Nocturnal Bravura Book Three: Children Of Destiny

Beta'd By Spikeslovebite

Sacrifices

Lizzie perched herself on the window sill of the Giles house with catlike grace. She rested on her heels, her arms wrapped around her knees. She looked like a statue of a gargoyle. Sitting, waiting, guarding. Wondering how she would explain recent events.

She had been trying to calm the demon within her for hours now. It was indignant. Demanding. Wondering why it was separated from its mate.

Nothing made sense to Lizzie anymore. Spike was back and they had no idea why.
Now she would have to tell William and the rest of the gang. Would they try to kill him still? If they did, what would Lizzie do?

The demon within roared at the thought of its mate being destroyed. She closed her eyes, trying to calm it again. She wondered if Spike was having just as difficult a time...

She saw the headlights of Giles’s car come into the car port. She hopped off the window sill and waited for them to approach.

Lizzie watched from the shadows as William walked to the back of the car and popped open the trunk. Giles was in the backseat picking up a sleeping Dawn.

Lizzie smiled at the scene before her.

She watched as William spun around. He had felt her. He searched for her until she stepped into view and his face instantly broke out into a big smile. Lizzie said nothing, merely taking the keys from him and going to open the door so Giles could carry Dawnie to her room. She followed, watching as he got her settled in her room.

Spike’s old room.

She leaned against the doorway, lost in thought. How many times had she been in that room? How often had she sat and listened to him as he wrote songs. How many movies had they watched together; curled up on his bed? They hadn’t spent near as much time here as they had in Lizzie’s room. Spike had loved Lizzie’s room. He said he loved being surrounded by her...

Lizzie closed her eyes tightly, willing away her pain as she made her way back downstairs. She was standing at the big front window when she heard William drop the bags behind her and felt him wrap his arms around her.

As much as Lizzie wanted to just fall into his embrace, she knew she couldn’t.

There were things that needed to be said. Things they needed to know.

William turned her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “I missed you,” he whispered. When Lizzie looked down, avoiding his eyes, he tipped her face up. “Lizzie, what’s wrong?”

Just then Giles walked back downstairs. “Have you filled Lizzie in yet?” he asked.
William shook his head, never taking his eyes off of Lizzie. “Haven’t had the chance yet,” He replied.

Lizzie pulled out of his arms and walked over to where Giles was busy rolling out an ancient scroll. “What is it?” she asked.

Giles looked down at the scroll. “It’s a Prophecy, but the text and language is so ancient we have no clue how to decipher it. I am hoping that with the help of Willow we can perhaps conjure a spell to help us transcribe it. It was stumped everyone else thus far.” he said, still studying the scroll with avid eyes. He pointed out a small symbol at the top of the scroll. “We do know that this symbol has something to do with the Master. It resembles the symbol for Leader of The Damned.”

Lizzie touched the symbol lightly. “King of The Damned is more like it,” Lizzie muttered.

Rupert looked at Lizzie impressed. “You have already met the new Master?”

“He is powerful. No exaggeration,” Lizzie said, taking a step back from the scroll.

William watched Lizzie carefully. She looked so shattered. So distant. He had not seen her like this in a very long time. “Lizzie, did he do anything to you?” he questioned gently.

Lizzie shook her head slowly. Her hand came to rest on her neck. “He can’t.” She whispered. “There is nothing he can do to me.”

William looked at Lizzie’s neck. In spite of her quick healing, the bite marks were fresh...“Lizzie,” William began. Before he could finish his father pushed him to the side.

Rupert grabbed Lizzie and pushed her hair roughly aside, examining her neck. A look of outrage flooded his face. “I wouldn’t call that nothing! The Master claimed you!” he screamed.

Lizzie wrenched herself away from Rupert. “You don’t understand!”

William took a step forward. “Explain then,” he pleaded, trying to keep a level head.

“It’s not a new claim. It was affirming the previous one.” Lizzie whispered, her voice getting softer with every word.

Rupert grabbed for the table behind him. William rocked backwards. Both of them suddenly realizing what Lizzie was trying to say.

Spike....

Lizzie looked at both of them. “He’s back. He doesn’t know why. He didn’t even remember me until he saw me at Willie’s bar. His minions have been taking care of him at the mansion. That’s why so many have been coming. They think he is back to rid the world of the Slayer.”

William walked over to Lizzie. He was petrified. He was going to lose her again...

Rupert looked at Lizzie. “Why are you here, then?” he asked suspiciously. “Why are you not with him?”

Lizzie’s head snapped up. “I thought you would want to know,” she spat, glaring at him.

“We need to get everyone together. Figure out what we are going to do about this.” Rupert said, snatching up and re-rolling the scroll.

“Da, I don’t understand,” William said.

“We have to neutralize the threat.” Rupert said, his eyes narrowed with determination.

Lizzie jumped up. For a moment her eyes flashed gold. “I just told you that your son is back and all you can think to say is ‘gather the troops, it’s time to go hunt some vampires’?” she cried.

“That’s not my son not anymore!” Rupert screamed.

Dawn appeared in the doorway. “Dad?” She said meekly. She had heard Lizzie’s voice from her room and bolted out of her bed. She had heard the tail end of the conversation.

Spike was back.

Rupert reached out for Dawn. He pointed at William. “That is my son.” He looked down at Dawn.

“This is my daughter.” Finally he stared at Lizzie. “So are you. But that thing out there is not Spike. Spike died one night in a cemetery,” Rupert finished quietly.

Lizzie walked over to them. “You living in a fantasy world. That thing, as you call him, is very much Spike. He’s got Spike’s memories, his face...”

“Not his soul,” Rupert challenged.

Lizzie looked down. “Trust me, Giles. This bright shiny soul I have? Not always all it’s cracked up to be,” she said bitterly.

“Elizabeth, why do you think he’s back? Because he is William’s greatest challenge. Do you think for a moment that Spike would think twice of killing William if it meant ending his existence? Of course not. William’s in the fight of his life now. It's time to stop playing the role of general, and start being one. This is the way wars are won. Sacrifices must be made” Rupert said, still holding on to Dawn.

Lizzie looked at Rupert shocked. “Sacrifices? My God Rupert, this is Spike! You’re son. Where is your heart?” Lizzie asked.

He began to shake. “My heart? I know what you think of me. I’m a cold callous monster right? How could I talk so frivolously about taking out Spike? You don’t think it kills me?” Rupert yelled.

Dawn looked up at Giles, then at Lizzie. “Dad that is not it. Lizzie is afraid that’s all. So are you. Both of you are just reacting in fear.”

Lizzie and Rupert looked at each other. Immediately they embraced. “I’m sorry.” They said in unison.

“We will suss this all out.” Rupert said.

Lizzie looked up at him, tears brimming from her eyes. “Please, I don’t know what to do. I can’t stand against Spike.”

She turned to William and reached out to him.

William went to her willingly and wrapped his arms around her.

Lizzie stared at him, her expression one of extreme misery. “I can’t stand against him any more than I could stand against you, William.”