Hi all, I actually wanted to take a moment out before the real plot line kicks in to thank everyone who has read/reviewed my story. I also wanted to address that this is my first full length fic arc and that, although I love the show, I have only been able to see limited episodes of Buffy and Angel. So.. you see, the facts I'm going off of are from the few episodes I have had the luck to catch as well as other fan fics, internet bio boards, and fan novels. So.. if a few of my factoids are askew, I apologize... Also! I have changed it around a bit, by making the vampires and other non human beasties a collaboration of all the different legends and records I have read on these species. (( Ex. Vampires not being able to enter any building a human resides in unless given permission. The ancient wars of vampires vs. lycanthropes. And vampires non tolerance to standing water. that will become important later )) So please bare with me... I'm taking abilities from the TV. shows, to Anne Rice, to Bram Stoker... so... bare with me please... Like I said.. this is my first real try at this... Oh.. And there's no real time frame this is based on when compared to the show, so please try not to make any of this match up.. eheh .;; Thanks again to everyone! Now the real fun begins...

Salvation of the Fallen

Written by Ashen Ravenwing

Broken Bond, Bleeding Heart

The manor was huge enough to house an entire European based coven... which Spike supposed, was exactly the point of this estate. The exterior was modeled like the ancient Japanese palaces, large pillars holding up bell-slanted roofs and leading into long marble floored corridors. Long crimson and ebony silk curtain tapestries hung down like huge ribbon banners from the vaulted ceilings. Incense burned in small stone shrines that were placed along the walls on either side every twenty feet or so; the wispy smoke curling into the cool night air like some sort of phantoms. The manor was both soothing and unnerving all at the same time, giving off a homey if not haunted vibe.

Abyssinian led the way along the lantern lit corridor. Kahlja walked beside Spike, her harvest moon eyes glowing even brighter in the flickering light. The night breed kept catching himself watching her, not that he blamed himself... She was stunning. He flashed his gaze to one of the many small shrines they were passing when her own eyes turned on him skeptically.

" Here we are... You ready Spike?"

" I was 'unborn' ready Aby... Lets get this over with..."

The animorph male smiled and nodded, pushing open the large wooden double doors which led to a huge yet cozy inner chamber. Spike blinked curiously, thinking he'd just walked into some gypsy safe hold. There were plush pillows and recliners scattered around the room, the colors of the fabric on them bright and vivid; almost alive. Two large fountains bubbled on either side of the room, one flowing clear, the other crimson. A blood fountain. At least twenty other pairs of eyes turned to the newcomers, male and female alike. Almost all were pale skinned... as typical of vampires. Those with bronzed skin were obviously night breeds of foreign lands. Clothing seemed to be of little concern here considering that most occupants of this safe house or coven, which ever it may have been, were wearing very little... If any at all. Nearly everyone was bare-chested, save for an Egyptian or Asian looking neck ornament here and there, and simple silk loincloths or guarders were worn to cover genitalia... Though... A few nude enthusiasts could be spotted as well. Spike suddenly felt very over dressed.

" This... is not what I was expecting... Jus' who is your employer exactly luv?"

The blonde glanced over at his two companions curiously.

" Ishstar is one of the ancients, a member of the house of Ptolemy. She tends to live a life that remains heavily connected to her bloodline roots. Keeping the past 'alive' as it were... as ironic as that may be..."

Abyss smiled, trying to explain. Spike's eyebrows lifted in surprise. He cast his gaze around the room again.

" The Ptolemy line? That's one of the last remaining pure lines... That would mean she's an ancient.. related to Cleo too."

" Yes... Born into the family... it is this that makes her so strong among her own kind, physically, magically, and politically. Ishstar is one of the last remaining of the Ptolemy, besides her elder sister Cleo... An ancient by all right, though she is the youngest of her immediate family. I'm sure a master vampire such as yourself can appreciate that... yes Spike?"

