Nocturnal Bravura Book Three: Children Of Destiny

In The Know

Spike looked down at Lizzie. His face shifted back into his demon form and he bit into his wrist, tearing at the flesh. He held his bloody wrist over Lizzie’s mouth.

The dark red liquid flowed onto her lips and dripped off the side of her mouth.
Lizzie stirred restlessly then licked the blood away. It should have been gruesome for Willow and William to see, but they understood what Spike was trying to do.

Because he was her Sire, his blood could calm her; even heal her to a point. William had watched his brother do this for her a lot in the course of the last few years.

A sick feeling stirred inside William. He hated that his brother still had this power over her. It only reminded him that there was a part of Lizzie he would never have. Never understand. A part that always would belong to Spike.

Spike began to lower his wrist only to be stopped by Lizzie. She held his hand over her, accepting his blood but careful not to let Spike’s hand come in contact with her mouth. She took all that she could and then pushed his hand away, falling back into unconsciousness.

“Now care to tell me what the hell happened?” Spike asked, licking his wound closed.

“How did you know?” Willow asked innocently.

“Her demon. It was in pain. It called out to its mate.” William muttered.

“I was just sitting there when all of a sudden, I found myself running out of the mansion. I knew something had happened to her. I don’t even remembering shifting. One minute I was running the next I was here with her.” Spike whispered.

He began looking her over and paused when he came to the cut on her shoulder.

“What did this to her?” he asked.

“Um, it was a…a…I can’t pronounce it.” Willow wrung her hands nervously.

“Well why don’t you try, Red,” Spike said, losing what little patience he had.

“Right, it started out kind of like....Glar..”

“A Glarghk Guhl Kashma'nik demon?” Spike yelled.

“Yup, that was it.” Willow replied a bit too enthusiastically.

“This isn’t bloody Jeopardy, Red!” Spike spat.

Willow looked down embarrassed.

“Since you know what it is. What did it do to her?” William asked, trying not to act possessive of Lizzie.

“It must have got her with its venom. They’re nasty buggers. She’s gonna start to hallucinate after a bit. You need to go find it and kill it. Once it’s dead, its venom becomes an antidote,” Spike explained.

“And you know this how?” William asked accusingly.

“I’m the Master, William. I know all the demons on the Hellmouth. The Glarghk Guhl Kashma'nik nest was nearly wiped out, but a few remained. They’re a bit too feral for my taste,” Spike told him, staring down at Lizzie with concern.

“So you just let it roam free? What kind of irresponsible idiot are you?”

“Like I knew this would happen!” Spike yelled back.

“Don’t act like you care. If it wasn’t her, you wouldn’t have given a damn who that thing bit into,” William spat.

Spike glared at him. “You expect me to deny it? You’re right. I wouldn’t give a damn if the thing took out the bloody lot of you. But it hurt Lizzie. Now you have two choices here, brother dear. You can keep arguing with me and watch her die, or go find that thing out there and kill it so we can save her,” he snarled, looking down at Lizzie and stroking her cheek.

When William hesitated, he glowered at his twin. “Put it this way mate, how much longer do you think I’ll allow you to live if she dies?” Spike sneered.

William pulled out his stake. “I could just kill you now.” He took a step closer to Spike.

Lizzie suddenly shifted into demon form and moved onto Spike’s lap, facing William and snarling at him.

Spike smiled evilly. “She’s not all there, mate. Her demon has this nasty habit of taking over when she’s in too much pain. And it will die before it allows her mate to be taken. So you don’t really have a choice, do you?”

William backed off, lowering his stake with a look of resignation.

“Go find that thing. It’s probably gone back to its nest. If you take dog boy he should be able to sniff out his scent.” He repositioned Lizzie on his lap. Her face shifted back to its human form and she nuzzled against him. “Don’t take it personal, Will ol’ boy. It’s a Sire/Childe thing,” Spike taunted.

“I have a better idea; why don’t you come with me,” William said, arching one eyebrow as he twirled his stake

Spike shrugged his shoulders beginning to move away from Lizzie. She shrieked and clung to him.

“Sorry again, Willie. My being close to her lessens the pain. I could go with you if you really need me to hold your hand, but I don’t think Lizzie would like that,” Spike said smugly.

William tried not to react, knowing it was what Spike wanted.

“I’ll stay Will.” Willow said quietly.

William shook his head. “Not a good idea, Willow.”

“She should stay. Lizzie might need some help. If the hallucinations get too rough, Red might need to help me out,” Spike explained, staring down at Lizzie.

For a moment just a moment, he almost sounded like the old Spike; kind and caring with the perfect tinge of cockiness.

“Time’s a wasting, Will. Get going now. I’ll take care of her; like I always do when you screw up,” Spike spat, reverting back into his soulless self.

William walked out the door, his heartbreaking.

Willow glared at Spike. “You really are evil,” she hissed.

Spike cocked his eyebrow up. “Hello? Vampire.” He said, sarcastically.

Willow crossed her arms, mulling over a few harmless spells to throw in Spike’s direction. She watched as he looked down at Lizzie, kissing her forehead and rocking her back and forth as he hummed softly. She recognized it as one he had written for Lizzie long ago.

She could feel his love for Lizzie, and his pain at being parted from her. Willow blinked as she got a flash of something in her mind. She gasped, falling back against a wall.

Spike’s head snapped up.

“How?? I mean...How did I get in there?” Willow stammered, pointing to Spike’s head.

Spike closed his eyes. “Oh Bloody Hell.”