Nocturnal Bravura Book Two: The Healing

Eternal

Angelus had gained the upper hand. He grabbed the sword in his hands. “Can’t do much damage without this!” Angelus cried in triumph as the ground rumbled beneath them.

Xander and Oz tried to grab him from behind while William and Spike tackled him from the front, knocking the sword away from them. Angelus went down under a tangle of arms and legs.

Distracted by the Orb rolling towards her, Buffy picked it up and stared at it curiously. An orange glow began to emanate from the Orb as she held up in front of her. The light was drawn into her eyes and they suddenly flashed the same brilliant orange, glowing briefly as Buffy gasped and stiffened. The Orb dropped from her hands and rolled away; its purpose served. Her eyes cleared and she looked around in confusion.

Spike was struggling to hold on to Angelus’ arm when he heard Buffy cry out. He froze when his eyes met hers. There was no more pain and confusion in her head. In its place was something else; something shining brightly from within her. He could see it.

Her soul.

“Lizzie” He whispered, leaving Angelus to walk towards her.

Lizzie looked back at him, raising her hands to him as he drew near.

“Spike.” She whispered.

At that moment, Angelus managed to throw Xander and OZ from him. Because of his Slayer strength William was harder to overcome. If he hadn’t been weakened by the wounds inflicted by Dalton, Angelus never would have overpowered him. With a roar he freed himself; scooping up the sword and running full speed at Spike. He raised the sword to strike.

Their hands barely touched when Lizzie saw Angel coming at them. With a scream she threw herself in front of Spike, her back against his chest as she sought to protect him.
William staggered to his feet just in time to see Angelus impale Lizzie with the sword.

“NO!!”

Spike caught Lizzie in his arms as she fell back into him, feeling the blinding pain as the sword passed through him as well; binding them together.

An evil smile crossed Angelus’ face just moments before it contorted into shocked surprise as he evaporated into dust.

Cordelia Chase stood there with a stake in her hand and a devastated expression. She collapsed on the floor in tears.

Lizzie’s back was to Spike’s chest. He gently touched her face as she laid her head back against his chest. They felt no pain, only completion. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as she gazed adoringly into his eyes.

The sword began to emit a blue light where it pierced through Spike and Lizzie.

William ran over to them, trying vain to pull it out. Spike tried pulling himself and Lizzie off from his end. Nothing but a cry of pain from Lizzie. They exchanged a look of desperation and renewed their efforts. The blade refused to budge and the light just kept glowing brighter and brighter.

Spike knew what was happening. Everything was in slow motion, almost surreal. But his Lizzie was in his arms.

Whole again.

“Lizzie.” Spike whispered, kissing her nose.

“I love you.” Lizzie said as her body shook.

“I love you too.” Spike smiled.

Spike kiss her again then looked at his brother. With a look of steely determination and a roar of pain he pulled Lizzie with him until his back was against the statue.

“You know what you have to do.” Spike told his brother.

William shook his head. “No, I can’t!!!” he cried out in total anguish. “I won’t do this, Spike!”

“William.” Her voice was so soft he barely heard it. He looked down and saw Lizzie staring at him. Her clear eyes with filled with love and tenderness.

Tears streamed down his face. “Lizzie, no.” he uttered, crossing the remaining space between them to stand before her.

Lizzie reached out and touched his face, stroking it gently.

“I can’t! Please. Please don’t ask me to do this...” he begged.

Lizzie looked at him trying to smile as the light continued to grow.

“You know what you have to do. It’s okay. Just close your eyes.” Lizzie said. She brushed her fingers over his eyes and closed them for him, her lips trembling as she kissed them lightly. Kissed them the way he had kissed hers on the night they made love.

William began to sob as Lizzie stroked his cheek. He rubbed his wet face against her palm, savoring her touch.

Lizzie slowly released him and turned her face back to Spikes.

Spike stared down at her and kissed her lightly on her lips. “All I ever wanted was this...” He whispered.

“Though lovers be lost, love shall not.” Lizzie whispered to him with a bittersweet smile.

“And death shall have no dominion.” Spike finished, kissing her nose.

The room began to rumble and debris came raining down around them. He heard the screams of everyone in the room. The world as they knew it would end. He had decide.

“You do what you have to do.” He heard her voice again in his head.

The blood from Spike’s back began drip onto the statue. The portal began to open in a swirl of black nothingness. “WILL, DO IT NOW!” He growled.

William thought of Lizzie.

Dawnie.

His friends.

All of the innocent people in the world.

There was no other choice for him. He would do what he had to do.....

William, eyes still closed, let out an anguished roar and used what was left of his slayer strength to shove the sword into the statue, impaling Lizzie and Spike against it.

White-hot streams of light began to shoot out of the statue as William crumpled to the floor, the last of his strength gone.

There was an explosion and one last blinding flash of brilliance, then it was done.

William lay there, covered with bits of stone from the decimated statue. All was silent and Lizzie and Spike were gone.....

Author’s Note: Concept and manipulated dialogue taken from Becoming Part 2