11. Twilight Comes Knocking

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Illyria sat in the window, watching as the morning sun rose up. She had seen the sunrise many times and it reminded her of her demon days when a sunrise was the only time she felt some sort of tranquillity following a night of slaughtering her rivals. It made her nostalgic just thinking about the days when the sun would rise up, bathing a bloody scene in golden light and make it all so beautiful

“Those were the days I was truly terrifying and awe-inspiring. But so much has changed over the millennia. I myself have changed so much”

Letting out a small sigh, Illyria looked at Spike still asleep in bed, the sunlight not reaching him just yet. Her eyes trailed over his body, taking in his handsome face. To her, he looked so beautiful and peaceful while he slept. After all these years, Illyria knew that Spike was the perfect partner for her. They both loved the thrill of the fight and despite his soul; she knew that he lived for it. Yearned for it, just like she yearned for him all those years ago. And he was also a great father to his little girl. Illyria knew that she was doing her best as a mother to Elena, but it didn’t quite feel like enough. Elena would never be her child, her own flesh and blood and that was something Illyria hoped to have one day. Her own child, spawned by Spike. And she knew if that were to happen, it would be a powerful child. But she also knew that would never happen. It was impossible. It was still unexplainable about Elena came to be, but at least she could fill the void that Illyria had been feeling when she first met the young child at Dracula’s castle

Love wasn’t as strange an emotion to Illyria anymore now that she had a good grasp on it. She knew that was the reason that Spike had asked her to marry him. It was also why she had accepted, seeing as a way to further cement their relationship

“I’m covered in shoes,” Spike groaned sleepily

Illyria allowed a small smile to grace her face as she watched him sleep, thinking that he looked very cute. Hopping down from the windowsill, she quietly headed around to his side of the bed, before placing a small kiss on his forehead. Spike murmured something in his sleep, as Illyria smiled and left the room

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Later that morning…

“Any plans for today?” Spike yawned, drinking a mug of blood

“I’ve been thinking that we should go to London and speak with Giles,” Wesley suggested, “We need to formulate a plan against Twilight”

“Great, meeting up with Head Honcho. That will be pleasant”

“Also, I think we need to leave this apartment. We could be found easily here. We need to move”

“Yeah, okay, I’ll leave that one to you. Not looking forward to burning up. Hey, by the way, where’s Illyria?”

“She’s taken Elena shopping”

“See what happens when I sleep in?”

“Well, I’m gonna go looking for available apartments,” Wesley said, rising up from his armchair with the paper in hand

He left the apartment, as Spike leaned back and let out a small sigh. Recent events were still passing through his mind, but he knew going to London would be the best bet. Once Giles knew about Buffy’s siring and Twilight’s agenda, he would be able to rally all the Slayers in order to take Twilight down and stop the end of the world. But Spike had a feeling that they wouldn’t be able to win the upcoming war. However, that wouldn’t stop him from being there on the frontlines, fighting until the end

“We’re back!” Elena cried, bursting inside the apartment

Illyria closed the door behind her, as Elena put down her shopping bags, before racing over to her father and giving him a hug

“Have fun with your mother?” Spike asked, hugging his daughter

“Ya-huh. She bought me some new clothes”

“Better watch out, guys, Blue is becoming the next Cordelia”

That earned him a glare from Illyria, as she headed to their room with her shopping bags, depositing them on the bed, as Elena took her shopping away with her

“Where did Wesley go?” Illyria asked, coming out of the room

“He’s gone looking for a new apartment,” Spike replied, “Reckons that Twilight will be able to find us here, so we’re moving”

“Again?” Elena cried

“Yep, so don’t unpack those clothes you just bought”

“Oh, but I wanted to show you”

“It’ll have to wait, Elena”

Pouting, Elena went back to her room, as Spike sat on the armchair and turned the TV on, looking to pass some time, as Illyria sat on his lap and he wrapped one arm around her, before flicking through the channels until he came to the Passions reruns

“Now, this is more like it”

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Later that night…

“Now, this is only temporary, since I’m arranging for us to go to London,” Wesley said, moving boxes around, “Lindsey and Kate are coming back. They’ll be here soon”

“Good. We could use an extra hand, since Illyria and Faith took off,” Spike said, heaving boxes around

Elena, Adrian and Jadyn watched the pair as they unpacked boxes and started putting things away in their correct places. Elena had originally wanted to help, but Spike told her that she would get in the way and that it would be best if the men did it

“Faith said it’s because she wanted to get out of the house,” Wesley said

“Picked a bloody good time to do that”

“Don’t worry, we’ll have this done before they get back”

CRASH!!

Elena screamed, as the shattered glass went flying everywhere. Spike moved in front of the children, while Wesley’s eyes and hands turned blood red. Twilight was hovering in the large opening in the wall, before floating into the apartment

“Appalling. You tried to hide, but it didn’t work,” Twilight said

“Well, we were hoping that it would work,” Spike said, “Guess not”

“How did you find us?” Wesley asked

“Followed your magical signature, Pryce. The stench is so overwhelming, I could smell it all the way from Sunnydale”

“Well, congratulations for you,” Spike said sarcastically, “Now piss off!”

“No”

Twilight flew into the room, but Wesley unleashed his magic, blasting him through the ceiling and into someone else’s room. The occupants were shocked when Twilight burst through the floor. He landed and groaned, shaking his head, before dropping back down into the apartment, just as Spike clocked him in the jaw. Twilight barely flinched; blocking Spike’s other fist and punched him in the stomach, before spinning around and throwing him against the wall. Wesley fired a ball of magic, but Twilight smacked it aside, before getting struck by another blast of magic. Catching himself in mid-air, Twilight was tackled out of the apartment by Spike, falling four stories to slam into the road below. Twilight shoved Spike aside, then took off into the air

“You want me, gonna have to catch me,” Twilight said

He started flying away, as Spike looked around and saw a nearby Ducatti motorcycle. Hopping on, Spike quickly hotwired the vehicle, before racing off after Twilight. He was floating through the air, looking over his shoulder every now and again, before suddenly turning around a building. Spike slammed on the brakes, sliding around the corner and narrowly getting wiped out by the pile-up that occurred. Twisting the accelerator, he tore off after Twilight, gaining on him just as they were reaching a small bridge. Turning around, Twilight flew towards Spike, as he put his feet onto the seat, whilst trying to keep the motorcycle level. At the last moment, Spike leapt off the motorcycle, as it crashed into someone’s car and flipped. While he was in mid-air, Spike was tackled by Twilight, who took him up into the sky, punching him across the face. Spike kneed him in the stomach, then struck him in the jaw, as Twilight spun around and began flying towards the road. Spike punched Twilight again, then twisted his body, flipping Twilight over. He quickly pulled out of the dive, shooting over several cars and punched Spike in the jaw, then kicked him in the stomach, knocking him onto a car. Spike bounced off and landed on the road, as Twilight began walking towards him. Groaning, Spike got to his feet, narrowly dodging Twilight’s fist. Punching, Spike then struck him in the stomach, before reaching for the mask and tugging it off

“Let’s see who’s under the mask,” Spike grinned, before his look turned to horror, “You!”

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