10. Unfinished Business

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“So, it’s been quite a while then,” Spike said, “Six years since I last seen you, running around as Pavayne’s bloody lapdog”

“In those last six years, I have been planning a lot,” Lucas said, “Who do you think sired Buffy? I did”

“How the hell did you manage to sire the best Slayer of them all?”

“She had just come back from somewhere via a portal and we ambushed her. Lost seven good vampires in that fight. But we managed to subdue her and then I sired her. She’s an important part in all of this”

“But why destroy magic?” Spike asked, “Doesn’t make sense. You take yourselves out in the process?”

“Oh, we may be gone, but we will come back,” Lucas replied, “Besides, we’d be fulfilling a prophecy about a Champion. The end of the world is coming, William. Best brace yourself for it”

“Yeah, once I kill you”

Spike lunged at Lucas, slamming him against the desk. Snarling, Lucas headbutted Spike, then drove his fist upwards into the ensouled vampire’s chin, dazing him, then shoved him back to get some space. Spike swung his fist, but Lucas ducked, swinging his fist into Spike’s ribs, then kneeing him in the stomach, before grabbing him by the back of his duster and throwing him onto another desk, taking out the three computers positioned there. Spike growled in pain, before hopping off the desk and ducking Lucas’ fist, then driving his own fist into Lucas’ face, followed by a second punch and a roundhouse kick. Catching Spike’s leg, Lucas grabbed him by the throat, then swept his other foot out, slamming him against the ground

“Yeah, Spike, I’m responsible for Cordelia Chase’s death. And I was there when Connor was killed. Then, I drew Dawn’s blood and used it as a portal”

“Knew you had something to do with it,” Spike growled, “Wasn’t too sure about it. Buffy’s scent put me off at first, so I didn’t quite recognise you”

“You’ll never believe how much work I went through to pull this off”

Spike vamped out, grabbing Lucas by his wrist and throat, then pulled him down while driving his elbow upwards, throwing Lucas aside. Flipping up onto his feet, Spike drove his knee into Lucas’ jaw, stunning him, then pulled him up onto his feet, before slugging him across the face, followed by an uppercut, sending Lucas reeling back against a desk. Growling, Spike went for a kick, but Lucas moved out of the way, before backhanding Spike, then kicking him in the back, before grabbing hold of his duster and slamming his face into the desk, holding him down

“You know, William, if you hadn’t sired me all those years ago, none of this would be happening,” Lucas grinned, “What do you think about that?”

“I think you’re a coward who can’t do anything for himself. You’re a disgrace to me,” Spike growled, “As your sire, I’m disappointed”

His foot flew upwards into Lucas’ groin, doubling him over. Spike then rose up and swung around with a blow to Lucas’ jaw, then punched him again, before throwing him onto a desk, destroying the computers and collapsing the desk at the same time. Lucas groaned as he sat up, before getting yanked to his feet and shoved against the wall. He swung his fist, but Spike dodged, locking Lucas’ arm with his own, then spun around and slammed him against the wall again, before holding him there

“Who is Twilight?” Spike growled

“I’m not saying,” Lucas sang mockingly

“Why did Buffy murder Cordelia and Connor?”

“There is a war coming, Spike. And before the war, you try to take out as many of your enemies as you can. Both are very formidable warriors. Now they’re dead”

“In that case then, what’s happened to Angel?”

“Oh, he’s dead too. I hunted him down and killed him at his son’s grave”

“You’re lying!”

“Am I?” Lucas said, “You haven’t seen nor heard from Captain Forehead since Cordelia died. How would you know he’s not dead?”

“It’s not possible. I may not like Lunkhead myself, but he’s tough. I haven’t seen anything that could beat him. Apart from Buffy and me, but that’s not the point”

“Well, I have succeeded where everyone has failed. I killed Angel”

Spike punched Lucas across the face, then sank his fist into his stomach, before slamming his elbow onto his back, dropping him to his knees

“You have tried to kill me,” Spike growled, before punching Lucas, “You attacked my daughter,” another punch, “And you’re responsible for killing Angel,” another punch, “And now you’re gonna pay!”

