the voice.

"I knew you wouldn't stick to the basic black look forever but I didn't think you would pick out such a retro look."

Turning swiftly around Spike stared at Connor with open mouth shock. It was bizarre to see Spike without his usual bleached blond hair and leather. He didn't get too far into comparing the changes before he rushed over unable to resist the sudden impulse to hug the vampire. Too many family and friends had been lost to him in the past for him not to feel thrilled to see one alive. Just when he was being embraced back Connor gave Spike a solid punch in the shoulder.

"Wot the hell was that for?"

"For taking stupid risks that could have got you killed." He hadn't realized how worried he had been until seeing his friend alive. "Don't ever do that again."

"Right. No doing anything heroic again. Guess I best retire on some not too sunny beach then." It was hard not to smile. "Missed you too, junior."

"More fluids. Disgusting." Illyria stated scornfully at the tears Connor tried not to shed. He guessed that he must have gotten his emotional side from his mother. For some reason Spike always laughed when he said that.

No one seemed to notice the glowering figure in the shadow.