Birthright

Chapter 3

Spike sat at the edge of the bed, stretching widely and uncoiling his muscles. He felt fantastic and a spot of breakfast sounded wonderful right about now. Pushing himself off the bed and heading for the galley below, he passed by a full length mirror and froze mid step. He blinked, glanced behind him, then glanced back and blinked some more.

It was him. And not how he imagined himself. Being a vampire it had been nearly a century since he’d seen himself but he was positive he didn’t have pointed ears, which he was carefully feeling. His blue eyes were the same as ever, watching his hand carefully run over the texture before running through the curled mass of blond on his head. And not the bleach bond he envisioned but sandy blond. He did as thorough of an inventory as he could, realizing those were the only real difference before slumping against the wall,” What did she do to me?”

“ You’ll find out soon enough.” He turned and hissed, almost surprised that he could still do so. He didn’t look or feel much like a vampire right now but maybe the changes were only on the outside. Megan sat up, eyes wide as she heard his hiss of irritation become a growl of anger.

“ Change me back!”

Ariana shrugged with seeming unconcern,” I told you things work differently here. Just...wait and see. Within a day you’ll have your answers.”

Spike gave a last growl and threw on his clothes, stalking past the elf and thundering down the stairs. The young elfling hurried to the door and peered up at the elder,” Why’s he so mad?”

Tilting her head a bit to watch him thud down into a chair and order,” He’s afraid of change.”

Nibbling on her index finger,” Why?”

Smiling and patting the little one on the head,” Because it’s always been bad for him.”

Megan frowned before dressing and taking off down the stairs, weaving amongst the guests and crawling up into Spike’s lap. She curled up against his chest, head resting on his shoulder and felt the tension in him flee. She may not legitimately be his but she felt like it. And he knew he’d have a hard time letting go of her. But then he frowned, realizing that going back meant leaving Megan behind.

Pushing the thought away, reminding himself over and over that he was an evil, soulless demon that didn’t care about little elves, he put Megan gently into her own chair and dug into his breakfast, tuning out everything else. If he didn’t think about it, then he wouldn’t have to worry about it. It’s why he’d never given into his affections for Dawn completely. He knew with time the young teen would grow up and despise him like everyone else. Ariana sat quietly across from the two of them, munching on a piece of fruit.

She knew this man, this demon. Knew what made him what he was. If she had a gift, it was the ability to read a person inside and out. Whatever his past, he had a hard time with trust. He never gave his loyalty easily or quickly but when he did, it was hard to shake it. And from what she could see, his loyalty had been tested for much of his life.

With a wink she tossed Megan a strawberry and stood up,” I’ll get the horses ready.” Spike gave a grunt but said nothing, determined to get through today as silently as possible. But that plan was blown all to hell rather quickly.

*

Ariana burst through the door, sword at the ready at the angry shouts and growling threats. And she was treated to a sight she might never forget. And she wasn’t entirely certain if she wanted to laugh, or faint. Spike had a group of soldiers pinned behind a table, the wood overturned and smothering them against the wall. The furnishings of the room were ruined and what few guests that had been present were already gone. Her eyes searched out Megan, finding her and two other elflings huddled in a corner.

She blinked in surprise, realizing it was no small coincidence when not one, but three elves managed to find them so quickly. Turning her attention back to the present, she strolled forward with intent in her eyes and her body language screaming confrontation,” William...if you please?”

Spike glanced back at her, his tongue darting out to his split lip before rolling his eyes with a growl,” Sure, kill all my fun.” But he let the table fall to the ground, the ‘knights’ falling over to gasp for breath. She quirked an eyebrow, recognizing one of them from the other providence.

“ Well, I suppose it’s not just coincidence you just happened to be here.” Spike snorted just a bit at that, before tuning them out to walk over to the corner and kneel down. More stragglers. And he knew right away she wouldn’t leave without them. More to the point, since he wouldn’t leave without her they’d picked up two more lost souls.

