Nocturnal Bravura Book Three: Children Of Destiny

Sibling Rivalry

William walked quickly through the cemetery. “Spike, come out. I know you’re here,” he yelled.

He heard a rustling in the trees and moved toward them. Suddenly he ducked.
Spike smashed into a tree. Leaping to his feet, he smiled cockily. “You’re getting better, little brother,” he sneered.

“What can I say? I have a great sparring partner now,” William taunted, making an obvious referral to Lizzie.

Spike covered his undead heart with his hand dramatically. “Ouch! I must say brother, venom looks good you,” he snarled, taking a swing and his brother and connecting.

William rolled with the punch and flipped over, hitting Spike across the chest.

“You’re nothing but a bloody coward Spike,” he spat out.

They traded a series of blows, neither gaining the upper hand.

“This coming from the little nancy boy ponce,” Spike said, hitting his brother in the nose.

William grabbed Spike by his jacket. “You can’t have her, but you won’t let her go,” William panted.

Spike pushed his brother off him. “You should be throwin’ a ticker-tape parade, Will. You finally get what you always wanted: Lizzie to yourself. You don’t have to whimper in the corner anymore, sneaking looks at her, and wishing you were me. You got everything now. I thought you would be ecstatic,” Spike hissed bitterly.
William circled his brother.

“Maybe it’s too much for you, eh? ‘Cause you know you do a piss poor job of caring for her. Every time she’s left in your care something tragic happens. Tries to take her own life, gets bitten by a demon. Couldn’t even pull a sword out of her with all your Slayer glory.” Spike smirked.

Enraged, William ran toward his brother, his stake in his hand.

Spike easily knocked it out of his hand. “Tsk, tsk Willie. Did you forget your bastard father’s teachings? Let me refresh your memory. Lesson the first: a Slayer must always reach for their weapon.” His face shifted as he let his demon come forth. “I've already got mine.”

William stared at his brother, raising his fists, a look of scorn on his face as he gained control of his temper. “This isn’t about me or any of your soddin’ dancing references, Spike. This is about Lizzie. How could you profess your undying love to her and then cause her so much pain? You were always a selfish prick, Spike. You never cared about anyone but yourself. Now, because it’s inconvenient that Lizzie has a soul, you chuck her away like yesterdays news?”

Spike let out a howl filled with rage and ran at him full speed, knocking him to the ground and hitting him with all his might.

William rolled Spike over, his hands tightening around his throat. “Truth hurt?” he said, egging Spike on.

“She’s the only thing that ever mattered to me. Don’t you ever question that again, or I will kill you all!” Spike growled savagely.

William held him tightly, struggling to control his breathing. “So, what? You torture her night after night until…What, Spike? She loses her mind and becomes Princess Buffy again? You would love that wouldn’t you?” William snarled.

Spike managed to free one arm and hit his brother, sending him flying. “You are this close to pissing me off, brother dear.”

William hopped to his feet and flew through the air, his foot connecting with Spike’s chin. “Guess what, Spike? You’re already there.”

The continued their attacks, both of them getting bloodier by the minute. Suddenly Spike pulled away.

“You’re afraid without me looking over you’re shoulder, something will happen to her, aren’t you?” he commented.

“You’re daft.”

“That’s it, innit?” Spike said, laughing.

William began to shake. He stepped back, lowering his fists. “You’re right. I’m afraid,” he admitted, hating the slight waver in his voice.

Spike relaxed also, wiping the blood off his chin and he stared at his brother.

“I’m afraid because she is in so much pain,” William continued, his eyes unseeing as he stared out over the cemetery.

Spike spun around, unable to look at him. “You don’t think I know that?” He bellowed. “You don’t think I could feel it? Every move she makes, I feel.” He pounded himself in the chest with his fist.

“I feel when she in pain. I feel when she laughs or when she’s sad. I feel when she is afraid. I feel when she needs me. And you don’t think it kills me not to come?”

“Then why?” William pleaded. “Why are you doing this to her?”

“Are you very stoned?” Spike asked, rolling his eyes and laughing bitterly. “Did you not hear a bloody word I said? I said I feel everything she feels. I feel the struggle in her. Wanting to be good but doubting if she can be. If I was around, she would turn cold. She would become like she was before. I couldn’t bear it. Not again,” he muttered, hanging his head.

William crossed his arms. “Then do it Spike,” he challenged.

Spike looked at him confused.

“Claim another. Let her go. End this tonight.”

Spike began to laugh once more. “You think it’s that easy? Even if I wanted to, I can’t. Our claim is eternal. We loved each other before death. We claimed each other in love after death. It’s binding. We can’t break it. The only way it ends is when one of us is dust,” he explained.

“And if you could?” William asked, working his hand around the stake he held.

Spike glared at his brother. “Not on your bloody life.”

William let out a cry and launched himself at his brother, pinning him to the ground once more. He pressed his stake down into Spike’s chest, his hand trembling.

“Come on, brother. You know you want to.” Spike pushed upwards, driving the stake into his flesh. Blood spilled, scenting the night.

William drove his fist into Spike’s jaw instead of slamming the stake home. He got to his feet and stood over him, his face expressionless. “You are truly pathetic.”

Spike sat back on his heels. “So, what now? Gonna run back to Lizzie and tell her how the Big Bad cut up that pretty face of yours?”

William shook his head and lifted his chin proudly. “No, I go back to Lizzie because she needs me. That’s what you do when you truly love someone. You stay…No matter what.” He turned and walked away, never once looking back.

He didn’t see his brother sitting on the ground, sobbing.

Slowly, wearily, Spike gathered himself up and walked back to the mansion.