1 Riddles

Summary: Tired of his feelings for the Slayer, Spike ventures to Africa to seek help from a ancient demon, who forces him to take a trip down to memory lane. Feeding on the emotions Spike's memories evoke, the demon grows slowly stronger. As the story unfolds, we get to know the man behind the Bloody Awful poet before he gets reborn into darkness.

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy are the creators of the Buffy universe and Spike. Please stop using my pretty Spike as a bloody punching bag!

Spoilers: end S6.

Rating: R, bad language, violence.

Note: based on spoilers - Spike goes to Africa to get his chip out, and probably doesn't return till next season. Just wanted to tell the tale of what happened to him in sunny Africa. Story told from his pov so it could be a bit confusing.

By Richard Bachman

Dedicated to all the Williams who are desperately trying to hold on to their Slayers.



2 Part 3; Bad Blood

There were three suitcases standing in the hallway near the stairs.

I sneaked up to the railing. The coldness of the marble froze my bare feet. Still, I didn't want to get back into my warm comfy bed. Standing on the tip of my toes, I was able to take a peek into the drawingroom downstairs.

My mommy was still up although the old grandfather's clock had sounded twelve times already and my nanny had put me to bed quite a while ago. She would be very crossed with me if she found out that I was still up. She didn't like it when I was roaming through the big mason with its many stairs and thresholds after dark. I could fall and hurt myself. But I was going to be careful, watching every step as I go. She needn't to be worried.

I just wanted to know if the carriage that had stopped in front of our house and had woken me from my slumber had brought my daddy home.

She was talking to someone. I could hear the voice of a man, unfamiliar and loud speaking to her. Perhaps the stranger was the driver and my daddy was with him in the room right now, sitting next to my mommy and comforting her with sweet words while drying her tears. He would apologize for being away for so long and make her smile again by running his fingers over her tearstained cheeks.

My heart was pounding so loudly that I was afraid that they could hear me. My daddy wouldn't approve of me getting out of bed this late at night, but I really needed to see him, I just couldn't wait till the next morning.

As quiet as possible, I descended the stairs while clinging my little hand around the dark oaken railing so tightly that my knuckles showed white. The white marble steps were hardly distinguishable in the dark, and I had to be extra cautious not to fall.

By the time I was halfway down, the stranger's incoherent mumbling had changed into understandable words and sentences. Although I could still only catch small fragments of their conversation, I froze for a moment in the hope to hear my daddy's voice.

"--- The local authority have been as shocked and appalled as we are Mrs Byron. The disappearance of a respected member of the Royal British Archaeology Society in a well-governed region like Campania is absolutely unacceptable and I can assure you that ---"

" I - I don't understand. Who would do such a horrible thing? Robbing a body from its coffin? Can't they even allow the dead to rest in peace?"

"--- The Italians sent the police departments of Naples and Sorrento on the case. As soon as they find anything, William's body or the bastards who have taken it, they would let us know. I know this must be hard for you Lily, but we must keep up our hopes ---"

My stomach twisted into a cold notch as I heard that second voice coming from the room, but it was not the familiarity that struck me with fright. I knew the man to whom that voice belonged very well. He was kind and gentle and a great friend to my father. It was the grimness of his voice and the message that I could not comprehend that frightened me. Silently, I slipped down the last few steps and hid myself behind the heavy lion statue that decorated the entrance to our staircase.

From the place where I was hiding, I could clearly hear that mommy crying.

"Lily, please. I don't want to see you go through this again."

"What do you expect, that I would be beyond myself out of gratitude for bringing me this God awful news? You promised to bring him home to me Henry! You promised me!"

"Lily…I --- I…"

"Now there Mrs Byron" The other man spoke in an almost snappy manor, "there is no need to blame this on anyone. The British Museum had taken care of every penny that had to be paid to get the remains of your husband shipped back to England as quickly as possible. We've arranged the funeral so you don't have to put your mind to it and we are currently trying to raise a trust fund for you and little William."

"And we should be really be grateful for that…"

My mommy's voice was sharp and hateful, but also drowning in pain.

"Exactly. Um, I mean, no. Mrs Byron. What I attempted to say is that we have truly tried our best to soften the grief of William's unfortunate death for his family. Forgive me for saying this but we do understand what you and your son are going through. William Byron was a most dedicated and brilliant archaeologist, a good colleague and a good man. We will all, miss him terribly."

