1854 New England
"Spike dear," his mother called from her room next door.
"Yes mother?" He called back. Spike was in the library reading.
"Tell your sister to come here. You come too." His mother, Anne, was sick and ready to die.
Spike walked quietly down the small hall, past his mother's room and into Kara's room. She lay on her stomach, on the floor, combing her dolls hair. When Kara had turned twelve, their father left to war, never to return. He gave them all one last gift. Anne, a golden locket, Spike, a pocket watch, and Kara had gotten a simple doll from a store that could have been called a flea market.
Kara was a maid to everyone in the family. All, but Spike. He listened to her, though she rarely talked, he gave her space and respect when everyone else wouldn't.
"Kara," Spike said. She looked up quickly. Her eyes were sunken. Mother and the maids had kept her up all for the third night in a row.
"Mother wants to see us." Spike said. Kara got up and followed him to the master bedroom.
Anne lay back at an angle on some pillows. Her baggy skin in layers. The cheeks puffed out as she breathed in. Her eyes closed and she was breathing heavily.
"Mother." Spike tapped her lightly. The eyes fluttered open. They stared at Spike for a moment then turned to Kara who was at the foot of the bed.
"As you know...I'll be dying soon, and there will be things of mine I want you to have. Spike, I am giving you everything. And Kara will get ten percent of my wealth. Okay?" She took a deep breath. Waving her hand she said, "Now leave. Kara, I don't want you falling asleep either.
Kara nodded and followed Spike out the door. She followed him back to the library, sitting next to him on the couch. Spike looked at her from the corner of his eye as he read. She was looking straight ahead. He could tell from the look on her face, she was straining not to fall asleep.
Spike pulled her down, so she was lying on his lap.
"Go to sleep. I won't tell anyone." Spike felt her tense for a moment, then relax and sigh. She fell asleep immediately.
He let her sleep until he heard a maid coming. Softly, he shook her awake. She awoke quickly and stared at him. Her eyes still had rings around them, and they were still sunken in.
Daniella, one of the three maids, came in announcing it was time for dinner. The two got up, leaving the room.
— — —
A bright light filled his vision as he opened his eyes.
"Why the hell am I in heaven?" Spike thought.
"Your not in heaven. Your in a containment cell." A voice said. It sounded really familiar to him. He sat up. The voice was right it was a containment cell. The walls were white squares with black crevices. A glass wall stood in front of him.
"Ha... They must think some glass door is going to hold me in." He got a running start. He jumped, prepared for the shattering glass. Instead, there was an electric shock that sent him flying back. He hit the wall and sat us slowly to his knees.
What the hell....? His thoughts were interrupted.
"It's useless man. They've got some sort of electric field up." Another voice said to him through the wall. He ignored it. Slowly, he walked to the door until he was about a foot away from the door. He reached out his hand. Another shock went through him, but it was a tingle this time. He looked out of his room.
There were loads for demons in cells like his. Most of them pacing in anticipation, others were leaning against the walls. In one cell straight ahead of his, a dog sat. Staring at him with a face of acknowledgment.
"That's a demon?" Spike thought aloud. "A dog?"
"She's not a dog. She's an Emear. Transformer." The guy in the cell next to him said. "She or they can change into any living thing animals, humans, or even demons. She can even listen and talk in your head. It's kind of freaky." Spike heard him drop to the ground. He looked over at the dog. It had now turned into a girl.
Spike collapsed. Breathing heavily now, he thought it can't be. Y-y-you........I saw it. Kara!
Yeah. It's me. I've missed you so much. Kara had a happy face and tears were coming out.
How can you........be alive? I mean, I saw the guy......stab you. Spike thought to her. They were both sitting cross-legged staring at each other.
I'll tell you later. Food is coming. She said. As soon as she stopped talking a beeping noise filled the room. He jumped up wondering what was going on. A small hole in the ceiling opened up dropping a package of blood to his fee.
"Finally. I was getting hungry." Spike thought aloud.
"Don't drink it!" The vampire and Kara yelled at him.
"It's drugged. It'll knock you out, then the humans in the white coats will take you out and do something with you and your never seen again." The vamp next to him said.
"Great. I'm gonna starve until I'm a walking skeleton." Spike threw the packet against the wall.
"Not quite." Kara told him. "I've got a plan."