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.

"I’m guessing you’d be Connor." Faith said with a slight nod in his direction.

It was a lot better than her first indirect greeting to the "kid" he supposed. It was nice that in some cases you could make a better first impression. She pursed her lips studying Freds’ form for a moment and Connor felt his stomach flip unpleasantly. How much did she know? Would he have to keep up the lie? He hoped not, his life was already consumed by too many falsehoods.

"You’re Fred, right?" There was an uncertain look on Faiths’ face as she closed the door behind her. "Least you were. Way I hear it you’re just using that body as a time share to carry you around."

The slayer leaned against the door arms crossed her stormy expression belying her relaxed stance. Illyria didn’t seem impressed but a glimmer of curiosity lit her face. Connor tensed unsure how to play this turn of events. From what he could recall Faith had been willing to save Angel, even in Angelus' form, at all cost. She had even threatened him if he crossed that line. Then again it wasn’t like they had many options, his father was in a coma, Spike was sold by now in some slave market and the others of Angel Investigations were currently unreachable. She was their last hope and if Faith didn’t help them who would?

"Funny thing, I was on my way here when I got a call from home base. Seems like team Angel had called for help after Fred was killed by some demon." Staring the god king in the eye her voice hardened when she asked: "That’s you right?"

Illyria cocked her head to the side and paused as she regarded Faith. With a satisfied nod she shed her disguise revealing her true form. Faiths’ eyes widen fractionally but otherwise remained unmoved.

"Yes, that is true. I am Illyria god king and I now dwell in the shell Winifred Burkle once inhabited. You are Faith Lehane, a slayer."

That triggered a reaction. Faith stood up straight, her body taking up a more defensive posture. "Yeah……and how would you know something like that?"

"Wesley informed me." Illyria answered simply.

Connor was amazed by the range of emotions that passed over the slayers’ face. Confusion, anger, sorrow, it reflected Wesley’s countenance when Faith had been close to death when she had taken Orpheus. At least she knew that much about her former watchers' fate.

"Wes……what you know about him?" Faith challenged hotly.

"Our time together was fleeting. In the eyes of a god it was shorter than a blink of an eye. He was my guide to this plane, attempting to make me understand the conflicting natures of this meaningless existence." Illyria’s eyes glazed over taking on the familiar far away look. Just as quickly as it had came on she cleared whatever thoughts were plaguing her returning to the here and now. Illyria held her head high and glared at the slayer.

"You were the one who he guided for a time, before you bit at the hand that feed you like a ravenous dog mewling for attention. A wayward child that was petulant for affection and searching for your own forms of satisfaction creating mayhem in your wake."

Faith appeared to have warring emotions to her response, not sure which to settle for. "He said--? Things changed since then, I changed, okay? Were you trying to make a point, blue? Cuz I ain't seeing it."

"Merely to illustrate that you have little room to judge my actions nor my character when you one of what Wesley called, "humanity" has acted in a manner your kind see as distaseful. You could not begin to understand my nature. I suggest you not try to strain yourself in doing so." Illyria answered. Her attention wavered briefly between the young woman and the spider reaching for it's web in the corner.

"Huh, bet she's loads of laughs." Faith remarked. Connor noted the distrust that still remained but he could tell that she was letting that go for the moment. Taking the fold out chair she sat next to the vampire on the cot. Her eyes moved over his form taking in the makeshift bandages and bruises that covered most of the body. She ignored Connor and Illyria to whisper to her friend not knowing that the young man could hear every word.

"Never could stay away from trouble huh? Kinda weird that you're the one doing the coma thing. I sort of thought that was my gig but hey it's cool if you want to use it just as long as you wake up soon. Don't really like having a guy sleep while I'm up and ready to go." She quipped. With a small pat and a quick squeeze of his hand she addressed the others.

"Alright, this is how it's going to be. Angel needs blood and the quickest way to heal him is human blood, even better is slayers'."

"You're going to--?" It was shocking to hear Faith so causally speak about feeding herself to his father. Although he knew about her commitment to Angel he had believed that she wouldn't rush into being bitten again. She had almost died the last time.

"Yeah, don't know if he's strong enough to bite yet so I'm just going to cut and see how it goes." Shrugging out of her leather jacket she pulled her leg up to unsheathe a dagger. "Not sure how long it will take either. You might be in for a long wait, I figure that makes it a good time to tell me what the hell happened. Might want to sit down if this makes you sick, man, 'cuz your going to get an eye full." She said mistaking Connors' reaction to her cutting herself for lightheadedness.

"Uh, I'm good. I've seen plenty of gory things just a little surprised I guess. That you would be willing to help so fast."

"Angel and I go back awhile. He helped me when everyone else gave up on me." Faith replied pressing her wound to Angels' unresponsive lips forcing some blood to slid down his throat. Connor just nodded as if he didn't know of Faiths' past and sat back on his cot feeling useless. When she reminded not to gently of her demand to be filled in on the details of their current situation he tried to comply the best he could. Illyria had the most useful information about the Troves' location though the demons' attention was half on the spider ensnaring it's prey in it's web.

The dark haired vampire had managed to swallow for awhile and when Faith began to feel dizzy she stopped. Promising to feed him more blood and information once she recovered. When she left the three alone again nothing though had changed from what Connor could see. His dad was still in bad shape and he had no idea how long it would take for him to heal. He had not seen his father for awhile after Wesley had pulled him from the ocean floor so past experiences were no use either. Another day passed without a word from Faith though the other slayers had at least given him some sandwiches and soda. He felt it would have been a better gesture if the girl that had given his meals hadn't been holding a sword.

