The cold, harsh truth of his reality, as told to him, surprisingly enough, in amiable but nevertheless forthright terms, by Angelus. A person of blood and murder and a cold, cold body: even the mirror refuses to reflect such an existence. What would she think of her beloved William now, would Miss Buffy? Yes, the cold, harsh truth.

This is the life. But not in a good way; he may revel in the screams of his tortured human acquaintances and drink with the merriment of a creature beyond the law, beyond all expectation and certainly beyond love -

Yes. This is the life. Just not the life that William, vampire or no, ever wanted.

Sobering chapter; for him as well as us. Right there with him. Great.

Author's Response: What an insightful review, sue. Thank you for putting so much thought into it. :)

Oh my. I so love this whole story, please keep going!

Author's Response: I couldn't stop if I tried. Thanks. :)

youre focusing on spike too much. what happend to buffy? was she send back to her time how long was she gone??? i wanna know that kind of stuff. love to read more !!!!!

Author's Response: No, I am not focusing on Spike too much. I am focusing on William's transition into Spike. I left ample warning at the beginning of Part II that Buffy ***will not*** resurface until Part III. I'm sorry if you have a problem with this, but I don't see it as a flaw in my writing at all. Thank you for your feedback, even if I don't agree with it.

That was yet another fabulous update. I listened to the music and the picture it conjoured up was of a gleefull William tapping out his revenge and I smiled. Not sure if that's how you meant it to be but that's certainly how I interpreted it.

Even though William is becoming Spike he is still far more "human" than other vampires. The book is just tangible but he always hangs on to part of who he was before being turned. As for who he is, he's loves bitch isn't he! He becomes part of the Scourge of Europe but is that just to fit in. He doesn't seem to do well on his own, either as William or Spike. Will he find out who he is when he meets Buffy again?

That is the longest review I've ever left so I'm off but I LOVE THIS STORY.


Author's Response: Sam, that was exactly how I meant for the reader to feel. Although we know William's actions are evil, I wanted to convey the pleasure he derives from them, so we'll know the draw it has for him. Glad to know I succeeded in this. You're certainly right about the book. Although its loss was devastating to him, it was the loss of a symbol of his humanity, not the loss of his humanity itself. Somewhere, far away, that remains intact.

Great chapter once again... as much as I like Spike it is very sad to see the demise of William... it was heart wrenching that her gift to him had been destroyed at least he still has the ring... This chapter made very sad... Update soon!!

Author's Response: I'm sorry it was sad for you, Inarra, but I'm glad you enjoyed it despite the angst. I'm working on a new chapter now, so hopefully the update isn't far behind. Thanks! :)

I love seeing William become Spike as we all know and love him. It takes a while to make it all happen but that is a gift from your imagination to ours. I assure you it is well worth waiting for.

Author's Response: Thank you so much, Toni. I'm glad you appreciate the significance of these chapter and are enjoying them. I appreciate your taking the time to tell me so. :)

wonderful william chappies! i can't wait to read more! update as soon as you can? i can't wait until they meet up again (if they do) pretty please?

Author's Response: I'm glad you like William. Buffy will reappear in Part III but beyond that, my lips are sealed. ;) Thanks so much for reviewing. :)

OH THAT BITCH!!!!!!! god i hate her, she toom the only real reminder of elizabeth away from him. i love this story so much and am so happy that u updated. also i hate angelus, william is still who he was before he died and he better realize that. he has to realize that elizabeth will love him no matter what. omg im dying to read when buffy and spike meat up and how they btoh react to each other, i know its going to be a while, but i cant help anticipating it. i really hope that everything works out and that he keesp holding on to the william inside him. please update as soon as u can, i cant wait to read more and see wat happens next. thanx

Author's Response: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, sarah g. Thanks for taking the time to review it. :)

This is my second review of this chapter, but I just had to review again.
I just read the whole story so far again. This time in a much slower pace. Enjoying everything of the first part of the story. Her reaction when she sees him for the first time, their falling in love, almost against her will in the beginning, her comparison between William and Spike was very funny at times, specially when she remembers Spike at the Bronze, telling her in his particular way "...I´ve always been bad"...

