Author's Notes: I hope you enjoyed the introduction chapter and that this one can keep your attention. Review if you would like. I don't speak Chinese nor know how to translate it reliably so I am going to have the Chinese slayer's words in English but in my mind when reading she is speaking Chinese.
Disclaimer - I Do Not Own BTVS or any of the characters/lore affiliated with the show. Everything I have written is my own work or has been taken for accuracy purposes for the show.
Chapter 2 - The Lonely Road
Spike had been travelling for years with his family. Country to country, continent to continent. They went wherever they wanted and did whatever they pleased, nobody had the power to stop them. Except of course The Slayer.
'One girl in all the world chosen to fight the forces of evil, she is The Slayer'. Or however the mumbo jumbo went, Spike couldn't remember nor did he care. Because he knew the truth about it all. Gibraltar had explained the history, the path set before the slayer and the twists and turns forced upon Sineya, the first girl, the first slayer.
But most importantly, he knew what happened to her afterwards. After all of her time spent slaying, when some creature finally had that one lucky day. He knew what happened to her. After all it is pretty key information for him of all people to know. Not that he let that stop him from enjoying his time with the scourge.
'Speak of the devil' Spike rose from his lean against the lamp post; feeling the familiar tingles along the back of his neck unique to his family. "Shall we go out and hunt then family!" Spike swaggers over to his family keeping eye contact with his dark princess Drusilla, gathering her in a sweeping grab and spinning her around. "I am feeling ravenous" He spoke with an unmissable sultry tone.
"Oooo my knight let us find a nice ripe one, I want to see out of somebody's eyes tonight" Dru cheers with a laugh excited to wreak havoc during the rebellion. Spike briefly took his eyes off the vampire in his arms to see what the other two thought. Based on their body language he could tell they were still fighting over Angel's sudden changes in behaviour.
Turning back to Dru he heaved her onto his back in a smooth motion. "Let us go my noble lady, allow your carriage to carry you to the second prettiest eyes in the city for you to view their life drain." Prancing off like a horse running and skipping Spike's hoops and hollers echoed only by the clattering of his footsteps on the stone and wood beneath him.
Spike took a deep breath, taking in all of the scents around him and the emotions ripe in the air. 'Oh fuck.' The smell was distinct, like a pungent odour that you couldn't escape. Spike felt Dru stop kicking her feet and wriggling on his back. "My darling, what's wrong?"
"My knight has to go do his job, quick, do as you're told now my boy." The look on Spike's face was one of complete shock and horror. "How did you know a pet?"
Getting down from her piggy-back ride Dru gently turned Spike around keeping a hand softly on his face. "The stars tell me all sorts of things, You are my boy, but you are not for keeping, a flame for the cold heart of a broken dolly. Now go."
Spike listened heartbroken at her words knowing them to be true, and all too familiar with the stars and how they spoke. "I won't be long I promise." He planted a firm kiss on her forehead before turning and dashing off, following the smell completely overwhelming his senses.
He rounded corner after corner sprinting as fast as his legs would carry him. 'Well at least I fit into the crowd' All around him passersby were screaming and running in a multitude of directions trying to escape whatever villain was destroying them this time.
The smell was stronger than ever as he neared one house in particular. Flames surrounded the building like a wall, like an arena. Without hesitation he leapt over the flames and burst through the closest wall.
The dim light of the flames pierced the room he was now standing in, the heat emanating from behind him barely factored into his senses. His keen abilities focussed on finding the source of the smell almost drowning him since entering the building. He heard the grunting and smacking of the fight before he registered it visually. Without hesitation he ran forward trying to get a better view of the battle before him.
The petite figure in front of him was a whirlwind, her long black hair spiralling around her like a whip, he blade a flurry swiping and striking at every opportunity. As if time slowed he watched her keenly, taking in every aspect of her in a moment, from her slightly chubby cheeks, to her tensed eyebrows as she focussed on her task, even to the traditional chinese hair bun held up by a small stake.
He could also tell that she was slowing down, the heavy breathing and the lack of tension in her grip were dead giveaways. Knowing that she was nearing the end of her limits he knew he had to step in now if he wanted it done. Turning on his game face he leapt in and ruthlessly kicked the slayer in the side launching her into the corner up against the wall. Winded and unable to move momentarily he knew he bought himself enough time to get the job done.
