Without another word, she drove forward and landed a ringing blow across Spike's exposed chin. His head flew backwards and spun him toward the alley wall, but he quickly caught himself and turned back to face the demon Cecily had become. He snarled in rage, letting his demon come forward. No woman was going to beat him at his own game.

"This is because I killed that bastard-" Spike began, taking a few steps toward Halfrek. She cut him off with another sharp blow, which he took. With the pain ebbing away, a smile appeared on his lips and a feral growl grew in his chest.

"This is because you killed my husband, William." She hissed, balling her fists again at her sides. Spike cocked his head and kept well out of the way of her reckless hands.

"I don't usually harm fine ladies, my dear," Spike replied, putting his hands behind his back and sneering. Halfrek took another jab with her fist, missing his midsection by a few inches. Spike snarled, reached out and countered with a fair kick to her chin, snapping her head back. "Lucky for me, I'm not fighting a lady."

"Murderer!" She whispered, launching herself again at Spike. He countered by lashing out with his left foot and hitting her squarely in the stomach. Her body flew back and landed in a heap at the mouth of the alley. With a loud snarl, Spike stalked toward her. When he was within striking distance, she shot up and swept low with her leg, brushing his feet out from under him. With a crack he landed on his back, leaving his chest exposed.

"You took my life from me!" she snarled, leaping on top of him and wrapping her slender fingers around his throat. Suddenly, her eyes caught the glint of the oil lamps that cut through the mist and Spike could clearly see the tears staining her cheeks. He reached up and pried the little fingers from around his windpipe and pushed her off of him, dropping her on her bottom a few feet from him.

"And you took mine!" he snarled back, the demon suddenly dropping from his face. He stood and wiped his eyes, feeling the sting of tears threatening to take over his emotions. He turned from her, hoping she couldn't see the pitiful look on his face. With a deep breathe, he silently cursed himself for his weakness.

"William..."

"Don't." He snapped, turning back to face her. He took a deep breathe and pointed a finger toward her. "Don't you dare, you soddin' wench!"

Halfrek's lips parted, as if she were going to say something, but no sound came out. Her demon visage dropped suddenly and her beautiful features were back. And there she sat; wet, cold skirts draped around her pale legs.

"I took nothing from you..." she whispered to him, his face turned toward the street. He was still fighting off the tears. "William, I did nothing to hurt you."

Spike snorted, looking up with a wickedly sarcastic smile. "Nothing? No, of course not."

"I thought surely you understood. I had to...William, I was engaged." She said, standing carefully and dusting off her skirts as best she could. Spike looked up, warily, as if she were going to punch him again.

"Cecily, I broke your heart," he stopped, shaking his head as the tears finally came. He sighed and looked upward. "I broke your heart...so you would know what it feels like. So they," he thrust a pointed finger out of the mouth of the alley. "So they would know what it felt like to be in that much pain."

"William..."

"No!" he raged stepping forward. "You killed that man, you bitch! This," he pressed a hand over his chest. "This...William is dead. I'm a..." he thought quickly, thrusting his chin forward. "I'm a heartless demon now." He said almost as if he were convincing himself. Part of him realized that he was. The part that was screaming for him to just run away and beg God for mercy.