Chapter Twenty – Four: And Now, The Time Has Come

Spike felt the heat first before he woke up. He was still tied to the post in the cave, he knew that much and his sense told him the Hellmouth was most likely burning away just feet from him. He opened his eyes and the thought was confirmed by him. A gaping chasm lay metres from him, searing heat coming from it in waves, flames licking the edge. It was everything he had expected of a gateway to hell, yet his skin was still crawling in renewed terror.

Oh god…Buffy. He hung his head, hoping upon hope that she would either stop this or run far away so she wouldn't get killed in the aftermath. And that it wouldn't be by his hand.

A sound in the background made him look up again and that was when he noticed them. The vampires. Not the minions that constantly milled around, but the group of eleven, one of which was David, dressed in blackened robes, chanting heavily in German. He frowned and then realised they were the resurrected Einherjar clan.

He was done for. David turned and smiled at him, making him cringe. The guy was fully vamped out, his hideous features boring into Spike's memory and he squirmed, trying to free himself.

'Really, it is no use, Spike. You were destined for this. The ground is already trembling in wake of the approaching doom.' His words didn't scare Spike, his eyes did. The cold calculating stare the other vampire fixed him with, the pure evil in his gaze. Spike wanted out, now, before he could cause terror and pain to those he loved. 'Are you hoping your Slayer will save you?' David asked. He received no reply, but didn't need one. 'We have her. She came down here, rushing gallantly to the rescue. Unfortunately Angelus and his bride got her first.'

Pain struck in Spike's heart and he had to hold himself back from screaming. Angelus couldn't have. He knew Buffy was still alive. Maybe they had her, but he knew she was alive, he would know if she was dead.

David had continued talking and Spike fixed him with a icy glare.

'She's locked up somewhere. Unconscious, but that won't matter. All sorts of hell are about to be unleashed, and I'll be the one in charge. You can have your fun with her.' He grinned and Spike wrestled with his bonds once more. David rolled his eyes and turned his back, raising his arms in an overly dramatic gesture. The minions scattered, running from the area. The clan lined up, watching the other vampire as he began to speak.

'Hear me! It has begun. The time of the Einherjar has come once more and we shall rule. We shall be gods amongst our kind!'

The clan clapped as David turned to Spike once more, that awful grin returning to his face.

'Shall we start?'

'How about not?' A voice came from the other side of the cavern and David snapped his head round, only to see Buffy standing, a sword in one hand, and a really pissed off look on her face. Spike breathed a sigh of relief, his own smirk returning once he realised David was, well, in a word, fucked.

'You! You were contained!' David spat, and his eyes widened as Angel appeared behind her, the Dagger in his hand.

'Looks like I'm out.' Buffy shrugged. 'And I fancy a party.' She ran towards them, but the clan stood in her way, all of them vamped out and snarling. They rushed her and Spike could only watch as Angel and the Slayer entered the fight, dusting vampires as quickly as they could.

David turned back to Spike, gripping his neck in one hand. 'She can't save you. She can't stop this. It takes only a minute to drain you and then I will be pure.' He bared his teeth and Spike struggled in his grip, trying desperately to get away. The bonds came loose, but it was too little, too late as David's teeth plunged towards his neck.

Buffy looked up from the fight, noting that the vampires were fewer and fewer, only to see David bite into Spike like one would chomp on a Taco. Spike didn't make a sound, his face scrunched up in pain, his fists clenched in his bindings. She could see him come loose, but as the world slowed around her and she spun to dust another vampire, it became all to clear that whilst he was almost free, his strength was waning.

Angel shouted at her and she nodded, running away from the fight that she knew Angel could handle. Spike was her priority now.

She ran round the edge of the cavern, and jumped over rocks that fell from the ceiling, the shaking of the earth worsening as the Hellmouth cracked and grew. She glanced at it and then back to her destination, gasping as David dropped Spike without so much as a second look. The blonde vampire hit the ground, his ropes giving way. His eyes were shut and Buffy ground to a halt as David turned his gaze on her.

'Sein blut öffnen der tür, mein rettung legen der sonne, für alles zeit.' He snarled and the ground shook violently once more. Buffy hit the deck, her footing lost and she looked up, her gaze flitting from Spike to the other vampire.

The Hellmouth spat fire as David convulsed. His body seemed to warp beyond itself, and he screamed as he lurched towards the gaping hole in the floor. Buffy crawled past him and over to Spike, her hands going to his cuts and bruises, cradling his head as she willed him to wake up and be okay.

His eyes opened as she whispered to him and he snarled, pushing her away with a force he hadn't used on her before. Buffy shrieked, and looked back at him, his golden gaze boring into hers and she knew then. She knew his soul was gone and that he wasn't her Spike anymore.

He'll always be your Spike, no matter what. A voice whispered to her and she frowned as the vampire got closer. She didn't move, frozen as he approached, no fear in her, just anger at what had been taken away.

Spike snarled and she thought she heard Angel call out to her, but she was still, her eyes caught in Spike's, regardless of the fact that what she had once seen there was gone now. He was almost upon her, his teeth bared and she thought, maybe, this time, she would get the rest she needed. No more fighting, no more losing the ones she loved.

His hands were on her now and the rest of the world seemed so far away. Angel was shouting at her, the ground was shaking, and David was somewhere, turning into whatever monster he would become. The world was ending. Did she care? She wasn't sure.

He growled and attacked, pinning her to the ground, his fangs sinking into her throat. She felt the pull on her blood and closed her eyes, wishing it was over for the briefest of moments. Then he stopped. She felt him pull away and she opened her eyes, once again finding the blue of his eyes. He stared at her in shock and recognition and she knew…her dream had been right.

