Nocturnal Bravura Book Three: Children Of Destiny

Torn In Half

William made his way up to his room. He and his father had taken turns driving back from Los Angeles, but he was still exhausted.

Giles was able to obtain a spell that with Willow’s help should decipher the text. Both men were nervous about leaving Dawn alone on the Hellmouth. They knew Lizzie was close by, but they worried about her as well.

Dawn was asleep in her room while Willow and Oz were curled up on the couch. They noticed several crosses were put up as well as two to three vials of holy water within arms reach. Willow explained to them that a girl was found outside of the Bronze. She looked as if she had been mauled by a wild animal, her throat ripped out. Both men knew it had to have been a vampire.

Rupert noticed a magical barrier had even been put up in front of Dawn’s door.

Once the night’s events were explained, the young couple left.

After looking in on Dawn, William made his way to his room. A familiar tingling sensation crept up his neck. Pulling out a stake, he swung open his door.

William dropped his stake on the dresser. Lizzie was curled up in a ball in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. The moonlight filtering through the window cast a silvery glow over her tear-stained face. She looked much like she had when he would find her out wandering around; muddy, confused, her night gown torn. She was whimpering softly.

He closed his door, making sure his father couldn’t hear her distress. “Lizzie.”

Lizzie’s head shot up and she stared at him wildly. “Don’t look at me,” she wailed.
William crossed the room, sinking to the floor in front of her. “What is it, luv?” He asked softly. She whimpered again as he lovingly wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I..It was…hi..him,” she sobbed.

William took a deep breath. Spike. He must have killed the girl.

Lizzie hung her head. “Please don’t tell me it’s going to be all right, because none of it is.”

When he reached out for her, she cringed farther into the corner. “I know he’s evil. I know he’s a soulless killer. I understand. But, Will, when I’m with him, all I see is him. I see Spike.”

William took her hand in his.

“He killed her. I know he did and it sickens me. I try to stay away from him but I can’t. He’s in me, Will. He’s in my blood.”

William tried not to feel hurt, but it was hard. The old familiar feelings of inadequacy washed over him. Once again he had come up second best.

Lizzie reached out and touched his face as if she could sense his inner torment.

“It’s not only about him. I feel like I’m being torn in half. I love you, William. So much. You’ve always been there for me; loving me, taking care of me, making me understand it was okay to be me. You never judged me or expected anything from me. You gave me back my heart.” Lizzie said softly.

William felt tears sting his eyes. She loved him. He knew that now. Even in the midst of her confusion, he could feel her love for him.

“I know it’s selfish. I know this doesn’t make sense. How could I pledge love and devotion to both of you? But that’s how I feel. I’ve always known I belonged to the two of you. From the day we met.” Lizzie said, desperate to make him understand.

He nodded, smiling down at her before he kissed the top of her head, silently telling her it was all right to continue.

“I was so stupid.” Lizzie muttered. She drew her legs up against her chest, curling herself into a protective ball. “I thought I would never have to choose between the two of you; that it was all right somehow to feel the way I did. And now look at us. At all of us. Everything is so screwed up.”

“What do you mean?” William asked.

“I saw him there. I smelled the blood in the air. I knew he had just fed, but it didn’t matter to me, Will. I could feel how lonely and cold and empty he felt. I felt the same way. I just wanted to feel him.” Lizzie said.

“Was it the claim?” William asked.

“Partly. But mostly because I love him.” she whispered. “I should go.”

“No, you should stay here,” he insisted.

“Will, why do you keep letting me do this to you? It’s not fair! I’m so divided and I know I’ll keep flip-flopping back and forth between the two of you. You deserve so much more than this,” she said bitterly as she hugged her knees.

William smiled and took her small hands in his. “Do you know why I keep letting you hurt me, Lizzie?” He asked.

Lizzie looked at him with tear-filled eyes.

“No more be grieved at that which thou hast done; Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud” William whispered. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“Lizzie, forgiveness between us doesn’t have a time stamp. That’s what makes us different. That’s the one thing we have. I know the rest of it is a mess and yes, it hurts to hear you say those things about my brother, but it would hurt even more if you didn’t. It would hurt more if I didn’t know you have the strength to tell me these things because you trust me so much. Because of that I know you love me. That’s enough for me. That’s why.” William said.

He took her in his arms and rocked her back and forth as she cried. When she had calmed down somewhat, he rose to his feet and carried her to his bed. Lying down beside her he pulled the covers up over them and gathered her in his arms. “Just let me hold you,” he whispered.

**

A little while later William watched her sleep. He loved to watch her sleep.

He walked over to the window, preparing to shut the thick black curtains.

Something in the shadows made him pause. A small amber light moved in the darkness, glowing brighter for a split second before being lowered.

William stood there staring at it for a moment. He knew it was Spike. Knew that it was his twin out there under the tree keeping silent watch over his mate.

Closing the drapes, he went back to the bed and tucked the covers around Lizzie before kissing her lightly on the forehead. After one last look at her peacefully sleeping face, he moved to the dresser and picked up the stake he had discarded earlier.

Twirling the sharpened wood expertly, he quietly left the room. With a look of grim determination he uttered something under his breath.

“This ends tonight…”