The platinum blonde nodded at Abyssinian, puffing out an impressed breath. It was rare that a lower class vampire got to meet an ancient, even with master status... Rarer still was an ancient calling upon a lower level for help.

" And all the others? ... Are they...?"

" Some are her children, others are fledglings... The remaining ones are simply followers, family friends, or vampires seeking sanctuary from anywhere of a decade to a century..."

" And those that remain are the slave labor, eh Abyssinian?"

All three companions looked over at the deep voice, staring at the tall lean man who'd walked up to them without their being aware of it. Abyss and Kahlja both seemed to tense a bit in surprise.

" Arreck..."

Abyss frowned, his ears pinning back. The other male smiled, walking up to them and running a slender hand across the soft fur ruff on Abyssinian's cheek.

" It's been a while old friend... We should catch up..."

His gaze flickered to the fem.

" Kahlja... You're looking as lovely as always... I see you've brought our young 'errand boy' with you... Good..."

Arreck's eyes leveled on Spike, catching the vampire off guard with how intense the new males gaze was. Arreck was tall and lean, strong toned muscles rippling under toned copper-cream skin. His hair was the color of spun gold... light and shimmering, not that bright brass blonde that was common in the states...He looked Arabian , and the accent in his voice hinted at a middle eastern lineage. Spike stared back at him, captivated by his eyes. He was a hybrid... One eye was a rich hazel brown, and the other crystal blue. That was one of the rarest human traits he'd ever encountered that wasn't classified as a birth defect. it was stunningly alluring. The blonde vampire shook his head, realizing only after the initial trance had worn off that he'd been asked a question.

" Huh? .. Wha-? I mean... Sorry, could you repeat that mate?"

Arreck gave Spike a wry smile, tilting his head to the side as an older brother might mock his younger sibling. it pissed the young vampire off more then he cared to admit.

" I asked, young master, if you really think you're up to snuff to get this task done for my mistress...?"

Spike shrugged, looking away from the golden-haired man.

" Dunno pet... Depends on what it is I suppose..."

He fished out a fag and his lighter, needing to calm his nerves. The blonde could feel the taller mans eyes on him and it made his skin crawl. Arreck was beautiful.. but he gave Spike a bad feeling in the back of his mind, where the instinctual side was.

" Indeed... I suppose we all have our limits, yes young man?"

" Oy! I've never not finished any job mate! So as long as it isn't bloody 'mission impossible', I'll get it done, kay!"

Abyss stepped forward, placing a gentle paw on Spike's shoulder to sooth him. it seemed to work somewhat as the vampire stepped down, backing off to save his own sense of pride.

" Take us to Ishstar or get out of our way Arreck... There's no need to weasel your way under his skin like you do with everyone else."

The animorph held a steady gaze with the golden-haired male, each seeming to size the other one up for a fight. After a moment, Arreck turned and tilted his head to the side.

" Follow me then... Mistress Ishstar has been waiting."

Kahlja stepped up beside her two male companions, smiling softly at them, then looking at Spike.

" Don't worry about that prick Spike... Arreck's just bitter that he became a servant instead of ruling like he was born to..."

The night breed grinned impishly.

" Stuffy boy is royalty? I guess that makes sense..."

Abyss chuckled, interjecting.

" Yes, Arreck was born a prince of a race that was dying anyway... His tribe has disbanded, and so he stays here... he's not the boss, but he's her right hand man, which I suppose is a good substitute for him."

" Though it is amusing to see him get so uptight around us... We're free lance employees you see. We can come and go as we please and can refuse a job if we choose to. Arreck isn't so lucky."

Kahlja smirked with an almost child like mirth.

" So he's Ishstar's lapdog?"

Spike glanced at the fem at his side as they followed the would-be prince.

"Hn.. Bingo."

All three companions chuckled, stopping with innocent smiles as Arreck paused to look back at them.

Spike was taken off guard once again by Ishstar's beauty when he was presented to her.

