El Zerú -- part 11 of The Island of Galleno (Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss.)

by Isabelle

Rating: R (for cursing, mild nudity, adult situations and violence)

Disclaimers: BTVS belong to Joss Whedon, ME, and UPN they are being used for entertainment, I don't own them. The Count of Monte Cristo belongs to Alexandre Dumas--Spike's journey was taken from the idea of the book and is used in the skeleton of the Series.

Summary: The moment that Spike finally has Buffy he is vamp-napped by Riley and a new officer, Jack Marshall and sent to the Island of Galleno off the Moroccan coast where all the leftovers of the Initiative are being placed. Buffy frantically looks for Spike but gets news that he was 'accidentally killed' by Jack, who decides to make Sunnydale his residence. The whole thing is Spike trying to get back to Sunnydale and Buffy thinking he's dead. It's filled with exotic places, tons of Original Characters, mysticism, enchantment, magic and love. It takes him years to find out who he is before he can find the one he loves.

Spoilers: Set after Normal Again, Season 6

Feedback: bih80reviews@yahoo.com

Archiving: Carnal Sins, DeathMarkedLove, and Only Time--all others please ask.

A/N: OK, moving along in the story--I know you guys are desperate for the B/S action and believe it's still to come--the Series is going to have over 15 chapters for those of you wondering *g* Also--I write AU just a reminder to everyone

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"I have no idea what the hell you're talking about," Jack said calmly as he leaned back on his chair and laced his fingers together.

Buffy glared at him. "Like hell you don't! You told me Spike was killed while your team was patrolling the cemetery--I found this in his crypt." Jack stood up and walked around his desk to face her.

"You were in Spike's crypt... is this the little yearly ritual to mourn for him?"

A sharp slap to his face.

She narrowed her eyes. "You don't know anything about him." She spit out.

"No... but I know all about you, don't I, baby?" He walked closer to her. "I've seen the tapes, Buffy--you and him going at it. You were like a bitch in heat, couldn't get enough of his flaccid cold dick."

"Shut up!" she yelled at him. "He--"

"He was a vampire, Buffy. A Vampire. You are a human mother and wife... you have to let go of these fantasies," he told her.

She shook her head. "I'm no wife.... my husband is never home... and you're no father..."

Now he slapped her and she reeled back looking at him with surprised shock.

"I can give as good as I get, Buffy-- I know your deepest, darkest secrets...." he walked closer to her as she walked back against the wall. "What you think you know... you don't."

"I know what I know--I know transmissiona were sent on March 20 from that piece of metal... and I found it today in Spike's crypt... to my knowledge no soldier had been there since the Riley-rain-parade... and that was back in February."

He chuckled and caressed her stinging cheek, she flinched away. "Aren't you the cute little Scooby."

"Get away from me," she hissed but he grabbed her upper arms and pressed her body against his. She placed her two palms on his chest and tried to pry herself away but he continued to rub his face on her hair. "Jack, let me go!"

"Listen to me!" he told her.

She stood still, almost numb.

"I run for election in two years... you stay with me until then and into my time in office..."

"I'm not faking anything!" she cried.

"You fake what you have to... for Jacob's sake," he told her.

"William!" she corrected.

He smiled. "For your son's sake... you stay with me--I'm going to win that election... that transmitter you found was dropped as we searched Spike's crypt after we dusted him... no big secrets, baby. He's gone--and I'm what you have left."

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"Ahhh... Janister weed," Nabil smiled and smoked his pipe. Spike smirked as he opted for his own cigarette.

"Smells good," he commented.

The prince laughed, his belly jiggling against the large silk pillows. "That is does."

They remained in silence for a while finally Spike sighed and looked at him. "What type of a man takes a vampire into his home?"

Nabil laughed. "A crazy man."

They both chuckled.

"No seriously," the vampire insisted.

Nabil got a twinkle in his eyes and stood up. "Come with me."

Spike quickly followed the man. They walked down corridors he had never been to, passing the more heavily guarded parts of the castle.

"What is this place?" Spike asked as it got darker and darker.

"This is the Dead Wing.... of things past, present and future."

Spike nodded and arched his brow at the paintings on the walls. Tales of heroes and princesses and their grand and adventurous tales. They finally reached a large bronze door that was opened by two guard, they gave Spike a torch to go in.

The room was cold and dark, windless and stoic.

"Place the torch here," Nabil told Spike. Spike placed the torch on a hole carved into the wall.

The moment he did the room was lighted in precise parts... parts to show a painting and writings. Ancient writing.

