The stench of stale beer, old blood and demons awakened Spike from pleasant dreams of violently putting the Slayer in her proper place. Bright moonlight beamed into his bloodshot eyes as his lids cracked open. Squinting, he raised an arm to block out the light instantly bashing his head with the forgotten beer bottle clutched in his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the\u2014,\u201d a curse followed as it hit his aching head, splashing warm Skolacross his black t-shirt. Growling in confusion Spike lay sprawled across a hard surface, thoughts wading through the dullness that seemed to fill his head. \u201cWhere the deuce am I?\u201d<\/p>\n
Getting up seemed like a good way to find out. He willed his reluctant body to move. A slow roll onto his side took him an inch too far.<\/p>\n
Spike took a nasty drop off the Desoto\u2019s hood crashing down to the ground with a thud. The bottle shattered, cutting his hand, blood mixing with the warm liquid as it soaked into the dirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cBloody hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he opened his eyes, the lace-trimmed edge of Drusilla\u2019s gown billowed softly in front of him. Spike scrambled to his feet, completely uncoordinated, but sobering a bit when he managed to recall why he\u2019d set himself up to get drunk.<\/p>\n
She had left him.<\/p>\n
Drusilla had actually abandoned him and run off with a Chaos demon. It had not been that hard to find them considering this little watering hole was the only legitimate demon hangout east of Brasilia.<\/p>\n
Spotting them at the park next to the cantina, Spike decided to plan his revenge over a few dozen beers. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but now the dull ache was evolving into a thundering jackhammer. He plastered a smile on his face, and hid his bleeding hand behind his back.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, luv,\u201d Spike leaned forward and then leaned back, wavering in his attempt to hold onto his balance. \u201cCome to kiss and make up now, have we? Gonna tell me you were daft for running off with that sticky-faced idiot?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dru looked skyward staring at the moon, an eager smile spreading across her blood red lips. Clasping Spike\u2019s jaw in her slender hand, she held him steady. A dark light shone in her eyes. She spoke with a surety Spike had grown to trust over the years and the false warmth provided by the alcohol faded suddenly as her words chilled him to the bone.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy\u2019s home.\u201d<\/p>\n
He jerked within her grasp. Angelus was supposed to be dust. “World’s still here,” he drunkenly swept his uninjured hand in a wide arc. “Slayer got him. Your Daddy dearest is dust now. Just dust in the wind.”<\/p>\n
Clucking her tongue, Drusilla corrected knowingly, “My Angel went to hell. He went and came back again.”<\/p>\n
Searching inside himself for some sense that she was right proved nothing. The House of Aurelius and its bloodline were broken now, and the only one he could sense was Drusilla. His muddled senses barely even allowed him that faint twinge acknowledging that a link exited between them.<\/p>\n
“He is weak, but grows stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether she truly sensed him or the preternatural visions had granted her a glimpse of her sire, Spike knew that Dru would not give up the idea. The visions always held a measure of truth, even if they often came mixed up in madness.<\/p>\n
Spike did not want to believe it. He was perfectly happy with a world that did not include Angelus.<\/p>\n
Shaking his head only caused him to growl at the wave of nausea that hit. His alcohol-soaked brain provided a more reasonable conclusion. \u201cMaybe the world did end. This is hell. That\u2019s why you left me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dru pouted looking forlorn for an instant and then her dark eyes glittered coldly. \u201cNot so. You left me first.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was about to protest that he\u2019d done no bloody such thing when Dru grazed her fingertips across his forehead, \u201cHere in your thoughts,\u201d she spoke softly, \u201cand here,\u201d flattening her palm over his unbeating heart.<\/p>\n
Even drunk, Spike knew precisely what she meant. Dru\u2019s touch was cold, but her words burned. \u201cIt\u2019s the Slayer who fills your thoughts and stirs your lust. I have to get my pleasures somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glancing behind her at the broad-shouldered Chaos demon, Spike did not see how she could compare that thing to him. He was in no shape to fight or to defend his confused interest in the Slayer. \u201cSo you came over here to jab the stake a little deeper. If you\u2019re planning on introducing me to lover boy, you can save it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chaos demon actually had the nerve to step closer, a sappy smile on an even sappier face, antlers dripping with treacle. Spike wobbled into an aggressive stance and glared at the beast. He planned to impale the Dru-stealing demon on its own antlers just as soon as he could figure out which one of the swimming faces was real.