Warnings: AU, Fantasy, M/M sex, some humour, mild violence, swearing, angst, OOC, varying chapter lengths, animal deaths. UNBETA'D. Original Writing,
Rating: NC17 overall, various chapters PG-NC17
Pairing: 100% S/X
Author: Naughty_Fae
Comments: Comment if you want to, though it would be nice to know someone is reading it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to someone who is not me. I write for fun not profit.
AN 1: Although Sunnydale character names have been used they are NOT necessarily in their Sunnydale persona's. William = A version of Spike NOT human William as in BTVS.
Note 1: This is AU/Fantasy and the concept of 'Vampire' expressed here may not be what you expect.
Note 2: My heartfelt thanks go out to my dear friend Bmblbee, for holding my hand through the writing process. *Hugs*
Note 3: This is a plot driven story. What sex there is happens in the natural course of the plot and as part of Spike and Xander's relationship.
Written in 8 chapters. 1-4 will be posted throughout today (1/12/09) and 5-8 throughout tomorrow. (2/12/09)
Summary: Lord William is handsome, vain, proud, arrogant and foolish but not intrinsically wicked, cruel or unkind. When he turns an old beggar woman away from his castle, he sets in motion a chain of events which see him transformed into a beast, a Vampire. Can he find one person in all the world who will look without fear on the face of the beast and declare their true love and break the spell.
Chapter 8/8
Rating: NC17 Overall
Chapter 8/8
Rating: NC17 Overall
"Every move you make
Every step you take,
I'll be watching you."
On the day he appointed to end his life, Spike was consumed with a desire to see Xander for one last time, to spend only a minute hidden in the forest and say a sad farewell. He bathed, shaved, and cut his long hair, put on clean breeches and the clean, white shirt hung loosely from thin shoulders. He made his way through the forest and long before he reached the cottage grew aware that something was seriously amiss. He arrived as Doctor Giles was leaving, Willow was sobbing on the doorstep and Daniel trying to comfort her. "I am so dreadfully sorry," Giles said solemnly. "there's nothing to be done he will probably slip away sometime this evening. If it helps, he is in no pain. It is my opinion that he pines for someone and he does not wish to live." Willow sobbed loudly as Daniel held her. Horrified Spike watched Giles leave.
Xander was dying and he was the cause of it. Never had there been a more wretched and evil creature than him in all the world!
As the cottage door closed Spike made up his mind, though the sun was high he would sprint the short distance to the cottage and see his beloved Xander.
Spike ran, Angelus emerged from the forest and saw him, this was no glimpse he saw the monster clearly. His traps fell, from nerveless hands and for a moment he was rooted to the spot as his mind raced. Now it was all clear, the monster had made Xander ill, perhaps it drank his blood and weakened him and even now was killing him! Angelus raced for the village, they would believe him now and form a hunting party, they would capture and kill the beast!
Spike crashed in through the cottage door. Willow and Daniel started to their feet. "You! How dare you come here?" Willow sobbed. "You have killed my dear brother!" She lunged at him, but Daniel held her back, he saw the stricken look on Spike's face and skeletal frame. "Go to him." He said softly. And Spike did.
The acrid scent of death filled his nostrils and he took in the sad, thin figure in the bed. Hero sat with his head resting on Xander's hand and didn't acknowledge Spike's entry. Under Xander's other hand was the music box. The chest barely rose and fell and the face was pinched and pale. Spike threw himself forward and knelt by the bed and clasped Xander's hand. "It's me Xander, I've come back and I'll never leave you again," he sobbed. Xander made no move, no reply. "Xander, don't go, don't leave me." He begged. Scalding tears fell onto Xander's hand and the fingers moved. "Spike?" He whispered. "Are you a dream?" Spike clasped him in his arms. "I'm no dream my love." He showered kisses on Xander's face. Xander raised his hand and felt his face. "Spike, it's you, it's really you." In the doorway Willow clasped Daniel's hand and sniffled. The Vampire and the young man clung to each other.
