Spike After Fall #4

Plot

Spike runs towards Non and Connor. On top of everything, Angel Jr. has to show up now! And why does he have to make small talk when he should be fighting instead? What can be so important?

Connor’s “small talk” is a warning to Non that he has an electro girl and a female wolf as backup, only seconds behind him.

Chatter and exaggeration, Spike thinks; but the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Meanwhile Jeremy is protected by Illyria – and Spike sees her as the prettiest and safest wall he could be behind. Good.

Illyria is attacked by many Nonettes at once, but makes short work of them and only comments that they should send her more, because these will not last much longer.

In passing, Non orders her ladies to take care of it. Meanwhile she wants to kill Angel’s spawn.

Honestly, why does everyone know who he is, Connor fumes as Spike shoves him aside. Was there a notice somewhere he doesn’t know about? And hey to Spike.

Spike swings a chain at Non and orders Connor to get out of here. What does he think he is doing?

Well, he was hoping to help the helpless, Connor answers. He had heard for a while that Non was capturing humans. He was out scouting because of it when he saw Spike – he thought he might need help. By the way, he really thinks Non has had enough by now and he can stop hitting her, he advises Spike, who is still pounding on Non.

Connor doesn’t know this freak-show elf! She must be unconscious, or else… he is not…

Non grabs Spike by the throat.

… sure, Spike gasps. Bloody hell, he really hates him, he says in Connor’s direction. Connor is held by a few Nonettes while Non flings Spike away. Look at that, he is all protective of the kid. Then he is really going to hate this. With that Non grabs Connor and demands that he sate her.

Non realises she cannot, while Connor worries about her choice of words. Is this supposed to be a date? Because he would find that really inappropriate; the timing is terrible and somehow he already has someone.

Useless, Non screams, and knocks Connor down.

Spike has watched the scene. The boy is the product of a union between two vampires, and Non can only feed on humans. Good for him, bad for the others… Illyria should get Jerry out of here, he calls to her. Now!

Maria reaches for the momentarily inattentive Spike with her spider limbs. Together with a few others she attacks Spike.

She is pretty hot, Spike comments. And cold – somehow he is getting totally confusing signals from her.

Spike puts a hand on Maria’s shoulder. They really had a good time, didn’t they? He always thought that when this was over they would go for a drink and maybe…

Watch a game? A concert in the park? Maybe watch a TV series – there is this show about three sisters who really don’t get along, but deep down they really like each other – Maria asks with a smile. The next moment she screams at Spike to die.

What the hell is this? Seriously? That is exactly what he meant by hot and cold at once! Is it maybe him, Spike speculates, confused.

Spike sees the Sadecki demon Noelle standing nearby and remembers that she can influence many living beings – except vampires. She would like to throw herself into the fight, Spike senses, but all she can do is influence the other girls to… All right, that’s how it works. He really is the smartest vampire in hell, Spike praises himself in his head.

Spike calls for Illyria. New plan! Calling her pet again as he does.

She is not his pet; if anything, he is hers, Illyria murmurs quietly.

Spike calls to her to take out the Sadecki.

The Sadecki anxiously tries to hide behind Non, who is just then impressed by Spike.

Non and Noelle see Illyria fighting her way towards them.

Noelle complains that she wanted to kill the vampire from the start, but Non said he would be useful to them. Is it useful to them that Illyria is now after her?

Even Non may be wrong – now and then, Non says. Noelle should simply influence Illyria, like the others.

They tried that already! Illyria is too powerful for that!

But she switches with the “human”: Noelle only has to dig deep enough and try hard; she has to get beneath the surface.

Illyria has reached the two and grabs for Noelle.

There is nothing human about her; Illyria wants it and tries to force it, but there is nothing left except… Illyria, Noelle notes in fright.

Illyria switches to Fred again. It is frightening, she knows…, she says.

Stop, Noelle screams.

Spike runs towards them, thinking desperately that this must not happen now! He calls to Illyria that Noelle is only trying to play with her mind; she should hit her.

She (Noelle, that is) is afraid of her, “Fred” knows.