His passion, desperation about their love, as if he knew that such a happiness would not last, Their lovemaking the last days and her desperation when she was pulled back from the past.... His agony when he thought she was dead...
This second reading round made me "sniffle" cough, (cry) a couples of times.
The way your write them, with all their emotions... so strong, and specially with William. Just as I could have imagined him being, with the tenderness, the shyness, the constant struggle between what the Victorian society thought was right and wrong, the jealousy, the restrain in his passion for her, etc, etc.
When I read the second time how horrible Archer had been to both Elizabeth and William, I couldnt help but enjoy his slow death. I wouldn´t have minded hearing him begging for his life, though, but "sigh" without vocal cords... ;-)

Now I have a couple of questions.... that I don´t want to have answered, by the way, you know, because of the spoilers, but I can´t help but wonder...
¿Was there any particular reason why Buffy met Angelus and he found out she was a Slayer, and then she run and they "never" saw each other again ? Is Angelus going to talk about him fighting against a blond slayer in front of Spike, or...?
You know... just wondering...

And then there was their lovemaking the last days before she went back to the future... without protection... (the lovemaking I mean, he, he.) Could mean something, could mean nothing... I know, I know.. You are just driving me crazy with all the possibilities and the paradoxes that could happen, you know ?
But if you have me obsessing so much about a story, that makes you in my eyes my favorite writer right now, and I´m including professional writers in the lot.... And I love to read. having on my shelfs over a thousand books... So you do the math if you´re good or not. Can´t wait for the next chapter...


Author's Response: What a wonderful, well thought out review. Thank you! I love it when readers break down the chapters and tell me exactly why they enjoyed them...the parts that moved them and the parts that make them cringe. I'm so flattered that you are enjoying the story this much, and I hope you continue to in the future.

Cute, William trying to eat an apple. Yah, comuppence.

Author's Response: Thanks. :)

"He had a penchant for killing blondes, now. Not because he was angry with her…but because they were not her."

That line gave me the chills, and it was so very fitting because as morbid as it was....it was also full of sadness. Much like the way this chapter was. I read it twice because it was so intense and perfect.

This was really beautifully written. If you ever wrote anything with original characters, I would love to read it. You have a real talent here and as always....you leave me wanting more.

Excellent work.


Author's Response: Thank you so much, Dee,. I'm glad you liked it. :) Despite the dreadful acts he is capable of, William is not without heart. I'm glad to hear that the killing of the blondes was understood the way I meant for it to be. Yes, it was evil of him, and morbid. Yet, it was also fueled by his intense sadness, his longing for a girl who no longer exists.

Absence will make the heart grow fonder and meanwhile he can work on becoming a stronger person er... monster person? He is struggling now to find his place and who he is now and i like reading this version of Spike and Buffy.


Author's Response: I'm glad you are enjoying it, thanks for taking the time to tell me so. Incidently, William's search for his identity and his place in the world will feature heavily into this part of the story. It's nice to know that you picked up on the significance of this; it shows that I'm doing my job as a writer. :)

A chapter of two, very different parts: the heartache and then - the horror.

William still craves his darling Elizabeth and he finds her, but only in his dreams. Such a poignant phrase:

"Hours where he was not evil, and she was not dead."

encapsulate his desire to sleep so that he may escape his unliving existance and find Elizabeth, and love and peace.

But awake, he is a demon. He still yearns for her, but he is able to kill young blonde girls ...... because they are not her. He is able to torture a former acquaintance who had insulted Buffy: he crucified him and kept him alive, suspended and in extreme pain for three days. He killed him with a railroad spike through his head.

So, William the bereft lover, William the acquiescent, demonic lover, William the vampire eagerly learning the bloody trade of his new life. How long before the darkness of his waking hours blots out the light that warms his sleep?

Intense chapter; great.

Author's Response: Thank you, sue. I appreciate the feedback. You're completely right about the duel nature of the chapter--and the character. It's a pleasure to read such a detailed, insightful review. :)