Ishstar looked young, only in her late teens maybe... But her eyes held the wisdom of the world. Her skin was a far richer copper than Arrecks and the chole under her eyes accented the Egyptian in her blood. Her hair was as black as ebony and fell to her waist in wavy tresses. She had the body of a goddess but the eyes of a devil; alluring but chilling.

" So... You're the 'Spike' I've heard so much about over the years? I must say... Angelus has good taste in his men."

Spike tensed at his grandsire's name, as well as the innuendo behind the vampiress' words. he grit his teeth into a wicked smile and shrugged.

" Honestly.. I wouldn't know luv... All he's had these years past is bints with faces I don't even think he can remember... Besides... I'm Dru's... Not his..."

" But he had you first... didn't he? Angelus was your first and he took you as a mortal before dear Drusilla gave you her silver kiss of jealousy."

The blonde flinched a bit at the memories that suddenly flooded his minds eye. He let out a soft groan at the images and the effect they had on his body. Ishstar seemed to give him a pleased smile, seeing that her words of truth had struck the right nerve.

" How can you still care for a man so much... who turned his back on you so easily...?"

" ... Shut up..."

The younger vampire hissed, his fists balled in rage. it was too hard to be confronted like this... Especially when there was truth behind her cruel words.

" it doesn't matter what happened between Angelus and I... it was in the past... Besides, my heart belongs to Dru."

There was a moment of silence where the two vampire stared at each other.

" Does it?"

Ishstar raised a skeptical eyebrow.

" I only ask due to how long it's been since you've even seen Drusilla... Not to mention all the time you recently spent with Angelus..."

" He needed my help... not that he'd admit it. Besides... I needed a change from good ol' Sunnydale. "

" I see..."

Spike sighed, desperately wanting to change the subject. He pulled out another fag and lit it off the butt of his last one, not bothering with a lighter.

" So... about this job then?"

Ishstar grinned softly, reclining back further into her 'throne' of plush pillows.

" You get right to the point, don't you dearest 'Spike'?"

The blonde smirked, taking a drag and resting his hands on his waist.

" What can I say...? I didn't exactly come all this way just to take a trip down bleedin' 'memory lane' with some bi- I mean, vamp I've never met... I came here for some easy money. So if you don't mind... I'd rather we cut the chit-chat and get down to 'brass tacks' as the Americans say, eh luv?"

Arreck growled at Spikes tone, warning him to keep his temper in line. The vampire gave him an equally warning glare before Abyss hissed an interjection to settle them both. Ishstar stayed quiet the whole time but had an expression of utter amusement on her face.

" Very well... to business then..."

The vampiress leaned up from her throne of pillows and stood, beckoning Spike to follow her as she walked back into the main room that held the other inhabitants of this safe house. She greeted them with a subtle nod of her head before speaking to Spike.

" From what I've heard, you are a thief by trade... Is that right 'Spike'?"

The blonde shrugged.

" Yeh, I guess... Among other things... What of it?"

" Hn... as bitey as ever I see William..."

" It's Spike lady... I told you before..."

" Yes yes, that only two people are allowed to call you by that name and I'm not one of them... I'm assuming that Drusilla and Angelus are though?"

" Yeh..."

Ishstar smiled and leaned back against a marble pillar, once more beckoning the younger night breed closer. Spike smirked a bit and walked up to her, allowing their bodies to touch at the hip. the vampiress seemed pleased with his 'obedience' and continued.

" There is an item I'd like you to pick up for me... A body actually."

Spike cocked a suspicious eyebrow.

" A corpse? Pet, I don't know if you realize, but dead bodies aren't exactly kept under heavy security... I don't see why you'd need me to.."

" It's in a crypt. A tomb that i am not allowed to enter. Only one of your bloodline may enter. So you see... You're the key to my treasure box. Do this for me dear 'Spike', and I'll make it more than worth your while..."