"These go back three thousand years in the history of man... in the time of darkness and despair," Nabil said, low and almost cryptically. "It tells of a time soon to come and almost near..."

He looked at Spike. "Read."

Spike faced the faded writing on the wall and began reading the Arabic ancient letters. "In the year close to none he will be taken from the sea, he will be fair and beautiful but bitter and strange. Human blood will not flow from his veins and he will be a half-breed, demon in nature but human in soul. He will be seeking riches but will find more at the mating of the sun. He will bring balance to the world--and so shall his seed. He will be El Zerú, the warrior of many--the warrior of none. Light shall shine in his path and though he is old in soul he will be new in life. So saith Allah the great and powerful eternal, in the year close to none."

Spike looked at Nabil, the man was staring straight at him.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" the vampire asked. Nabil said nothing and turned the torch a quarter clockwise--making another part of the wall light up.

There was a huge painting.

Spike gasped and stood back.

It was the sea. And a man being rescued by a fishing boat... the man was him and on the top of the painting it read: El Zeru is found.

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She quietly crept into his bedroom. He was huddled into a little ball, facing the wall, Mr. Gordo on his belly and Spike's old blanket by his nose. He was smelling it.

"William?" she whispered as she sat next to him.

He didn't respond.

She ran her hand through his golden hair and kissed his forehead and his scarred brow.

"Go 'way," he said and his face in his blanket.

She sighed and started stroking his small back like she had done so many times when he was younger. "Mommy needs to talk to you, baby."

He didn't move. She knew he was upset because she left him so long with Willow and Tara after she promised him they were going to eat ice cream together.

"I'm sorry..." she got closer. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Slowly he pulled his blankie from his face and looked at her. Her heart broke when she saw he had been crying. "Yes."

She laid down next to him and pulled him to her, enveloping him in her warmth.

"I love you more than anything in this world, you know that, right?"

He nodded into her chest.

"Won't you tell mommy about the dreams you had of Spike?" she asked him quietly.

He pulled back and sat down, pulling on his white socks. "He's in my dreams."

"Many times?" she asked, making him put his socks back on.

"Yup."

"Did he talk to you?" she asked him.

He smiled. "He talks like Grandpa Giles."

"Yeah?" Buffy smiled.

"He says Bloody hell!"

Buffy grimaced. "Don't say that word, honey--potty mouth."

"Spike says it!" William insisted.

"I know he used to...." She sat up and faced him, running her hands down his arms. "He's dead baby... in heaven...like Grandma Joyce."

William shook his head and chewed on his blankie. "Not dead. Far away."

Buffy studied him. "What do you mean he's not dead?"

"He told me," William said simply.

Buffy's heart was racing. "What did he say--exactly William."

"He said I'll come back home just be happy." he grinned, very proud that he could provide information.

Buffy bit her lip to keep herself from doing any sudden moves--William was talking which is more than what he's done in days. "Did he tell you where he was at...did you see where he was at?"

"In the desert. He was lost," William frowned and studied Mr. Gordo. "Said to take care of Mommy."

Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed. "What else to you dream of... with Spike in it?"

"He's a Prince," he smiled. "And he has a princess... she's very pretty."

"She is?" Buffy frowned.

"Her hair is black and she loves him very much."

Drusilla, was all she thought bitterly. He's with Drusilla.

"Her skin is dark... and when she speaks I can't understand," he frowned.

Buffy paused and froze on her place. "Dark skin?"

"Yes... she's his wife," her baby boy said and leaned in to place his small head on her chest.

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"What are you saying?" Spike looked around, bewildered. "What is all this? Is this a joke?"

Nabil said nothing and simply stared at him.

"I'm not some sort of Messiah! I'm a vampire! And EVIL vampire who is on his way to get back to Sunnydale, California and kill me some government boys!"

"Demon in nature but human in soul," Nabil quoted from the prophesy, silently.

"I don't have a damn soul!" Spike screamed, frustrated, running his hands through his hair, fingers shaking and sweating--sweating? He was goddamn sweating! "I don't accept this."

"Doesn't matter what you accept --what matters is what is, this is you, and the wise men told me six months ago that you would come... do you think that boat in the sea was a coincidence? That all has been because shit happens? No, no--this is your destiny Spike--you are the Zeru, you've been predestined to it from the beginning of time."

Spike screamed and took the torch and threw it against the floor, letting the darkness sink in as the fire died. They were bathed only by the light of the silver moon and the shadows of the night.