'Spike?' She whispered, barely hearing herself over the din of the Hellmouth. He nodded, crushing his mouth to hers in a fit of passion. They remained locked together for a few seconds before he pulled away and smiled at her.

'I love you with everything I am; soul and demon.' She smiled, feeling tears prick at her eyes at the realisation. She hadn't lost him. She could never lose him; because he would never leave. She kissed him on the lips gently.

'I love you too…' She said and he smiled again, his eyes full of the emotion she'd missed for days.

A presence beside them made her turn and she looked up, feeling Spike tugging her to her feet. Angel stood beside them, motioning to the other side of the cavern. Buffy and Spike both turned, staring at the new evil that had sprung forth.

David was gone. In his place, stood a demon twice his size, with mottled grey skin, red eyes and glistening fangs. It reared back and roared, raking the air with it's massive talons. The three stood back and watched as vampires flooded the cavern again, surrounding them. Buffy looked to Angel and then Spike, gripping the blonde's hand tightly as she smiled.

'Ready for this?' She asked. Spike nodded.

Angel looked at the both of them, sensing his Childe's now soulless state, but dismissing it. It was different for Spike, he'd never been the demon alone. But with Buffy to anchor him, it didn't seem to be much of a problem.

The demon roared again and the vampires surged forward. Buffy tensed beside her two comrades and together, they jumped into the battle.

(AN: Sorry about my German, I know it isn't any good. I only had a little phrase book, so I sorta pieced it together from that. I opted for Spanish in secondary school; mind you, that isn't any better.)

The world was on fire.

His soul was gone.

And he was fighting for his life.

Vampires surrounded the three warriors and as the blonde haired vampire went for his first opponent and snapped his neck without even thinking about it, he felt his demon rejoice at the freedom. The pain he was inflicting on the demons pouring forth was satisfying him in a way he hadn't felt before. Maybe his soul had hampered him, but right now, soulless and fighting for the right side, the side of good – it felt like he belonged.

He glanced over at the others. Angel had moved quite far away, dealing with the vampires in his own way, his demon face to the fore. Looked like his Sire was finally letting go and revelling in the violence. Buffy was fighting on the other side of him, kicking and punching like the little spit fire she was, all golden hair and muscles, her delicate frame hiding a power he couldn't even think to possess.

Spike was all bad now, but in the wrong way. As he dusted vampires, twisted heads and broke limbs, he found himself grinning, wounds causing blood to splatter across his face, his golden eyes glimmering in success as vampire after vampire fell. What seemed like hundreds had been reduced to few and their real foe advanced on them. Spike snarled as he turned to shield Buffy from an attack and they both went down.

What was once David roared, its face contorted in what could have been a smile, as it swung an arm round. It caught Angel square in the chest, and the older vampire went flying backwards, hitting the wall heavily. He passed out and the Dagger he had been using clattered to the stone and dirt floor.

Spike scrambled to his feet and pushed Buffy out of the way as David aimed a blow to her. He connected with Spike's arm and the young vampire yelped as the punch splintered his bone. He fell backwards and snarled, wasting no time in getting to his feet again. Buffy was still fighting off lesser vampires and Spike waved an arm at David, desperate to get his attention and keep him away from the Slayer.

'Oi, ponce!' he yelled and David turned on him.

'You dare taunt me?' The beast spoke, its voice half snarl, half growl. 'I am more then you could ever conceive to be, parasite.'

'Yeah, right.' Spike laughed, jumping back as the demon swiped at him. 'At least I can get laid if I try. With a face like that, you're screwed.'

'You are a speck of dust in my wake. You are nothing. Even without a soul you are pathetic.' It roared and caught him by the leg. Spike found himself hoisted up into the air and flung to the ground again. He coughed, sending blood splattering onto the floor, before standing once more. Pain wracked his body, but he wasn't giving up that easily. David was lumbering towards Buffy again and she turned, panicking when she saw the snarling animal coming towards her.

'Oi! I'm not done with you!' Spike yelled and the demon turned again, narrowing its eyes at him.

'You attack me vampire, yet you will die. I will feast on you and your Slayer.' It laughed and Spike frowned.

'You got that right, mate. She's my slayer and no one touches her.' He growled and flung himself onto David's back, screaming at Buffy as he connected. 'Run, Buffy!' He looped his arm round the beast's neck and pulled hard. Buffy had disappeared and Spike felt like he was on a rocking rodeo ride. The demon lurched and growled, roared and finally dislodged the vampire, sending him flying against a wall, much like Angel had. David advanced on him, standing over him menacingly.

'You will die now.'

Spike tried to move, but found his body broken. He spat blood as David rose over him and prepared to attack.

'Hey!' David stopped and turned, to find Buffy facing off with him, the Dagger of Duibhne in her hand. David laughed. Spike shook his head.

'Buffy, no!' He cried out as she unfolded her arms, barely contained anger on her face.

'You believe you can stop me with that? I am the plague on the world, Slayer.'

She cocked her head and Spike frowned. 'You're a plague huh? Surely you know what this thingy does then?' She drew her back and threw it, straight and true, aiming for the demon's heart. David roared as it connected with his flesh and fell back, narrowly missing Spike. 'It's a cure for all.' Buffy shrugged and moved towards the fallen blonde vampire, her eyes meeting his.

David cavorted and twisted as the demon essence was stolen from his body and he lay in blood, panting as his body slowly crumbled. An anguished cry escaped his mouth as he ceased to be and the Hellmouth quietened.

Angel stood and limped over to them, watching as Buffy carefully helped Spike to his feet. The blonde grimaced as he lent against the slayer, shock evident on his features when another helping hand came to his aide.

The three left the cavern, the blonde vampire held between the Slayer and his Sire.