He took one step towards the girl before turning around to face the creature she had been facing. "Well well well what do we have here." As he gathered himself into a fighting stance he took note of the key points of the demon in front of him. 'Two arms and legs, sharp claws, teeth, saliva looks quite viscous might be toxic, two eyes, scales.' Taking a deep breath to relax his muscles he prepared himself. "Alright then gorgeous lets fucking go, if you think youre hard enough."
The roar from the creature was pure adrenaline, or anger at taking away its prey Spike wasn't sure but he didn't care much. With a sidestep he managed to dodge the demon barrelling towards him, though barely. Feeling out how slow the demon was he quickly decided which fighting style would best suit this circumstance and began swaying back and forth almost in a dance constantly keeping his weight shifting.
The demon took no time to recover and swung hard trying to take off Spike's head with every punch and stab of its claws. Thankfully all of Spike's secret training and inherited abilities were keeping him out of harm's way though he knew it would only take one lucky hit with how hard this creature was swinging. It wasn't long before Spike was feeling confident enough to start landing his own blows. Continuing his timing of his sways he started striking out with punches and kicks to the creatures abdomen.
Thankfully the scaly thing in front of him was not as durable as it looked, Spike's blows had enough effect to stagger the creature out of any sort of rhythm. However, it wasn't until Spike backed the creature all the way up into the wall did it realise it was in any real danger and almost like a switch the tension in the room skyrocketed. The creature began exerting a pressure that was heavy on Spike's movements, slowing him ever so slightly.
'No fucking way this thing is strong enough for Pressure.' Spike went to sway onto his back foot and felt it slip slightly. 'Motherfucker this just got fun' With a manic smile that threatened to split his face Spike stopped swaying and entered his swagger stance. The street fighting stance that was his personal favourite. "Come and get it." Spike lifted his arms and gestured to the creature Bring-it-on.
The creature did what could only be assumed as a smile and stepped into a punch throwing his whole body weight behind it and Spike with an equal anticipation stepped into one of his own, while far outreached by the demon in front of him Spike wasn't worried about a strength match up. Their fists collided and it sounded like the world had stopped moving. The boom created a vacuum of silence, it seemed like the flames themselves were silent for the engagement.
Both Spike and the demon stumbled back slightly but both remained standing and tensed for the other smiles still decorating their faces. "Alright Mate enough games ey? Let's see how you do at this speed." Spike shifted out of his game face, closing his soft blue eyes for a moment to take a deep breath. Upon his exhale he opened his eyes, a steely resolve settling across his face.
The demon was taken aback at the eyes looking at him, not because of the conviction in them but their colour. The burning red was so bright he almost had it confused with the flames surrounding him and his opponent.
With a deep growl the Demon threw away any hesitation it had and went to charge at his opponent. Before he could even take his second step he felt the air expelled from his body and a cough of blood explode out his mouth. He looked down to see the vampire with its fist through a sizable hole in his chest.
With a smirk spike looked up into the eyes of the demon allowing it to look into his eyes. "Unlucky mate." Before he could hear a reply Spike roughly pulled his hand back with the demon's heart in his hand. The demon fell swiftly to the floor with its core organ no longer contained in its body. Spike stared deeply at the heart in his hand almost in a trance unable to tear his eyes away. Then viciously tore into the heart taking chunks into his teeth and tearing like a wild animal.
The blood dripping down his chin didn't last very long as he eagerly scooped them with his fingers and sucked it down. Finally after finishing with the heart he took a deep breath and roared up into the roof of the small home. His ruby eyes glowing brightly.
The smooth swooshing of a blade through air drew Spike's focus back to his own mind and without hesitation rolled forward keeping his eyes open so as to catch the identity of his attacker. 'Always the same fucking thing.' He thought to himself with an angry growl.
As he finished his somersault getting to his feet he turned with a deep growl. "I saved you, I did my job and yet you fucking attack me?" The slayer stood in front of him with her sword poised and ready for battle.
"You are a vampire and I will not let you leave this place alive" The foreign language was something Spike didn't know, but going off her body language he knew she wasn't going to leave here without some form of combat. With a heavy sigh he gritted his teeth, balled his fists tightly and put himself into a combat stance. "Let's go then." Feeling her conviction he felt it only fair for her to face her demons by facing his; and thus he shifted into his vampire facade and charged at her.
