Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Drusilla ran her fingers over the painted face of the glass doll. She put it down on the blanket and sighed, her dark eyes moving towards the door. William was hunting with Angelus, a fact that did not please her but that she was resigned to. He hated her sire still but he knew her loyalty was to the man that had created her so he played the doting the grandson. She knew that Angelus resented her childe but he seemed to enjoy teaching the younger vampire the ways of survival. He knew that she did not want William to turn into him so he continued to use that to force her into doing things his way. Her pretty boy had turned into what she had feared despite her attempt to prevent it. He was now known as Spike, an affectionate nickname that Angelus had christened him with after a particularly bloody evening out.

She was losing him, losing her childe. Every day that passed she could see the resentment growing in his eyes. He wanted her to leave Angelus, for the two of them to strike out on their own. While it sounded lovely, she knew she could not leave her sire. He would not rest until they paid for deserting him. He cared about her in his own way. She knew he wanted her with him. He told her often enough. Usually right before he threatened William's life. It was his power over her and he knew it. She would do anything to protect her childe. She knew it would not last though, this uneasy alliance her sire and William had formed. Even now it was unstable and temporary. They were both so strong, so powerful. She knew she could leave her sire but she could not lose her childe.

So, she had spoken to the stars for hours upon hours. It was their whispering that had given her the solution. She had begun retreating more and more into her own mind. They were worried about her, both having their own form of love. That was the only reason they were getting along at the moment. Temporary until she got better. Then, it would begin again. Their struggle for power over her. It was as if she were a toy that both wanted to possess. They could not allow her to simply be with them both in her own way. It was this that had caused her to take heed of the stars warning. She had begun her plan, slowly at first to test it...to see if it would work. They did not wish to upset her when they weren't certain what was wrong with her. She could see the fear in their eyes, though Angelus would never admit to it. Someone of his nature did not have emotions. Love and fear were unknown to him. But she could see it hiding in the dark depths of his eyes. He did not want her to leave him, that she knew for certain. His games with William, his threats to her as he possessed her, his touch alone told her that much. She just wasn't sure how far he would go to keep her.

She listened for the door, knowing she would have go instantly into her act for it to work. She was scared in a way of forgetting that it was indeed an act. She would do anything to keep her family together. She knew that she needed William as Angelus needed her. She moved around her room, wishing she could simply leave for a bit. Maybe go hunting in the cool night air. But, she couldn't. For this plan to work, both the men in her life must believe she was unable to survive alone. For that, she could not feed without them.

She had not hunted alone for the past week, feeding only from prezzies that they brought home for her. She had seen that they could stand each other to protect her. It was just time to make the arrangement a bit more permanent...to allow herself the pleasure of not worrying about losing either of them. She heard the door and started, moving back to the bed gracefully. She sat down on the bed, allowing her eyes to become distant.

"Luv, are you awake?" there was a soft knock on the door and then William looked in. He smiled as he saw his Princess sitting on the bed, her dark hair falling down her back.

"William, you're back," she said, her voice soft. She looked at him, her eyes slightly unfocused.

"Princess, how have you been tonight?" he asked softly, his eyes concerned.

She had been acting strange the past few weeks. Both he and the bastard were worried about her, forming their truce in hopes that the lack of fighting might make her better. So far, it hadn't really worked. Well, it hadn't made her better. It did seem to relax her though, to see them getting along.

She smiled, "I was a good girl. Tea for me."

"How is Daddy's little Princess?" Angelus asked, moving into the room. He glanced at his beautiful daughter, seeing the vague look in her eyes. She had never been exactly sane but he was used to her babbling antics. This though, this insane look and periods of complete silence frightened him, not that he would ever admit it.

"Princess is fine," she said, keeping her voice almost like that of a child. She saw him flinch slightly and smiled at her hands. It seemed to be working. "I shall have tea tonight. And Miss Edith, she shall have tea also."

"Miss Edith?" Spike frowned as he moved to sit on the bed beside his sire and lover. "Who the bloody hell is Miss Edith?"

Drusilla lifted the pretty doll that she had found a few weeks before. She moved her fingers over the delicate features of the doll, spreading out its dress. She giggled, "Silly me. I forgot that you hadn't met. William, this is Miss Edith. Miss Edith, this is William. And the other one is Daddy."

Spike watched her move her ear towards the doll's mouth, her statement one of listening. "Where did you get Miss Edith, luv?"

"She says that you are very handsome, William. A lovely son for me," she smiled then listened longer. "Daddy, she said you seem like a grumpy guss. Are you grumpy?"

"The doll is talking to you?" Angelus said, glancing at Spike. "The doll is talking to her."

"Daddy, she can hear you. She said that you don't believe. Is that true?" she asked, keeping her eyes innocent.

"Where did you find Miss Edith, luv?" Spike asked again, knowing he had not seen Drusilla with a doll before.

"She found me," Drusilla said. "The stars sent me to this lovely bench in the park. The moon was so pretty and big. And there she found me. She was with the prettiest little girl. The girl was dirty but she had taken such care of Miss Edith for me. She gave me her dolly and told me that her name was Miss Edith and that would take care of me." Her face fell suddenly, "I snapped the little girl's neck and drank from her. After she gave me such a wonderful prezzie, I killed her. I'm evil, aren't I? Miss Edith told me that I was surviving but I should not have killed that pretty little girl."

"It's OK, baby. I'm sure she was better off dying," Spike said, not sure what to say. Drusilla had always loved the kill, thrived on the hunt. Yet, here she was crying over some mortal's life. She was talking to her doll and listening to what it said. He moved closer to her, taking her into his arms. "Shhh, Dru. It's fine. You're my beautiful princess, remember? You aren't evil."

"Drusilla, honey, what's wrong?" Angelus asked, moving to her back and rubbing her reassuringly. "Tell Daddy how to make it better."

"Hold me, Daddy. Miss Edith is tired. She just wants to sleep," Drusilla said, leaning against her sire. She glanced up from beneath her eyelashes and saw him exchange a look with her William. She smiled, seeing the resigned look in their eyes. It had worked. They would stay together to protect her. She glanced down at the doll, Miss Edith. She made a slight face. She hated dolls. But, this would keep her family together. She could do this. She would do this. She knew the stars would not lie to her. This would work. She had listened to them so many times before and they had been right. She settled against her sire, William cradled in her arms as they lay together. Outside, the stars continued to whisper.



THE END