There was a long, awkward silence. Shivering of a sudden cold that had slowly crept into my bones, I walked towards the faint light that departed from the badly lit room. Barely trying to hide my presence any longer, I reached the threshold and just stood there in the middle of the dooropening, a small boy dressed in his oversized nightgown with a face as pale as bed linen. His eyes were asking questions that his mouth didn't dare to ask.

My mommy tried to wipe her tears away. She was a strong and proud woman, not fond of showing her grief in front of others.

"The funny thing is," and she smiled bitterly at them as she spoke, "The funny thing is that I don't want to go through all this grief and misery myself. But what do you gentlemen expect from me? Two month ago you informed me that my husband was dead. That he was killed in an unfortunate accident that happened at the excavation site. I was so struck with grief that I had fallen ill for weeks. Then, somehow, I managed to pick up the pieces of my heavy heart to at least try to go on with living. Everyday I lit candles in our church for him and kept myself strong for my son while I myself went through hell. And now, after weeks of waiting for you people to bring him home to me you invite yourself into my house in the middle of the night and tell me that his remains are stolen? How dare you to expect from me to be able to handle my grief properly now I've nothing left of him to mourn!"

She was fighting her tears, but showed none as she raised her chin high and looked firmly at the two men in her company. The older pompous man who had been speaking to her so confidently met her eyes and lowered his own hastily towards the carpet, visibly uncomfortable with the moment. Uncle Henry remained silent, and watched my mommy with guilt in his eyes, as though he felt responsible for all the bad things that had happened to his best friend and his sister.

"Oh God. William?"

I turned and looked into my mommy's eyes.

"William. How long have you been standing there?"

Her voice didn't sound angry, still I was afraid to say anything to her.

"William, answer me. How long have you been standing there listening?"

She walked towards me and grabbed me by my arms. Her large brown eyes were rimmed with running black lines.

"Why did you get out of your bed? I told you that you have to stay in your room when the candles in the corridors are out. Why do you have to be so naughty? Do you want to get yourself hurt? Is that what you want?"

Her grip on my arms became tighter and she shook my cold senseless body like a girl shaking her rag baby doll. Her fingers were hurting me as they dug deep into my skin.

"Mommy, no!"

"Why do you have to be such a disobedient boy? Can't you just listen to me for once? Do you want to get yourself killed?!! Do you want to get yourself killed just like your father?!!"

"Mommy, You're hurting me!"

"Lily! Lily let go of William! You're brushing him! You're brushing him!!!"

Uncle Henry pushed mommy aside and rushed over to me. I had tears in my eyes as he gently lifted the sleeves and checked my upper arms, which were paralysed by a fiery stinging pain as if they were set on fire. Beneath the skin, patches of red the size of pennies appeared.

Mommy was standing behind uncle Henry. She held her hand in front of her mouth. Her features were frozen by fear.

"Oh my God, what have I done? What have I done to him!"

"Don't worry Lily, It's not too serious. There is some bleeding underneath the skin, but they are small. Don't panic."

"I could have killed him! I could have killed my own son. He's bleeding because of me."

"Don't start blaming yourself now. Let us take care of William first. Like I said, it's nothing too serious this time. I promise that he's going to be fine Lily."

He turned to his horrified colleague and asked him to send for a doctor. As he left the room in a hurry, uncle Henry told me to lie down with my arms stretched beside me on the carpet. He rolled up my sleeves and watched over me while he tried to reassure both mommy and me.

"How are you tiger? Better now?"

I nodded hesitatingly. Turning my head slightly, I could see the patches of crimson spread over my arm like a drop of red ink in a glass of water. The pain was diffusing till it was no more but a dull ache that pounded in the same rhythm of my heart.

I tried to swallow but my mouth stayed painfully dry.

"Is mommy still mad at me?"

"Course not. Don't be silly. She is feeling very bad about hurting you but she didn't do this on purpose."

"Mommy?"

There was the sound of the fabric of her dress shifting as she kneeled beside me. I was alarmed to see her face, the hurt in her eyes made me feel guilty for causing it to her.

"I'm sorry luv. Mommy didn't want to hurt you. I'm so sorry."

"Mommy, I know what happened to daddy."

She blinked her eyes, fighting her tears.

With her hand she gently stroke my cheeks.

"Hush my luv. Don't think about daddy now. Mommy needs you to stay right here."

" Right here by my side."



TBC