The brunette guard glared up at the elf, showing he was unafraid of her and her magicks,” We follow the law. All of you should be dead.”

She smirked,” Yeah, I’ll get right on that.” Using her sword to prod his chest,” In the meantime you tell the barons they want a fight, come and get me. I’ve fought in wars before your grandparents were born and I’m more than willing to fight again.”

Ariana turned, stowing her weapon,” You’re not-“ Turning to give him a questioning look,” I’ve heard the stories about your kind. Blood thirsty savages, all of you...and you’re letting us live?”

Lips pursing,” I’m actually a vegetarian...and yes, we part ways alive and go on with life. William. We need to go.”

Spike nodded his agreement, turning his attention back to Megan who was holding onto both boy’s hands and sending him a pleading look. Sighing to himself, feeling like a pouf even as he picked up his girl and indicated both lads to follow. They did so quietly, the bolder of the two pulling the other along. It would be hard to tell them apart since they were identical. Perhaps five years old.

The vampire glanced doubtfully at the horse, trying to figure out how the hell to fit four people on one mangy nag. Ariana was already on her ride and sighed, holding out a hand for one boy. The strong looking lad with pitch black hair grinned and soon found himself sitting behind her, leaving Spike to pick up the other and mount his horse. With Megan at his back and the small one in his lap, it was just enough room as the horses started forward.

The little one behind Ariana smiled and waved,“ I’m Carter...he’s Samuel.”

Megan smiled, wrapping her arms around Spike’s middle contentedly,” I’m Megan...he’s William and that’s...”

“ Ariana.”

“ Great, now that we’ve had mouse-cateer roll call will you tell me what the bloody hell that was all about?”

Ariana gave Spike an innocent look,” What?”

“ Don’t give me bloody what. You know damn well what I’m talking about. Why are those soldiers after you...or should I say elves? It’s one of the few fights I didn’t even bloody start.”

She glanced away with a sigh,” It’s a long story.”

He made a gesture around them,” Like you said, we got all day.”

She gave him an irritated look before sighing again thoughtfully,” To understand you have to go back more than a century in time. Back to when the last king reigned, before the Barons stormed the castle and slaughtered the royal family. I told you back then the lands were prosperous but what I didn’t tell you were the roles of my kind. Back in that time, elves were regarded as scholars. We were the most learned race for magicks and the teachers of literature, philosophy...so on. Our duty was to see to the king or queen. We were to teach them and their children, counsel them...but every once in a while there was a black sheep in the family. Someone like me. I had no interest in books...but fighting, there was my gift. The last king made me Captain of his royal guard.”

Spike frowned,” So, what happened? I take it you didn’t protect him well enough.”

“ I did my duty to my king.” She sighed heavily,” I would have slaughtered an army for him but his orders were simple. We would head east, fleeing the palace and drawing the crowd.”

“ Kind of defeats the purpose if you’re trying to get their attention.”

“ He didn’t care about his life, only the life of his family. He knew this
world’s future rested in them. So he hoped that by providing himself as distraction the next generation would be saved...” She trailed off for a minutes, lost to the past,”...anyway, once the revolt happened the Barons started inventing stories about elves and kings, turning the people against us. We, the once revered were suddenly under attack...and we have been ever since.”

Spike looked down at Samuel, sleeping peacefully in his arms,” So how does someone so young survive?”

“ The stories are old and the people grow weary of the laws, breaking their backs with limitations and taxes. I admit I haven’t seen this many together in an eternity but it gives me hope that the people might be ready to listen.”

Carter shifted a bit at Ariana’s back,” My parents, I don’t remember them. We grew up in an orphanage until our ears grew in...then we ran away and we’ve been on my own ever since.”

Spike lifted an eyebrow,” His bloody ears grew in?”

Ariana sent him a condescending look,” Do girls come with full breasts...boys with a full pair? No. Just like children mature so do elves...only most get their ears by six.”

Spike fingered his own,” About ears-“

” HALT!”