In the stillness of the night Spike could heard a faint song being played, from an old record, Ella Fitzgerald's voice filtered softly into the room.

Spike studied the painting before him and finally sighed. "I don't want this..."

"Want is one thing--"

"I don't." Spike sighed. "I don't want it... but..." He looked at Nabil with pleading eyes--hoping this was wrong. "What am I?"

"Who knows... but you're not your regular vampire... and I think you've always known that." Nabil lit his pipe, making it the only thing that radiated light in the room.

"What do I do now?" Spike asked after a while.

"Finish your revenge... only then will your heart be cleared... only then can the prophesy come true."

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(6 months later)

"Do we have everything, Lugo?" Spike asked the younger man as he finished placing on his gloves.

"Yes, Zeru--"

"Would you stop calling me that bloody name?" Spike growled.

"No, Zeru," Lugo said as he handed him his horse reins. Spike rolled his eyes and tugged on his black stallion. His name was Xander... that way every time he said "Easy, Xander." or "Bad Xander." or "Go Xander." the horse would obey him blindly.

That made him smile all the time.

"There's a rider approaching, m'lord," one of the men in his company said as they looked on to the distance.

Spike's company of twenty men, including himself, Lugo and Talsi were apprehensive as the rider on the white horse and blue cap approached the desert hut. They had been camping out here for the past 2 days, readying to go treasure hunting.

"It's the princess!" one of them exclaimed.

Spike sighed. For the last year he had been trying to get Fadma to back up but she hadn't and he had begged her to stay behind, but the sparkle in her eye when he told her what he was going to do told him she planned to follow.

She stopped her horse in front of Spike and took off her hood, revealing a Princess dressed for adventure.

"M'lord, I bid to accompany you on your quest."

Spike sighed. "What did I tell you?"

"That her highness might not go least she break a bloody nail," she smiled and lifted her hand. "I cut them all off."

Spike's jaw worked hard. "Your father--"

"Was eager, he seems to think nothing you do could be wrong," she smiled more brightly.

"Fine! Don't start squealing when we get to the snake pits."

The riders started east towards the darkness of the desert.

"Snake pits?" she asked confused... and now almost terrified. "There's snake pits?"

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"You sure this looks good?" She asked Dawn.

Her 19 yr old sister rolled her eyes and tucked a short stand of her nape-length hair around her ear. "Ok, you're wearing an Versace dress that was hand selected by one of his top stylists and you're asking me if you look good?"

Buffy pouted and sighed. "I just feel..."

"25?"

Buffy glared at her. "Thanks."

"Buffy you might be 25 but you look 20 so get over it," Dawn gave William his crayons and watched him draw objects on the large paper.

"Horse!" he grinned.

Dawn smiled at him and patted his spiked blond hair. "I see, Will."

"God I'm so nervous!" Buffy paced back and forth, rubbing her manicured hands together. "These next three months are going to be hell."

"Hell!" William repeated.

"Bad word, William!" she scolded but continued. "And I have party after party, dinner after dinner, I feel like my smile is going to fall off my face!"

"You wanted to be a politician's wife." Dawn reminded her as she opened her Psychology book.

"I know," she looked at herself in the mirror. "I really look 20 still?"

"Yes," Dawn answered without looking up.

"Mommy, look!" William handed her his latest drawings.

She knelt down by her son and took the paper. "Oh how beautiful, baby! What is it?"

William pointed at the black object. "Horse, Spike's horse."

"He's still having those dreams?" Dawn asked a very awed Buffy.

"Yes... now they've been coming in paintings, in songs... I should tell Giles but then...."

"About Spike." Dawn nodded.

"Why is Spike on the horse, baby?" she asked him and took the crayon from his mouth.

"Treasure!" he grinned and then pointed to the blue blob. "His princess."

Buffy nodded. She seriously disliked this princess character. "I see... why is she with him?"

He took out another sheet, disinterested in the old one. "The old man said so."

Buffy gave up. She felt she was channeling Drusilla and this worried her a lot. She walked to her bedroom and placed the drawing before her.

Somehow in the depths of her she felt she should listen to her son... she touched Spike's form. "Be careful." She whispered.

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On their 15th day they had lost their horses.

"Let them go," Spike had told them, the beasts were scared mad and ran for dear life. All except Xander who ironically reminded Spike of the real man as he stuck next to Spike no matter what... kinda like the whelp had done with Buffy.

They had traveled for days until the map made no sense anymore. A sand storm hit them so harshly that they had been forced into caves for seven days... food, blood and water were running out but Spike wasn't worried... he heard whispers in the wind. The whispers told him to keep going.