Then she should give her a good reason to be, Spike demands. Otherwise she will kill her. And if she does, then two will be dead, because it would destroy him. He would crawl away, curl up and cry; and even an eternity of writing crappy poems would not help him get over her death a second time…

But she…, “Fred” begins.

That doesn’t matter, Spike interrupts her. Only she matters, Spike tells her. As he tries to repeat it, Non hits him. Undeterred, he begs Illyria to save them all.

Noelle tries to influence “Fred” to destroy Illyria. She is vulnerable, and Fred should destroy her, she tells her. Fred fights it and tries to grab Noelle’s throat; but Noelle easily holds her by the wrists.

Noelle’s eyes go wide in fright as she finds herself facing Illyria again. She tries to influence Non to step in, but Illyria simply tears her head off.

The Nonettes practically freeze. Illyria turns to one of the ladies. She explains that Noelle made them all attack her.

She is weak, Illyria growls.

The demoness agrees.

Non is distracted, and so is Spike, who was just about to kick her, by what is happening.

Just one moment, and Non’s power over her “subjects” has literally been torn in two. For months they were forced to serve in Non’s army. Now they are free.

Jeremy is still in shock. So one of the good guys just tore someone’s head off. Are there therapists in hell? He would like a demon therapist; that would be cool.

Now the situation has changed, and Spike almost feels sorry for Non. He tries to explain the situation to the ladies present: that it was only the Sadecki who kept them under her influence and made them do evil. So now it would be time for revenge.

Maria whispers to Spike that most of the ladies have no idea how to fight. The Sadecki whispered those skills into them as well. And most of them – and Maria includes herself – were never particularly good at it. Maria is sorry to have to say so and ruin Spike’s big moment.

Spike is feeling less and less sorry for Non.

Non says, bored, Sadecki or not, she is still their lord/lady; and that is all that counts.

Then how about this, Spike asks, and challenges Non to a fight – man against psycho, as he puts it. Illyria will stay out of it, and Angel’s kid is taking a nap anyway. So just him and her (Spike’s “pet name” for Non here is swizzle stick).

A fight for supremacy; so he literally wants the crown?

The crown, the “lordship”, whatever she wants to call it. As long as he finally shuts her up.

Non immediately swings at Spike, but he dodges.

She should have turned him to dust when she had the chance.

She will remember that, Non replies.

Yes, she is a bit slow; he has got that. Then he will give her a quick Spike crash course: he died saving the world; then he came back to keep doing it. He survived the Hellmouth, Slayers, Wolfram & Hart, a Sunday performance of Starlight Express and more than a dozen of Angel’s speeches. And she thinks she is big and bad? Back when he hung out with the wrong people, she would not even have passed as the opening act. He is saviour squared and the baddest bad in hell – with that Spike ducks and grabs a sword from the ground.

Spike wonders whether Non is buying this, and whether the people are buying it. He has to tell himself that it is all true and he only has to sell it to them. Well, the bit about saviour squared and baddest may be a little exaggerated, but the ladies have to see him as the alpha male. He is the man and they should bet on him, period.

Spike strikes at Non with all his strength, declaring loudly that he is Spike, all bloody hail!

And hopefully she got that, Spike thinks.

Non wipes the blood from her face and admits that the round goes to him.

As Spike gets ready for the next attack, Non only says “wait”.

Damn, Spike thinks, as he realises that she needs food. He calls to Illyria that she will use Jeremy to regenerate her strength; so Illyria should get him out of the way!

Spike hits Non to buy her time.

Jeremy is already clutching his throat as he feels Non sucking out his life force.

Yes, she understands, Illyria answers Spike.

Illyria should throw Jeremy up high, or put him on the tallest tree, whatever it takes, Spike demands, only… no.

Non used Jeremy against them, Illyria notes. Now she can no longer do that, she adds, after driving her hand into Jeremy’s chest. Jeremy sinks to the ground.

What has she done, Spike whispers.

His absence will make the group stronger, is all Illyria says.

Non is amused. Didn’t saviour squared see that coming? No wonder he won’t live to see the end. When Spike only gives her an angry look, she explains that he should simply see it as tough love. And she does not want to spread rumours, but she has it on good authority that neither she nor he will appear in the last chapters of the history books…

He does not want to hear it; and he does not want to be here. Enough, is all Spike screams as he simply cuts off Non’s head. Spike drops the sword and turns back to Illyria.