In the village Angelus roused the people. At first they were full of disbelief but Angelus's wild look and Xander's safety prompted them to act. They armed themselves with what they could and followed the huntsman to the cottage. The cottage door flew open and Angelus stood framed in the doorway, the faces of the villagers pressed in behind him looking anxious and angry. "Where is he? Where's the monster?" He bellowed dramatically. Daniel blinked at him. "What on Earth are you talking about? There's no-one here but Willow and I and poor Xander. The villagers mumbled amongst themselves. "Don't lie! I saw him, " Angelus growled. "I saw the hideous creature cross from the forest to this cottage, he's the one making Xander sick!" Daniel shrugged. The huntsman strode forward and pushed Willow and Daniel aside and the villagers crowded into the cottage. Angelus flung open the bedroom door and stared in horror. Behind him there were horrified gasps, several women fainted and Andrew. There in front of them was Angelus's hideous monster clinging to a terrified Xander. "See! I told you!" Angelus cried gleefully. There were murmurs of "Angelus was right." "It's a monster." " Look at it's fangs." "See it's yellow eyes?" "It's hideous!" And a chorus of "Kill the beast."
Xander scrambled to shield Spike as best he could. "He's not a beast, he hasn't hurt anyone!" He cried.
"Kill the monster!"
The crowd surged forward.
"He's not a monster, he's my Spike and I love him with all my heart!" Xander yelled.
The villagers froze as statues.
"About bloody time!" a disembodied female voice came from the ether.
There was a shimmer and the sorceress appeared wrapped in a towel, dripping wet and carrying a loofah. "I must say you two pick the most inconvenient times," she complained . "still better late than never." She added cheerily. Willow's eyes narrowed, Daniel gawped, Spike glowered and Xander and Hero looked confused. "Just who are you?" Willow asked. She smiled. "My name's Drusilla, but you can call me Dru. Thank you for asking."
"You're the evil sorceress cast the enchantment on Spike!" Willow accused.
"Hey not so much with the evil!" Dru scowled. "You weren't there, I gave him every chance. Everyone blames me." She complained. She clicked her fingers, her hair piled up on her head and a rose pink, silk gown replaced the towel, she smoothed it down and tossed the loofah over her shoulder. "Now down to business, I'm on a tight schedule." Spike growled. "I won't let you hurt Xander." Dru shook her head. "Calm down, not here to harm anyone." She glanced at Angelus. "At least not you two. I'm here to end the judgement." Spike's jaw dropped. "But how? You said it could only be broken if someone looked without fear on the face of the beast and declared their true love. Xander can't, he's blind."
Dru clicked her fingers and an object appeared in her hands covered in a silken cloth. She whipped the cloth away and Spike, Willow and Daniel gasped. It was the most exquisite carving of Spike's head, correct and accurate in every feature, every detail, the heavy brow, every ridge and bump. "Tell me the man who carved this didn't look upon the face of the beast without fear, and he's just declared his true love."
"But, but.." Spike spluttered. "I never said they had to look with their eyes... Xander saw you with his heart and that's good enough for me." She concluded. Dru carefully put down the carving. "Now let's get on with it." She drew herself up to her full height. "My judgement is ended, the enchantment broken." She said dramatically. "That which was taken from you is restored. First your handsome face." Spike felt a tingle, bones cracked and shifted, fangs receded and yellow eyes melted into pale, piercing blue. Willow gasped and muttered. "Wow he's handsome." Daniel scowled. Dru grinned. "Next your reflection." She held out a hand mirror to Spike, he took no notice, he was too busy holding Xander's hand against his cheek. Dru shrugged and tossed it over her shoulder, there was a tinkle as it smashed. "That's seven years bad luck." Willow warned. "Tell me about it." Dru snorted.
"Next I restore your ability to walk in the sun unharmed, but with your pale skin honey I'd avoid sunburn." Everyone looked at Dru, she shrugged. "What? I can't give advice? Food and drink will both satisfy your hunger and thirst and nourish you. Lastly I give you back your lands, wealth and title." She finished with a flourish. Spike seemed to think for a moment and then held up a hand. "Do you mind if I talk to Xander a minute?" Drusilla scowled. "Ok I guess." They huddled, there was urgent whispering and head nodding. Spike straightened. "Umm not to be ungrateful or anything, but I'd rather live here in the village and be called Spike." Dru shrugged. "No skin off my nose. From tomorrow morning the castle will be gone from the forest and henceforth you shall be known as Spike." Spike nodded. "And because the Prozac is working and I'm in a good mood, I'll give you a little extra. " She grinned wickedly. "I restore your muscles, strength and purr that Xander likes so much!" Xander blushed beet red and hid his face in Spike's now muscled chest.
