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A few days later…

Spike punched the vampire in the face, then sank his fist into the vampire's stomach, before twisting around to boot another vampire in the stomach. Illyria was covering his back, slamming a vampire against the wall, while kicking another vampire aside. They had tracked Pavayne from England to Rome and were currently in the catacombs beneath the city, fighting their way through Pavayne's henchvamps. Dracula and Lindsey were taking care of any stragglers at the entrance of the catacombs, trying to give Spike and Illyria time to find Elena and get out

"We've got more coming, pet," Spike called

"We must hurry then," Illyria replied

She grabbed Spike's hand and ran out in front, dragging him along until he found his footing and kept pace with her, as more vampires spilled into the catacombs. Illyria kicked one in the chest, throwing him back into several other vampires, as Spike lowered his shoulder and charged through the vampires, bowling them over

"How many sodding vamps does he have in his charge?" Spike asked

"A numerous amount, to say the least," Illyria said

A vampire swung a stake, but Spike grabbed his arm and reversed the stake, before charging through the dust and bursting out of the catacombs into a large room. Illyria quickly emerged as well, slamming the door onto the vampires

"Where are we?" she asked

"I don't bleeding believe it," Spike said in disbelief, "We're in the bloody Vatican"

"What is this place?"

"This is where the bleeding Pope lives. He sits here and acts all regal and holy"

"You're not a fan of the Pope?"

"I'm a demon and he's Catholic, so yeah. Come on, we gotta find Elena"

"I'm impressed," came Pavayne's voice, "I was hoping you'd die in the catacombs"

"Give us a little more credit than that," Spike said

Laughter reverberated around the Vatican, as Pavayne suddenly appeared before the pair, while Lucas and Spider made their entrance

"I knew you were in league with Pavayne," Illyria told Lucas accusingly

"Yeah, like I was gonna tell you that"

"So, what does the Vatican have to with Elena?" Spike asked

"There is an item here that I need," Pavayne replied, "However, I cannot touch it. Only a champion can. Someone with a soul, but stronger than human"

"And what makes you think I'm gonna do it for you?"

Pavayne clicked his fingers and Elena appeared, hovering in mid-air. And Spike knew that if Pavayne dropped her, Elena would die from the height she was at

"You're a cruel bastard, Matthias"

"So, we agree then?"

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Spike and Illyria were back in the catacombs, digging through the thick, rock walls. Pavayne and his henchvamps had already made a tunnel to the item, but when the Reaper tried to take it, a small earthquake collapsed the tunnel, burying several vampires. But at least they had Dracula and Lindsey with them, helping them re-dig the tunnel

"Did Pavayne tell you what the item was?" Dracula asked

"Nope, just told us to dig right here. we'll soon find it," Spike replied

His duster, Dracula's cloak and Lindsey's shirt were gathered in a small pile together, as the three men worked the tunnel. Illyria had changed her leather armour for ordinary clothes, helping out, while a few vampires stood guard behind them

"Finally, we've broke through," Lindsey said, "I'd say now we take a break with a toast of beer or blood in your case"

"Not a bad idea," Dracula agreed, "However, I think those guards would object"

"We could kill them," Illyria suggested, throwing a large rock aside

"Tempting, but not a good idea right now," Spike said, working with his pickaxe

"Less talking, more digging," ordered a guard

Spike flipped him the bowfinger, before continuing his work, tossing large rocks aside, as Dracula grabbed a burning bracket and headed into the tunnel. Lindsey joined him and they began clearing the tunnel, vamp dust spilling around them

"We're nearly there," Lindsey called

He and Spike removed the last of the rocks, before entering into a small, circular room with a pedestal in the centre. An orb was seated upon the pedestal, yellow energy crackling inside as it bounced around the interior of the orb

"What the hell is that?" Spike asked

"No idea," Dracula answered, "I have never seen this before in my life"

"Come on, hurry up with it," ordered a guard

Spike reached out and lifted the orb from the pedestal. Nothing happened. Letting out a breath of relief he didn't need, Spike left the room and headed back to the Vatican, where Pavayne, Spider and Lucas were waiting, Elena still suspended in the air

"Good, you have the orb. Well done," Pavayne said, "Now hand it over"

"Nuh-uh. Let Elena down first and then I'll hand it over," Spike said

"Why don't you tell us what it is?" Dracula suggested

"How do I put this? No. Hand it over"

"Put Elena down safely"

"Very well then"

Elena floated to the ground, but Pavayne held her back from her father. With a small smirk, Spike heaved his arm back and hurled the orb through the air – straight through one of the windows, letting in the morning sunshine. He and Dracula dived out of the way, but Lucas and a few vampires were set ablaze. Lucas dived away and began rolling around, trying to put the flames out, as the other vampires turned to dust

"Kill them," Pavayne ordered

Lindsey transmuted his pocketknife into a broadsword, decapitating a vampire, then whirling around to behead another vamp. Illyria backhanded a vampire aside, as two came at her at once. She grabbed them by the throat and bashed their heads together, as Dracula uppercutted a vampire, launching him through the air. Spike booted a vampire in the stomach, then flicked his wrist, staking the vampire, before whirling around and throwing a vampire to the ground, staking him as well

"Time we got out of here, my dear," Pavayne said to Spider

With one hand on her shoulder and the other on Elena's, Pavayne suddenly disappeared from the Vatican. He appeared outside on the streets, scaring the commuters as he picked up the orb, before teleporting from sight once again. Spike saw him go and growled, punching a vampire so hard that he broke his jaw

"Everyone, go after Pavayne," he growled

"We can't track him when he freaking teleports," Lindsey said

"Just go"

The group took care of the vampires, before leaving the Vatican, as Spike hauled Lucas to his feet, his vamp face coming into view, as Lucas also vamped out

"Where is Pavayne going?" Spike asked

"Screw you, William"

"Okay, you wanna play? Let's play"

Spike drove his knee into Lucas' stomach, then threw him along the floor. Lucas flipped onto his feet, stepping back from Spike's leaping punch, striking him in the face. Spike blocked Lucas' next punch and struck him a few times in the ribs, as Lucas kicked him in the chest, throwing him away. Flipping up onto his feet, Spike lashed out with a roundhouse kick, but Lucas grabbed his leg and swept, before slamming Spike's face into the ground, then sliding him along the floor. Spike rolled away from the beam of sunlight, getting up in time to catch Lucas' arm and twist it, putting him off-balance

"Start talking, Strike"

Spike kicked Lucas' legs out, slamming him to the ground. Lucas kicked Spike back, then got to his feet, dodging Spike's punch and hitting him in the face. Spike backhanded him, punching him in the solar plexus, then driving his knee into his face. Lucas reeled back, as Spike grabbed him by the throat and slammed his head into the ground

"Start talking. Where is Pavayne going and what is he planning on doing?"

"So, you've got questions, huh? Well, I do have the answers, but I don't quite feel like sharing," Lucas replied with a grin

"Okay, well I'll just settle for beating the crap out of you then"

Spike lifted Lucas to his feet and slammed him against the wall, before grabbed a crucifix and pressing it to Lucas' cheek, burning the flesh as his own palm sizzled

"Okay, okay, okay, I'll talk," Lucas relented, his face shifting back to human

"You have one minute," Spike told him

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