It was right to do it; Spike should tell her it was right, she begs. He told her that nobody matters except her.

For the first time Illyria causes time jumps – Spike, the Nonettes and Illyria (in all her forms) find themselves in present, past and future.

What the hell was that, Spike wonders when it ends and they are back where they started.

Illyria is Fred again and is holding her bleeding wrist.

She is losing control, Spike realises.

He hesitates, but then confirms her earlier question-statement: it is true, that is exactly how it is.

Illyria – herself again – knows that, she replies in her matter-of-fact way. She does not trust these women, she then explains to Spike. When they are around, they have to be careful.

Right, they do. Spike turns to Connor, who is only just coming round. He should get up and, for heaven’s sake, learn to take a punch!

So, what now, Maria wants to know from Spike.

Trick question, Spike thinks – and no easy answer.

A little later Spike and Maria stand in front of the burning house.

At last the screams have stopped and the drained ones no longer call his name – although Spike assumes that was already the case when he killed Non. They are all burning, everyone from his group… except one.

Spike has buried Jeremy and put up a gravestone that only says “Jeremy Johns – a friend” – he left the engagement ring in Jeremy’s pocket and buried it with him.

Next they have to move on and find a new base – after turning its former owner to dust. And the place is good; secluded, safe, and it has a grotto.

And then…

Spike and Illyria have called the lords together and make it clear to them that they should stay away from Beverly Hills – or Illyria will take care of that “problem”.

Lord Spike and Illyria are the rulers of Beverly Hills. The destroyers of Non, who leave a trail of blood behind them – human and demon.

On one point Non was right: he will not appear in the last chapters of the history books, Spike reflects. He is officially retiring. Unofficially, however…

A week later:

Connor stands on a roof watching a diner besieged by demons. He looks at an old-fashioned pocket watch when Spike joins him.

What is Connor doing there?

Some of his allies want to meet him here at nine. A few monsters are holding some humans as slaves and he wants to free them. The last time he went out alone… well, Spike was there – and if he hadn’t been, Connor would not be here now.

Connor just fought terribly, Spike comments.

He had a long night, and besides, he is still young and still learning, Connor defends himself.

Yeah, well… Spike gives the ladies lessons every day – they lost their mojo after the Sadecki died. And if they want to stay near Illyria, they had better learn quickly to take care of themselves. Illyria is not exactly a fan of the girls. So if he wants to stick around, Connor should take notes and maybe learn something.

Connor smiles to himself. Oh, okay, he replies.

Spike looks at him irritably and tells him to stop grinning; this is not the right moment for it.

Okay, yeah. No. I mean, totally, Connor babbles. And besides, it was a smile… So, if Illyria doesn’t like the girls, why…

Because she doesn’t like them! They make her be the way she has to be until Spike can somehow put all this right. Does that make sense, he asks Connor.

Not the slightest.

It doesn’t have to.

So, what does Connor think, shall they take care of the pests before the reinforcements arrive? He has a long day ahead of him of being pampered and frightened.

Really, Connor wants to know.

Really and truly. One more thing – and this is not negotiable – all the humans they rescue go with Connor. Humans are loud and annoying and only get in his way, and he does not want them anywhere near him or Illyria.

Fine, let’s go, is all Connor says. It is quarter to nine – so they should try to get the job done before the girls turn up. They will be so impressed…

How does he know what time it is, Spike wants to know.

He found a watch an hour after everything was sent to hell. Connor set it right away and has been changing the batteries every few days since, just to be sure. He simply has to know what time it is, and you cannot go by the sun and moon here.

No, you can’t. Come on then, kid, says Spike.

The two jump, or rather swing, off the building.

So this is it, Spike thinks. Fight a few demons, cause a bit of trouble and make some noise, then back to Spike Manor to have the ladies knead the tension away.

No mess. No unnecessary affection.

That is how it should be, and it is enough. For now.

All bloody hail.

The End – Spike: After the Fall.