"Changes"

"I feel unhappy
I feel so sad
I lost the best friend
That I ever had

She was my woman
I loved her so
But it's too late now
I've let her go

I'm going through changes
I'm going through changes

We shared the eve's
We shared each day
In love together
We found a way

But soon the world
Had its evil way
My heart was blinded
Love went astray

I'm going through changes
I'm going through changes

It took so long
To realize
That I can still hear
Her last goodbyes

Now all my days
Are filled with tears
Wish I could go back
And change these years

I'm going through changes
I'm going through changes" Black Sabbath(Vol. 4 1972)


William paced his small 8 foot x 6 foot dull gray cell. He couldn’t believe it. A slayer and a white witch in the Citadel. He was amazed that the soldiers hadn’t realized who they had. Either it was an unforeseen stroke of luck or it would be their down fall. William, like many in the Citadel, had been planning his revenge since he had been captured three years ago. When his predicament got to be nearly unbearable, William would dream of the carnage he’d cause. His demon would send images of their blood coating the metal grated floor. He could almost hear the loud squelch of gore soaked boots caving skulls in. William relished what would be their agonized screams as the demon experiments were set loose. He could clearly picture their soft brittle their bones shattering under his hands. He would take his time. William had finally learned patience, but when that time came, the Commanders of this hell pit would be no more.

Running his hands through his rumpled hair, William looked to were Trey sat humming. He had seemed quite smug after today’s sorting. William knew that self-satisfied look. Drusilla often wore just an expression when she was up to something. William would have never guessed that Trey would turn out to be such a pleasant surprise. It had only been because of his skills as a fighter and in languages that had William being dumped in a cell with the thin pale man. Often his daily duties included translating messages intercepted by spies, training the cannon fodder, and posing as practice dummy for the real soldiers. Every day he thanked any God or Higher Power who would listen that Julian had sensed those talents when scanning him. It had been William‘s first day in their shared cell that caused everything to finally fall into place. Years of taking care of Drusilla allowed William to understand Trey’s cryptic words.

“This one fights world. Has no love of time. Must learn to wait.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three Years Ago

Their shouts grew louder with each passing moment. Spike tried to focus solely on getting Drusilla and himself out of town. Given the remote location of the small dwelling, Spike had hoped for more time to rest and tend to his weak sire. It had been four days since he slept and three since his Princess had spoken. Now she was limp, ash gray, and rail thin. Her bones stuck out in sharp contrast against her transparent skin. Drusilla, his love, his Dark Goddess, was wasting away right before him. Tears stung his eyes like acid as he watch her eye lids weakly flutter open. She was dying. Spike knew this. Inside his demon raged to be set free, to slaughter those who stole away his salvation. Spike simply pushed those thought to the back of is mind. Now was not the time for reckless actions. Lovingly holding Drusilla’s frail hand, Spike lovingly stroked her cheek. The soldiers ever closing in and when she was gone, Spike would go as well. Only he’d be taking as many soldiers with him as he could.

“Hush my sweet Spike.” Dru whispered, her gaunt hand gently tugging his. “Mummy’s going to dance with the stars. My Spike can not follow.”

“Dru, luv. Don’t speak. You need to save your strength if your going to get well.” Spike spoke softly, his shaking hand stroking her sunken cheek. Tears pooled, then fell from yellow tinted blue eyes.

“Silly Spike. It is Mummy’s time, but you must wait. The one who sees many will be waiting for you. The pixies whisper their secrets in his ears too. He knows of all the glorious screams you will cause. When it is your time and no sooner.” Drusilla smiled one last time and Spike was no more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It was a mystery as to how long Trey had been inside the Citadel. He would never speak unless he wanted too and would often talk circles around the Commander’s and their soldiers. William wasn’t even sure if he was human or not. Trey’s skin was the palest shade of white, while his hair and eyes were near onyx in color. Trey exuded a child like mentality that caused most people to ignore and underestimate him. Only those few who looked close enough could see the cunning that ran deep in his perceptive gaze. He could often be found in William’s or Julian’s company. Trey would sit quietly, watching Julian teach magic to those with even the most insignificant amount of talent. When he was observing William teach the fodder, he would hum quietly to himself. His eyes would never leave the proceedings before him, despite the image he presented. The only credit the soldiers gave Trey was when he sorted out those Julian couldn’t place.

It was in his mannerisms that Trey actually reminded William a lot of Drusilla. They were both intelligent, and devious. At times these similarities caused the ache of Dru’s loss at the soldier’s hands to almost overwhelmed him. It was only Treys softly spoken words of “Must wait for time. Time never wait for you.” that often stopped William from getting himself thrown into sector 3 with the other vampires.

When the door to his cell was opened, William was pulled from his thoughts. Standing at attention before his bunk, William waited for the soldier’s inspection to finish. It wouldn’t do for the arrogant soldier to think he had any excuse, real or imagined, to drag him away to the “training” rooms. So William watched silently as the little green sprite placed his dinner on the floor along with Trey’s sludge. Only when Trey’s soft giggle filled the room after the pair had left did William give thought to the possibility the she may be one to watch.