Her sword skills were admirable and Spike felt her surety in her victory with each blow he received from her whether blocked or across his jaw. Knowing that to go into his other mode would be dishonourable against a warrior like the slayer he refrained until he felt she was truly worthy. Unfortunately for him that worthiness remained unproven.
The longer they fought the more tired he saw her become, her moves becoming slow and predictable even with her blade in hand she couldn't match up against his stamina. And then it happened. The moment Spike knew would happen as it always did when he fought a slayer. She gave up the fight. He bent backwards to dodge out of her blade's reach, but slightly miscalculated her forward momentum and very easily could have suffered a nasty throat cut resulting in his dusting. But at the last moment she hesitated and turned her blade upwards leaving a gash along his eyebrow that burned of Holy water.
"You fucking bitch, you call yourself a slayer. Can't even do your job." With a new vigour Spike attacked the slayer leaving her completely unable to find an opening with his onslaught. Punishing her for her mistake Spike felt an anger he hadn't felt in a long time, not since he found out about all the 'Slayer' business.
When Spike finally found his opening he took it without hesitation with a punch across her jaw spinning her around so he could get a firm grip across her torso and on her neck. And plunged his fangs down into her throat taking in her blood with deep swallows. Finally pulling away he stared at the slayer. "Tell my mother…. I'm sorry…" The soft words coming out of her mouth were a plea of some kind Spike could tell that much.
"Sorry love. I don't speak chinese." And Spike viciously snapped her neck leaving her body lifeless on the floor next to the demon's. He knelt down and stared down at both her body and the demon's then muttered to himself; "Thou goest home this night. To thy home of winter, to thy home of autumn, of spring, and of summer. Thou goest home this night to thy perpetual home, To thine eternal bed, to thine eternal slumber" *(Celtic Prayer over the dead)*
He looked over at the sword lying on the ground, its shine reflecting the flames still surrounding the room. He reached over taking it into his hands as he stood giving it a soft twirl. He scavenged the slayer's sheath fastening to his body quickly and slid the blade into it before turning and sauntering out with his new weapon. The building collapsed just as he exited. Looking left and right at the screaming people he took a deep breath before going off to find his family.
With a laugh Spike used a kip up to get to his feet gesturing to the slayer with a 'come on'. They traded blows back and forth and Spike finally thought he might have found the one who could force his hand in transforming into his real form. Her age being the only thing holding her back from becoming likely one of the best slayers of all time. With each punch he gave her she gave on back with twice as much ferocity; and that gave away her weakness.
Now knowing how to beat her he grinned and chuckled through each one of the punches he gave her not even bothering to swing back. With a fierce kick he fell onto his back and she dove on top of him Stake ready to plunge into his heart. And he saw it in her eyes, the limit of her emotions finally being pushed to the brink. At that moment the train went through a tunnel, the car going pitch black as it travelled only for a second.
In that second the Slayer saw the Blue eyes shift to Red and before she knew what happened she was underneath her opponent, the blue eyes staring emotionless into her own brown. "I saved you and you still tried to kill me. You slayers never change." As he spoke Spike gripped her head ready to snap. Acceptance flashed briefly through her eyes. "It's my duty to slay monsters, and whatever you are, nothing short of a monster could tear apart something like that." The words hit Spike more than he would ever care to admit to anybody. And then snapped her neck.
He got off her body kneeling next to her looking at the lifeless body and considered her final words. "Thou goest home this night. To thy home of winter, to thy home of autumn, of spring, and of summer. Thou goest home this night to thy perpetual home, To thine eternal bed, to thine eternal slumber." Before he rose he took the leather coat off her corpse and swung it over his arms. "Thanks for the coat." Spike pulled the emergency stop on the train getting off into the tunnels. Taking a breath he prepared himself to go to the nearest bar for a stiff drink.
10 minutes later Spike found himself standing outside a bar named Caritas, he had heard this place had portals all across America that led to the original bar in Las Angeles. He knocked on the door and was faced with the face of a little girl once the door opened. "Uhhh… I am here for a drink? Caritas?" With a soft giggle and a nod the girl left the door opened and skipped off only looking over her shoulder to gesture for Spike to follow.