"And now Xander your turn. in all my travels I have met few men such as you, with a gentle soul and true, loving heart. First you shall be restored to health. And I want you to know that if you wish it, I have the power to restore your sight." Willow's hand flew to her mouth and tears of joy filled her eyes. Everyone else gasped. Xander considered a moment and held up his hand. "May I talk to Spike a minute?" Dru rolled her eyes. "Yeah sure, like it isn't as if I've got all day." They huddled, there were urgent whispers and nods. Xander turned. "I don't want to be ungrateful but I'd rather stay as I am. You said I see with my heart and that broke the judgement, also I think my carving is a gift from God and if I can see it might not be the same." Dru nodded. "Fair enough. Instead I grant to you both eternal life, that you may live together in peace, harmony and love for all time." They both held up their hands. Dru put her hands on her hips. "Go ahead," She ran her hand over her brow. "I feel a migraine coming on."
"Thing is, " Spike began. "if we live forever all our friends will grow old and die about us."
"And the world will move on and change around us." Xander added.
"We're not sure we'd like that." They said together.
"Ok, ok already." Dru huffed. "How's this? From tomorrow this village and the people in it shall be frozen in time. Life will go on forever as it is. The people will live peaceful, happy lives and all shall be hidden from the prying eyes of men." Xander raised his hand. "And the hound too!" Dru added. Spike and Xander beamed. Satisfied she turned to the villagers and clicked her fingers and they unfroze. They looked at each other and wondered what they were doing there. Dru pointed at Angelus and crooked her finger. Frowning he stepped forward. "You are vain, lazy, arrogant,selfish and foolish." He opened his mouth to protest, nothing came out. "Furthermore you have a cruel streak, you do not care about the suffering you cause. Even so, you are not intrinsically wicked or evil. My judgement is simple and eternal. From tomorrow a new stag will run in the forest and so that all may know it is you,your coat will be pure white." Elizabeth leapt forward and grasped his arm. "No you can't, I love him." Dru sighed. "Ok just to prove I'm not evil." She glanced at Willow. "I give you a choice, a stag or eternal marriage to Elizabeth." Elizabeth looked up and batted her eyes, Angelus looked down in horror. "Stag please!" He quickly replied. Elizabeth kicked his shin. "I love you, you great lump!"
"Tell you what honey, how about I make you a hind and you can run with him in the forest?" Dru offered. A look of horror crossed Elizabeth's face and she quickly released Angelus. "I might love him, but not that much!" She flounced off.
Her job done, Dru shimmered and as she went her disembodied voice moaned out of the ether. "I gotta get a new profession."
Everyone went home and Xander and Spike shagged like bunnies.
Next day all was as Dru said. The castle was gone and a white stag ran in the forest. (And just so you don't feel bad, Angelus liked being a stag. He had a herd of pretty hinds and sired many fawns during the rutting season, at other times he ran with a smaller stag that Spike named Wesley.) Anya married Andrew and they were very happy. Spike settled down to life at the cottage, he became the village huntsman and cared for the animals well. Xander continued to carve until every house in the village was overrun with carvings, then people used them in place of garden gnomes. Willow and Daniel moved to a farm just outside the village and within a year Xander and Spike were uncles. Hero met a beautiful lady boar hound named Doris, it was love at first sight and he fathered the first of many litters of pups. In fact it was often said the smile on Hero's face was very like that on Spike's! The village stayed frozen in time, hidden from the eyes of men and passed into legend.
And what of Dru? She did decide to get out of the enchantment business and has new job which she likes a lot as the ...........TOOTH FAIRY!
THE END
To everyone who read and/or commeted on this fic. Thank you.
My next fic is an EPIC with very loose affiliation to a well-known novel and is another piece of original writing. I hope to begin posting on Jan 1st 2010