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Connor placed his weight onto his right foot, blocking Lucas' right snap kick, then twisted his hips, throwing his strength behind his punch, his fist slamming into Lucas' jaw and throwing him onto his butt. Lucas kicked and rolled back, getting to his feet

"Where is Non?" Connor asked, cracking his knuckles

"What makes you think I would know?" Lucas asked, wiping blood away from his nose

"You're here in the same place that Spike is and when I was following you the other night, you were heading in the direction where Spike was captured"

"Coincidence. Ever heard of it?"

"Never believed it"

Lucas growled and lunged, but Connor was faster, punching him back to the ground. The vampire quickly got back to his feet, his features shifting back to human

"I'm gonna give you one more chance to save your skin," Connor said, "Where is Non?"

"Go screw yourself"

Connor drew a stake out of his jacket, but Lucas hightailed it. He gave chase, as Lucas turned down an alley and leapt onto a high brick wall, then leaping up onto the rooftops. Connor growled under his breath as he watched Lucas get away

"Dammit. And I was so close"

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Spike gritted his teeth, trying hard to ignore the pain as Pavayne sliced into his flesh once again with the heated knife

"You can save yourself here, Spike. Save yourself from the pain. All you have to do is tell me the location of Dracula and your daughter"

"I think by now I wouldn't have a single clue to where they would be. They could be anywhere in the whole world for all I know. Hell, maybe another dimension. I hear Pylea is nice this time of year"

"You are so insolent," Pavayne said, "Maybe I should just kill you and be done with it"

"I think I object to that plan. You know, I've been wondering. What the hell happened to your torturing skills? Last time, you had me nearly broken. This time around, no such luck. Your abilities waste away over time while Angel had you trapped like that?"

Growling, Pavayne grabbed a red-hot poker and rammed it through Spike's stomach, before bringing his heated knife close to Spike's left eye

"Don't…push…me…boy," Pavayne growled angrily

Spike grinned, then started laughing, which irritated Pavayne further, so he grabbed another red-hot poker, impaling Spike through the right thigh, then stabbed the knife his heart. Spike continued grinning madly, as blood trickled down his chin

"That the best you can do, you ponce? Not all that great at torture myself, but I reckon I could give you a run for your money"

Pavayne punched Spike a few times, before kicking him in the jaw. The vampire hung limp in his chains, as Pavayne ran a hand through his hair and left the room, where he ran into Non, Noelle and Spider

"You get anything?" Non asked

"I got nothing from the insolent filth," Pavayne replied, "I guess I'll have to find Dracula on my own. Kill Spike and Illyria"

"Seriously? Well, this should be fun"

"I need that child. She's the key. The blood of a champion's child is the perfect key to bringing the apocalypse to town"

"In that case then, I'll send some of my girls out to find the brat"

"Very well then. I am off"

Pavayne walked away, as Non headed off and Noelle entered the room, just as Spike was starting to wake up again, bruises, wounds and blood covering his body

"Time to go, vampire"

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"So, you know my Daddy?" Elena asked

"Yeah, I've known him for years," Dawn replied, "He used to be evil. He even nearly killed Buffy on a few occasions. But I always thought he was cool"

"Why?"

"Because I was young and Spike was such a badass, with the hair and the leather and the fact he didn't treat me like an alien like everyone else"

"Why did they treat you like an alien?"

"Long story short, I'm the Key. I'm some ball of mystical energy that can tear down dimensional walls," Dawn answered, "Some hellbitch called Glory tried to use me. Your daddy tried to save me"

"Yeah, Daddy's a hero," Elena cried, getting up and striking a pose, "He saves everyone. He's the champion of LA. So is Mommy. The baddies are scared of her"

"Which Mommy is that?" Dawn asked, "Illyria, right?"

"Well, she's not really my Mommy, I just call her that"

"Cute"

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"Any information?" Buffy asked

"Got none," Connor replied, "Lucas got away"

"We've been scouring throughout the last few demon hangouts and we've got jack all as well," Lindsey replied, "It's like the demons are afraid to talk"

"What could they be afraid of? Apart from me"

"I don't think it is you they are afraid of," Dracula said

"You saying there's something worse than me?" Buffy asked, somewhat indignantly

"It's possible"

"Well, that's just great. How the hell are we gonna find Spike now?"

"We did try violence on the demons, but what if we got the Slayer?" Lindsey asked

"And what do you think I've been doing for the last hour? Painting my nails?"

"And you've got nothing as well"

Buffy shook her head

"All we have to do is find one of Non's women," Connor said, "We get one of them, they'll lead us to Spike. And I'm sure a few would be out and about"

"Alright then, we'll continue searching," Dracula said, "Let's go"

The four headed off in their own directions. Twenty minutes later, Connor was heading down a back alley, having staked a vampire there and hearing some movement. He could hear something scuttling about and focused his senses, trying to pinpoint the being's location. He heard movement in the air and whirled around, his fist swinging around to slam into Spider's head. She hit the ground hard, her spider legs flailing about, as Connor grabbed her and threw her against the opposite wall

"Where is Spike?" Connor asked

"I'm not telling you," Spider replied, getting up

Connor lunged with a punch, but Spider dodged him, backhanding him and sending him crashing into the wall. Connor whirled around, ducking under the piece of steel pipe, sinking his fist into Spider's stomach, then doing a jumping kick that snapped Spider's head back and knocked her to the ground. He moved quick, grabbing the steel pipe and raising it, but Spider struck him with her extra legs, making him stumble. He lost hold of the pipe, as Spider grabbed him by the head and shoulders, slamming his face against the Dumpster. Driving his elbow back, Connor cracked her in the jaw, whirling around with a roundhouse kick that knocked her down and out cold

"Now, we'll have some information," Connor said to himself

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"Well now. Alone again. Been here before. Specifics change, but the tale remains the same. Spike has someone, Spike loses everyone"

Spike sighed and leaned back against the wall, his arms chained up behind his head as he rested on his knees. He was alone in the back of the truck, but could tell there was another truck following his, knowing that Illyria would be in that one. He had no idea where they were going, but he had an idea of what was going to happen. Execution

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