Illyria ate little and Connor had no idea if she even required food or was just curious. She did remark on the merits of texture and debated about the churned peanut butter verus the chunky one for a hour. It was a much needed improvement over her interest in mating. He did find it beyond disturbing that she was intrigued in insect mating the most and the disconcerting way she would smile when the male was killed afterwards. Talk about how she would treat her consorts made him glad that he got over that leather fetish he use to have.

It was just the leather fetish because Connor knew that he had never been attracted to Fred. Angelus had called Cordelia his mother figure but in truth he had always felt that Fred filled that role or at least was a big sister figure. Their time together those three months had been some of the best real memories he owned.

Yes they were tainted when he had to lie about Angel but most of them were great. Gunn and Fred had pampered him taking him to movies, slaying together and trips to the mall. Fred had always brought him meals telling him how skinny he was (even then he had to raise an eyebrow at her for that comment) and babying him. She had never gotten over his betrayal and had been twitchy after Jasmine had seduced him in Cordelias' body. He always regretted that they had never made peace with each other. Now they never would.

When Faith finally returned she was seething and Connor felt reluctant to ask why. Slipping a cell phone in her jacket pocket she used the other to slam the door shut behind her. Without a word of greeting to either of them she sat down next to Angel. He flinched at the way Faith carelessly slashed her arm with her dagger but the young woman seemed unfazed. At the moment she only at eyes for the vampire. Just when Connor felt the feeding had gone on long enough Angels’ eyes opened. It had been the first time his dad had done anything in days. Overjoyed Connor rushed over only to be flung back by Faith.

"F--Faith?"

"Yeah. How you feeling, man? I thought you’d be up sooner the way Wes..." She trailed off.

"Will take...a bit longer." Angel responded before going into a coughing fit. Unable to lift his head it flopped back due to the strain. He still attempted to look over Faiths’ shoulder to see who else was with them. Connor noted the way his nostrils flared trying to get the others’ scents. He must of failed judging by the defeated slump of his shoulders. Risking Faiths’ apparent short temper Connor came closer to meet Angels’ relieved gaze.

"Just lay back and look pretty...well as much as you can." Faith grinned. "We got some of the girls breaking up the Trove joint. Seems your blue girl was right about where it was."

Angel nodded distractedly and closed his eyes for a moment. When his burrow furrowed Connor tensed for what he knew was going to be a doozy of scene. Frowning at Faith the vampire looked about the room as far as he could. "Did you duct tape Spike? He’s never been this quiet for so long. Well not unless he was unconscious and believe me it's always fun to wipe the smug expression off his face."

His body tense language belied his words though Illyria however did not realize this and was quick to agree with Angel. "Yes, the half breed makes the most pleasing noises and expressions when he is injured. It is most satisfying."

When Faith was about to comment on the demons’ remark Angel chose that time to struggle to sit up. "Where is that little moron? If he thinks that--"

Connor saw the panic and fear in Angels’ eyes but had no idea how to quell them. All he had ironically enough was what had been denied to him most of his life: the truth. "He’s not here. Spike stayed behind to give us the chance to escape."

"He did WHAT?" Another coughing fit broke out and Faith used it to her advantage. She pressed him down against the cot giving him no room to fight back. Not that Angel could put up much of a fight in his weak condition for long. "You left him behind?"

"The white haired one said it was for the best. That it was what you would have done." Illyria answered in Connors’ stead.

For a second he saw guilt on Angels’ face then nothing as the expression closed off. The slayer was whispering promises of help but the vampire didn’t seem to hear her. His mouth formed into a grim but determined line that worried Connor but Faith either didn’t notice or chose not to make a big deal out of it. Angel absently thanked her for her help and asked to be left alone to sleep. Once she had left Connor was at his side again clasping his limp hand.

"How many days has it been?"

"Three, dad. Faith hasn’t told us anything yet but I heard the other slayers talking through the vents this morning saying that he was sold." Connor replied preempting the question he knew was coming about Spikes’ whereabouts. "They didn’t know who bought him yet."

He didn’t mention that many of the slayers didn’t care what happened to the blond vampire. Apparently the only reason they were even helping was because Faith had asked them to do so. Many of them thought that Illyria and him were idiots for being "friends of monsters." It made him wonder how they would react to hearing that they were demons as well. According to Spike the slayers were part demon too and of course didn’t see themselves that way. Figures.

"Once you find out we’ll leaving, help or no help. I’m not about to lose Spi--another member of my team." Angel said glaring angrily at his surrounding.

Connor doubted his father would be listening to him anyway in his current mood but agreed all the same. In the distance he heard Faith curse as her cell went off and open it with a snap. Her temper soon came back as she told the person on the other end that they didn’t make her choices. He didn’t want to overhear but it was next to impossible to block out.

"This is part of who I am, alright? If you can’t handle it then you can’t handle me!" She sighed then adding softer, "I know baby and I’m sorry that you had to go through that. But I was on the other side too. You don’t know what it’s like...yeah. Yeah. I guess so. Whatever."

The cell snapped shut and Faiths’ boots echoed heavily down the hallway. The young man felt that before this mission was over they all would be losing something or another. He was just afraid what the price would be for Angel."I’m guessing you’d be Connor." Faith said with a slight nod in his direction.