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, he had to complain, \u201cThese days a bloke can\u2019t even fantasize about a girl without her poofy ex coming back from the dead and getting in the middle of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rant was wasted on Drusilla, who was dancing around him, her skirt twirling. Her suitor appeared alarmed by Spike\u2019s sudden show of fangs rushing to explain that he had no idea Dru already had a boyfriend. Spike had a few choice words to say about that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t talkin\u2019 \u2018bout me,\u201d Spike growled his clarification to the horned demon. \u201cI was talkin\u2019 \u2018bout Angelus and his bleedin\u2019 heart soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spinning to a stop, Dru lifted Spike\u2019s injured hand, running her tongue along the bloody trail across his palm. \u201cTake me to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rush of pleasure at her touch gave him pause, but Spike pulled his hand away. \u201cIt\u2019s not my bloody business. Gonna forget Sunnyhell and everyone in it. Plan to stay here and stay drunk until you realize that you\u2019re mine\u2014 mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Enfolding him in her arms, Drusilla held his head against her chest, running her fingers through his soft blond hair and cooing his name. \u201cDo you want me to be happy again, my Spike?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he sniveled drunkenly into her shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we must find Daddy before he is lost to us forever,\u201d Dru explained gently as if talking to a small child. \u201cOne will guide him, but I must point the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raising his head, Spike wiped at his face with his sleeve. \u201cThe Slayer? The only place she\u2019ll be guiding Angelus is back to hell. Unless he got himself trussed up with another soul and then she\u2019ll just shag it back out again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother,\u201d Dru told him and went right on talking. \u201cI will tell her how to please him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSlayer already knows that little secret.\u201d That brought another scowl to his face. Thinking about Angel and Buffy made him want to drink or hurl, possibly both.<\/p>\n
A little trill of laughter sounded as Dru corrected him. \u201cNot the pesky Slayer, you naughty boy.\u201d She tweaked his nose, which drew a chuckle from the Chaos demon still watching them. \u201cThe one like me.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was impossible to think clearly. Spike had no idea what she was talking about. \u201cThere\u2019s no one like you my goddess of the night, my pet, my black beauty, my ripe wicked pl\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Interrupting, Dru sounded a deadly promise, \u201cBlood will spill. Death shall bind us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike tried to concentrate. His head was clearing a bit. It sounded like somebody other than the Slayer was warming Angel\u2019s bed. That cheered him considerably even though he did not want to think about why. \u201cThe chit dies?\u201d<\/p>\n
Holding his hand, Drusilla dug her fingertip into the slashed skin that was already half healed. It bled. She swirled the red blood over his pale flesh, staring into it, her dark eyes focused far away, looking inward. Repeating her words, \u201cBlood will spill and the darkness will come for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t think I care,\u201d Spike shrugged and then lifted Dru\u2019s bloodied finger to his mouth to lick it clean. \u201cLast time Angelus got properly shagged he went off his bloody rocker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drusilla pressed her finger across his lips to shush him. \u201cWe want our Angel happy, don\u2019t we, my Spike?\u201d<\/p>\n
Depended on just how happy she meant. His lips pursed under the gentle pressure of her finger, and though his eyes shone with defiance, he realized this was one of those arguments Drusilla had already won.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us leave this place,\u201d Drusilla\u2019s tone turned soft and pleading. \u201cCome with me. I need you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like he always did when he was with her, Spike felt like he would stand in blazing sunshine if she asked for it. Quite sure of it, he nodded, \u201cAnything for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind them, the Chaos demon looked a bit forlorn, \u201cDrusilla?\u201d instantly bringing a smug smile to Spike\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cAs long as your friend isn\u2019t planning to tag along. There\u2019s no room in the Desoto for those antlers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chaos demon blew Drusilla a parting kiss that she caught and held to her heart. Waving her slender fingers at him in return, she called out a goodbye. Spike groaned disgustedly. Ushering her into the passenger seat, he rounded the car, hopped in and turned on the ignition.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go then.\u201d Screeching tires and a billowing cloud of dust followed in their wake.<\/p>\n