She sealed her lips over Spikes, kissing him deeply. The blonde blinked in surprise at the sudden lip lock, but something stopped him from pulling away. It was as if a voice in his mind was whispering to him, telling him that he would find the answers to all his many questions against those lips. Spike's eyes shaded heavily as he tilted his head into the kiss, drinking false wisdom from the vampiress.

Ishstar pulled away, smiling in satisfaction at the younger night breed. Spike felt lightheaded, almost drunk... And he liked it.

" So luv... Just where is this body you crave?"

The Egyptian gave a feline grin and twirled a lock of her long silky hair.

" In Israel, under ground in one of the burial crypts. not hard at all for a master thief such as yourself."

Spike snapped out of his daze almost immediately, not foolish enough to miss the location he'd be in...

" Israel! Whoa whoa whoa pet! We're talkin' desert here! As in, no place for me to hide when in the daytime! Fuck that! I'm not going on any suicide mission... No bloody way in hell!"

" Calm down before you hurt yourself 'Spike'. I already have that figured out."

The blonde growled in irritation.

" What, can you magically get rid of the sun or somethin'? 'Cause other then that, you ain't gettin' me to the damn desert."

Ishstar pushed off the pillar, looking back over her shoulder at the British vampire.

" No... not the sun... But perhaps you intolerance to it."

Spike turned, looking at her quizzically.

" Say what?"

The Egyptian vampiress cooed, stroking the wavy hair of some young brunette male vampire. her eyes came back to lock on Spikes.

" If I can assure your safety from the sunlight... will you complete this task for me dearest 'Spike'?"

The blonde fidgeted, suddenly aware of all the pair of eyes on him. It felt like one of those American quiz shows, where the clock was ticking away his time and his answer would either gain him great rewards or devastate him. Swallowing hard, Spike ran a hand through his bleached hair.

" You swear that you can stop me from gettin' dusted?"

Ishstar raised an intrigued eyebrow at the obvious uncertainty in his voice, but a sweet smile spread across her lips and she gave a subtle nod of reassurance. Spike chewed his bottom lip before letting out a huff of reassignment.

" Yeh... ok, I'll do it pet. Better make it worth the trouble though..."

Ishstar's eyes sparkled with delight and she cast a glance at her minions.

" Quite excellent my dear Will- I mean 'Spike'... Not to worry... You will be handsomely compensated for your troubles my sweet childe... To save you... I give you back your innocence. Embrace your new life 'Spike', for you are now reborn."

Spike's eyes grew large in fear as a strangled cry of pain caught in his throat. A burning heat erupted in his core, flooding his body to an almost overwhelming extent. His hand lifted to his throat as hot rich blood began to flow freely from a puncture would that had long since healed. As his heart gave a lurch, beating rapidly with the sudden burst of adrenaline in his veins, Spike dropped to his knees and gulped in a series of ragged breaths into burning lungs. He stared up at Ishstar in horror.

" W-what the bloody 'ell di-... did you do to me!"

Ishstar walked up to him, gently cradling his chin in her slender and now freezing hand.

" I have cursed you with your own mortality dear 'Spike', released you form your blood claim from Drusilla. You are now free... And human once again. The sun will no longer shun you, but fear this... You are now just as fragile as any other mortal... Take care of your body."

Spike shuddered, his body trembling as systems that had lain dormant for over 140 years jump started back to life. His eyes glassed over under heavy lids and he felt himself dropping into the fuzzy warmth of unconsciousness. The blonde dropped to onto his side, too weak to hold himself up any longer.

As the darkness crept in, enveloping him in it's gentle embrace he could hear his name being cried out in a panicked voice that must have belonged to Abyssinian. He was barely aware of Ishstar giving orders for someone to treat the wound in his throat so he wouldn't bleed to death. And yet, although he couldn't be quite sure, Spike swore he could hear a deeper gentle voice calling to him by his true name... A voice he hadn't heard in almost a century... As his eyes slid closed and he let the darkness swallow him, Spike could have sworn he heard Angelus crying out to him in anguish...