"I'm channeling Dru," he had murmured to himself.

When the sandstorm died down a bit, they wrapped themselves up in what scraps of clothing they had left... and with what men were alive by then.

Starting out it had been 21... they were now only 11. Ten had died fighting off wild snakes that were round and large in body, and walked on four legs. Demons of ancient times, Talsi told him. But Spike had no fear of them, they were only things in his way of his treasure and the way of getting back home.

Everything he fought had the face of that one man that ended his life, it all boiled down to him. Agent Marshalls.

They fought flying mammals with claws for feet, they were fast and large--one of those had wounded Lugo but he reassured his master he was fine and would continue with him no matter what.

Now they all stood in front of what was left of the underground tunnels.

They were dry to the bone--therefore the water was no longer poisonous nor were the fumes. But the sand beneath their feet was acid. Only their boots could protect them.

They walked cautiously, making sure they didn't disturb the land more than what it already was. Following passages and caves they came to a halt before a silver door. A large silver door who bore ancient Impotacg writing.

"I know this tongue," Spike said. It was one of the ancient Demon languages Archie had taught him--the older vampire had theorized that he might need to for his journey and right he was.

"It reads," he told them. "Only he who is of pure heart might enter--all others their bones sand will be."

The men murmured among themselves. The princess who was asking herself through much of the trip why exactly had she opted to join them stood next to Spike. "We should leave this place, it's cursed, I feel it in my veins."

Spike didn't look back at her.

"I'll go--you stay here."

He green eyes met his face. "No, Zeru--you will die. The land dislikes us!"

He said nothing and grabbed one of the torches--looking back at Lugo. "If anything happens to me get them out of here."

Lugo nodded, though he really disliked the idea of his master going in on his own.

Spike took a deep breath and opened the door.

He hissed as the cross that was painted on the door knob made contact with his skin but he did not stop turning the handle until it clicked.

Once it clicked the door was flung ajar by an unseen force and wind blew out of the entrance, with such force that Spike had to hold on to the walls before he could be blown away.

Once the winds ceased he stood before the entrance and started entering.

"Who disturbs the dark earth?" a loud, booming voice spoke in the Impotacg tongue.

"My name is William Perling... known as William the Bloody and Spike... most recently been called El Zeru."

He waited for what seemed like ages.

"El Zeru has come?"

Spike nodded.

"Speak up!" it boomed.

"He has... I have no pure heart but I have come from far--"

"I shall decide if your heart is pure or not!"

The caves shook, making the acid sand fall from the ceiling and splat on Spike's forearm, he hissed as it burnt but didn't move.

"Then might you decide quickly? I'm burning out 'ere!"

The cave gave a non-humorous laugh. "This is the grand champion? To this I shall give my treasure to?"

Spike's jaw hardened. "Any man can withstand physical pain--not all can stand emotional pain--I have that--I live with it every day!"

The entrance quieted and opened it's door more.

"Proceed," it said. "You have passed the first test."

"There's bloody tests?" he growled but nonetheless walked forward.

He walked through the darkened hallway until it reached an opening.

He gasped.

"Bloody 'ell," he whispered as his eyes widened before him.

An entire room filled with gold, gold everything--with jewels. "Ali a baba."

He grinned and ran to grab the treasure.

He promptly bounced and landed flat on his butt. "What the hell?"

He heard clapping.

He snapped his head to the side and his eyes widened as he saw... himself. In game face, black duster and red shirt.

"Welcome, you poof." it told him.

"Hey!" Spike cried, offended. "What are you?"

"I'm your deepest, darkest secret."

"I though I was that!"

Spike's head snapped as another being came to view. To his horror... it was William!

"What the bloody hell is going on?" he roared.

William adjusted his glasses and scoffed at him. "I dare say, you talk as bad as him," he pointed to GamefaceSpike.

GamefaceSpike grinned, proud.

Spike shook his head. "I just want my treasure, you two can play patty-cake all you want."

"No treasure without the test," William told him, in a poised, civilized manner.

"What test?" Spike arched his eyebrow.

"The test we've been waiting for," GamefaceSpike grinned then moved and what was once gold turned into an arena type of place. "You have to fight for it... and kill."

Spike rubbed his hands together. "Right... whom do I fight?"

"Me."

He turned around and gasped as he saw before a leather clad Buffy standing, cocking her head at him.

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TBC....

(a/n: Buffy's beliefs in Spike's death will be addressed next chapter)