Punching him again, Spike flicked his wrist, as a stake appeared and he drove it towards Lucas’ heart. However, Lucas caught Spike’s wrist, trying to keep the stake away from himself, but Spike slugged him in the face, then rammed the stake into his heart. Lucas gasped, before bursting into dust. Sighing, Spike resumed his human face, then retracted the stake, just as the door burst open. Twilight was hovering in the doorway, while Buffy was standing beside him

“Your vampire lapdog is dead,” Spike grinned, “Looks like you’re gonna have to find a new one, Twilight”

“He served his purpose,” Twilight said, “That’s all he was there for”

“Well good then, I did a favour for you”

“Time to die, Spike,” Buffy said, raising a stake

“So, you actually gonna kill me this time or what?”

Buffy ran into the room, swinging the stake, but a portal suddenly appeared between the pair. Buffy skidded to a stop, as Spike dived through the portal and it closed up behind him, depositing him back in the apartment

“Daddy, you’re back!”

Spike groaned when Elena threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly

“Thank god I don’t have to breathe”

Elena stepped back from her father, as he got to his feet, before turning to see Illyria in the doorway. She was dressed in casual clothes, as she crossed the room and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Spike wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her temple, as she looked up at him and pressed her lips to his. Spike savoured the taste of her lips, before hearing his daughter mutter ‘ew’ and drew back grinning

“Ah, it’s okay, Nibblet. Now, where’s Wes?”

“In his room,” Illyria replied

Spike nodded and removed his duster, hanging it over the armchair, before making his way to Wesley’s room, where the ex-Watcher was sitting at his desk

“Enter quietly, Spike. Faith and Adrian are sleeping”

“Sure thing, Watcher. So, Lindsey call?”

“Yes, earlier he did. Faith took the call. Cordelia indeed is dead”

“Yeah, Lucas was telling me. He’s also dead, so yay us”

Wesley sighed and leaned back in his chair

“Well, I know where their base of operations is: Sunnydale. The old crater. It was hard to tell with us getting thrown about, but I was able to pinpoint it”

“Great. Good old Sunnydale. What’s gonna happen next, Wes?”

“I don’t know, Spike, I honestly don’t know”

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“Well, we lost several vampires, including Lucas, but that’s nothing,” Buffy said, “At least we still have Dawn, so that’s good. And I got to beat upon Leather Whore”

“You have a great grievance against Illyria, don’t you?” Twilight asked

“I loved Spike. Honestly I did. Possibly about the same as I loved Angel. And I thought he died. No, he was resurrected and in a relationship with her. Didn’t spare a single thought for me in all this, did he?”

“All this talking about relationships and love is giving me a headache”

“Yeah, I know how you feel. So, what’s our next plan of action”

“Spike knows our location. If he gets in contact with Giles, he could have the entire Slayer army descend upon us”

“So we take Spike out and then the Slayers”

“Well, we’ll need Slayers for the final battle, but sure, we can kill some”

“Oh good. Now I can keep myself occupied. Torturing Dawn is boring now”

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Spike stood at the window, staring out at the night sky, thinking about the events that had been happening lately. Cordelia’s death, Connor’s death, Buffy’s rebirthing, Angel’s disappearance, Twilight’s appearance. There was a lot that was going on and Spike wasn’t sure if he could stop the end of the world from happening

“Something on your mind?”

Spike turned around to see Illyria standing in the doorway. She was wearing a light pink robe that she now shed, revealing her light blue singlet and trackpants, as she got into bed and slid under the covers

“There’s a lot of things on my mind, pet,” Spike replied, “There is a war coming. And I don’t know if we’re gonna win. It’s difficult to tell”

“With the Slayer army around the world, we can crush Twilight,” Illyria said, “Our numbers far outweigh his”

“Yeah, but numbers count for nothing. You and I are proof of that. We took on an entire demonic army and won the fight. Over one hundred demons against four warriors. And we were left standing”

“That is very true. You try to ease your mind. Come to bed”

“Sure, pet”

Stripping down to his boxers, Spike slid under the covers, as Illyria curled up to him. Burying his face into her hair, Spike allowed her scent to drift him off to sleep

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