Hesitantly, Spike followed, not completely trustworthy of the girl he was following. Quickly the girl was gone from Spike's sight but there weren't any turns or side doors for her to take so he simply walked along the corridor. However, the further he walked he could have sworn he heard music getting louder and louder. Finally the girl came into his site almost shimmering into existence standing at another door. When Spike was close enough he cautiously stopped in front of the girl.
"Is this it then?" With a cheesy grin she opened the door to a Karaoke bar and enthusiastically gestured to him inside. "Heh, thanks boss." Spike bowed his head slightly as he walked past the girl. She gave him a face splitting smile and quickly hugged his leg before happily skipping back through the door allowing it to close behind her, turning to give Spike one final wave. "Wow, I haven't seen little Hally that happy since I gave her the job."
Spike curled an eyebrow and looked at the Green demon next to him. His fancy suit and frosted tipped hair definitely gave off boy band energy. "Yeah well, She was almost as strong as me based on that aura, deserves respect."
The demon laughed "yes well not everyone is as smart as you. Now, welcome to Caritas! My name is Lorne and I own this cute little hideaway. My little blondie bear; please come and talk with me." Not one to disgrace his host Spike nodded his head and followed Lorne to a table in a private corner.
"You sir are wearing the coat of the slayer, or well I guess The Ex-Slayer?" Swallowing his tongue Spike nodded. "Yeesh, a vampire kills a Slayer and doesn't brag about it..? What is your name?" Lorne gestured over to the bar for a round of drinks without taking his eyes off Spike, intensely staring into his eyes. "Name's Spike." Spike stared back equally as intensely. Lorne's focus was slightly taken away at the name. "William the Bloody? That Spike? A part of the Whirlwind family?"
Spike sighed, reclining into his chair and looking around the room. "That's me." He replied without looking back. He took in all of the different creatures socialising around the bar. The vampiress talking with the Chaos demon, the group of Fyarl demons on stage singing a grunting and growling version of a Staying Alive. And the humans crowded at the bottom of the stage dancing like they couldn't tell the difference.
Spike turned back to Lorne to realise he had been speaking the whole time. "...oungest master vampire in history. You must have some incredible stories." The waitress, a vengeance demon, arrived with the drinks just in time to interrupt Lorne. "Here are your drinks!" With a perky smile she laid down the drinks, "Thanks Winnifred!" Spike simply nodded his thanks and took a big sip, his earlier fight had been more tiring than he thought.
"Look mate I love hearing praise as much as the rest of us, and I'll happily sign an autograph but I just came for a drink." Lorne quickly held up his arms, surrendering and diffusing the situation. "Woah woah sweetie I greet all my new customers, and you are an especially bright one." A serious look crossed over Lorne's face "You… are something different aren't you? Something…" Lorne leaned in to get a deeper look. "Older. Stronger." The curious look on Lorne's face made Spike uncertain of his intentions.
Before Spike could think more on it Lorne leaned back into his seat "Well I am an empath demon, if that eases your mind any. I can read people; their emotions, future, intentions but only when I hear them sing. Care to Sing?" Realisation crossed Spike's face and understanding of why Lorne was so interested in him. "Well mate I am an enigma that even I don't want the answer to, so I will have to disappoint you and say no to the song." Spike quickly shot back his drink and prepared to get up.
Lorne, realising he overstepped, spoke quickly "Wait! Please, I won't share anything I get even with you, can do it in a private setting and will just be me and you. I promise." Sighing and already tired from his fight Spike just nodded his head in resignation not wanting to get annoyed and not wanting to offend his host. "I suppose coming to a karaoke bar doesn't give me much choice, does it? You're going to need to get me a few more Shots before you hear me sing ol' Horny Lorny"
10 minutes Later. Spike and Lorne, having conversed about nothing in the public room, had now moved to Lorne's office. Spike cleared his throat, took a breath before starting to sing. It wasn't anything special, a simple ninny his mother had sung to him before her passing. But by the end of it Lorne was gaping, his mouth and eyes open and raw from crying.
"You… You're… I… How?" The questions came out jumbled and mumbled as Lorne tried to process everything. Spike simply looked down at his hands giving Lorne the time to figure it all out for himself. "Spike… William… You're not just a vampire are you? You're THE vampire. The One." Once more not trusting his mouth Spike looked up, his eyes a bright red, glowing brightly.
"Oh dear god. You're The Slayer."