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.

What we need to know about loving is no great mystery. We all know what constitutes loving behavior; we need but act upon it, not continually question it. Over-analysis often confuses the issue and in the end brings us no closer to insight. We sometimes become too busy classifying, separating, and examining, to remember that love is easy. It's we who make it complicated.
~ by Leo Buscaglia ~

Eager eyes glanced her way and Carey tried to feign indifference. Okay, she might have a tiny crush on Mihai which was confusing the hell out of her. Carey prided herself on not being one of those fawning little girls that went to pieces over someone much less a boy she had only just meant. This wasn't what being a slayer was about anyway. All the lore told of the foolishness that attractions led. Men in her experience weren't like they were in the media. She knew this but it felt sort of...nice to feel like this. For so long there hadn't been a thing to make her feel anything beyond the loss of Mary and the sense of betray the new council brought.

This was not something that could be allowed to go any further. Logically this could easily be a ploy of the mage to gain her aid in order to attempt to fracture them should the slayers come in conflict with him later. Normally Roger would make a comment about such attention directed at her. Perhaps he didn't notice it? Carey had been playing it down to the best of her effort trying to glare Mihai into halting his weird advances. Which he never seemed to heed unless they were with the others. Though it had been a near thing when his face had gone beet red when they brushed hands over the jar of newt eyes.

God, even her almost-romantic life was freaky.

Soon they would be tagging along with his troops to find Angelus and his people. Mihai would seek out his own foe in Dracula. Allies of convenience nothing more. For a moment Carey had worried that they would have to halt his mission to achieve their own goal. Roger had assured her that this was mutually beneficial to all of them, that they would not enforce Rupert Giles' idiotic deal with the devil. Everything was well in hand he promised.

For once Carey cared about his sincerity.

Mihai seemed like a good person. Oddly it was a long while since she had felt she met someone like that. Appearance might be deceiving but she trusted her gut. Instinct had served her well. It was screaming that something was terribly wrong. How she hadn't pieced together quite yet. The soldiers went first through the portal echoing the ensuring sounds of battle from the other end.

Mary told her that all magic came with a price. The more dangerous type ate away at the user. Portals, no matter what was used to create them, always were tricky. The commute through dimensions Mihai had to his lair weren't the same as making a direct path. No matter how powerful he was this was going to put a serious strain on him. Anything else: "--Would put a serious risk to the world at large. Lotta people seem to think that if they got power then the rules don't apply to them. Their wrong." He confessed before he set about his own task.

Keeping it open this long was going to cost him, which at worst would be a power drain and tiredness. Carey hoped that was the worst of it.

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Driving his sword through his enemies with little effort Vlad risked turning his gaze to Adela. Not a true match for the power of Mihai she could not close the damned portal. Dared not risk it. The fleet on the other hand were more a threat by their greater number than their skill. Spraying their blood across the field was a delight he hadn't engaged in far for too long. Bloodlust sang through his veins making the killing more brutal. Another factor he neglected in years past. Passion used to be split between his hunting and partners. True desire waned for years with little to fill his interest. If he recalled correctly only his interactions with Spike had brought that interest back. A sign perhaps, that he ignored due to pride?

Spike was passion given flesh much like Vlad had once considered himself. Such happiness he felt with the other vampire around was worth fighting for. The missing piece that was long sought for but never realized until then. With his brides, their home--now Spike could be part of that life. He could be content like he never had been. A romantic heart that matched his own. Though Vlad must admit he wasn't overly fond of the poetry his lover wrote. A pout of disappoint was quickly covered up when he hinted this but Vlad shouldn't lie should he?

Hmm, perhaps love was a battlefield after all. Now he was forced to contend with a former lover for Spikes' affections.

Absently wiping the warm blood fleck from his face Vlad hacked through his next victim. Aldela didn't know what his plan was yet for dealing with that particular roadblock. Approval might not be forthcoming if she knew. If not he imagined himself skilled enough to accomplish it without her help. A smirk lit his face revealing his fangs much to his opponents' dismay. No, Angel would never be with Spike again. Of that he would make certain.

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Sarah, Michelle and Alison raced off to fight their way towards the demons Carey supposed. The plan was a bit fuzzy with her mind divided like it was. Resolutely squaring her shoulders she offered a faint smile to thank Mihai for trying. But she knew she was a lost cause. Dark eyes were already glued on her retreating form though. Smoldering like he didn't know that they would likely never see each other again. Saying anything to that affect would be pointless and overly sentimental. Carey was too practical to give into such a whim. Might have been nice if things were different.

Half turned a flash of light made her pause in her steps. Behind her Jane stood next to Roger looking blanked faced. That's all the warning Carey got before she realized that Jane was keeping him covered. A dagger slipped out of the watchers' sleeve and into Mihais' chest faster than a man that age should be able to move. There's no scream only a gasp of shock and two pained eyes staring at her.

"What the hell is going on?" It should be yelled, hell it should have some sort of emotion but she can hardly breathe herself. "You said that you wouldn't--"

Light shimmered through the blade handle drawing something out from the body. Roger lifted an eyebrow as if he's mildly surprised that she would ask such a question. "I said that there would be no dealing with the vampire and that I would not have Mihai killed. Nothing has changed. The power this boy has will be put to good use, ensuring that Draculas' forces will not have a leg to stand on. As for him, he'll live. I need him alive to retain the power flow."

Pulling out the blade made Mihai cry out crumbling to the floor. "Young people these days are all talk and no action. The true leaders find the solutions when everyone else is occupied. Hormones do that, don't they? Now, let's end this, shall we?"

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There was a great distrubance in the air. Magic was being bleed out warped into another shape that didn't suit it. Lightening lit the sky, the ground shook and an acidy scent lingered heavily. Not being close enough to see what came out of the portal Vlad didn't get to see what the commotion was. Not that it mattered for long. Bodies frozen mid-motion, the only sound to be heard were four sets of legs sprinting through the crowd. The cries of vampires dusting gave their identities away. Slayers. One, a girl with dull eyes and a blood stained scarf around her neck blinked at him before she pressed past him to cull the herd of demons further. Three of the girls were efficent with their chore while the fourth showed more pleasure with her hacking. Unable to so much as flex his fingers all Vlad could do was watch those around him being cut down. The gleefully violent girl noticed him finally walking purposely towards him.

"You're the worst of them, aren't you?"

He smiled wanly. "As are you, little one."

Her eyes narrowed to slits. Pulling back her arm he saw the long wooden tool she was using as a weapon. More of a pike than a true stake. How ironic. Vlad didn't know if one such as him could fear death anymore but all he could think of was the man he left behind. Strangely he felt the absence of Spike most acutely at that moment.

"That's enough girls. We have them at a manageable size." English, self-important--a watcher naturally. One of the older order it seemed. Why the supposed First Evil didn't have the foresight to eliminated the whole lot was another example of why most ancient evils were useless. At least Worfram and Hart was actually organized. "Count Dracula I take it."

"Obviously." Watchers, the true blight on the world. Thinking they were better than everyone because of their limited knowledge proving how little they really understood with each breath they took.

"Framed for his cruelity with his victims since he was human. Previously known as Vlad the Impaler--" The old man droned on.

"I am aware of who I am. I do not know who you are besides a member of the Council. I do not truly care. You will pay for this."

A new girl stood behind her fellow slayers holding the body of a boy, his blood was intoxicating. Of a familiar line. Was this the infamous Mihai? This day was filled with disappointments.

Power crackled from the oldest mans' hand. "I was teaching. That's what we watchers do. We examine and find the best manner to bring about the desired result."

"You desire death? You need not make such elaborate attempts." Adjusting his glasses the man chuckled.

"My, I will never get over the arrogance of you creatures. I've forgotten how the oldest of your kind has such deluded minds." A smack cut off Vlads' reply. No human should have that kind of strength. Mihais' stolen power then...? "Collect the blood, Michelle. I am Roger Wyndham Pryce and these young ladies are the slayers in my command."

He was far too old to roll his eyes but Vlad felt the urge hard to resist.

"I have no need of introductions. By violating my agreement with the council you will simply be another meal. Though I would prefer something that had taste. I do not care for staleness."

"Charming." Wyndham Price commented airily. "They start off like this you know. Looking stern--unbreakable. In the end their just like any other vampire. Utterly unremarkable. With the same weaknesses to exploit."

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Spike would not like this, what little Illyria understood of emotion told her this. The slayer--Faith and her had constructed a course of action to see if this Dracula was plotting behind their backs. This new development was not entirely shocking. They knew Wesleys' father and his slayers would come after them. The transfer between Mihai and him was unexpected. Others would caution her to not engage yet. But she was Illyria. No one commanded a god-king. Of course she would not act until she understood what strange alliance was happening. Illyrias' pet was mating with Dracula and she was curious about Wesleys' father.

If the fallen king grew upset (which he normally did) that was for his own pets to see to not her. Though perhaps he would be sharing his body with Spike. An almost pout formed on Illyrias' face. Would she never see the practice of these mating rituals?