William is just surpassing Angelus and he's trying to fight for his control over him but this was a huge mistake on Angelus part because William now sees he's not God like and he can fall and even though he tried to break William he only made him stronger and now he will be morre then Angelus ever was. So intricately written in the character development this is a story everyone needs to read.

Author's Response: Angelus fears competition and you are absolutely right: in his struggle for dominance, he has just given William a reason to fight him for dominance. I'm very flattered to hear that you recommend this story to other people. Thank you! :)

not my favorite chapter but very well done I look forward to when you get Spike being free of Angel and what he comes across next!

Author's Response: Well, I'd be a little worried about you if you said you adored seeing him raped, KitKat. :P Seriously, though, I know it was a hard chapter to read. It is integral to the rest of the story, though. I"m glad you saw it through and thanks so much for the review. :)

I want to kill Angel and I'm not even there I saw we plot his death and soon!!!!!! He needs to go down!!!!!!!

more please?

Author's Response: lol. I'm glad to hear that you're emotionally invested in the story. Thank you! :) (and more soon, I hope)

I so appreciate the journey you are taking us on with this work. I've read hundreds of Spuffy fics but none so intrigueing. To have so much access to William's inner dialog and his struggles between who he is and his confusion about what he is becoming, yet still keeping that 'cord of communion' unbroken between his feelings for Elizabeth and the man/monster he is now.... its very moving. Love this story. Revealing chapter.

Author's Response: What a wonderful, flattering review, Victoria. Thank you! :) I always adored Spike on the show, because even at the height of his evil, he was always capable of such love. I really want to be true to that character trait in my story. I'm so glad you think I am. :)

Hard subject matter to write given how as the writer you know if will offend your biggest fans but it is a vampire dominance thing that you know goes on if you read enough fan fiction. William knows he does not belong with them and he has been defiled in their lifestyle so it is little wonder in his reaction to having Angelus speak Elizabeth's name. I think in this chapter is shows Spike becoming his own man and also the horrible side of a learning experience in the dark side he is now in and he can now say he has had enough because he will no longer allow himself to be under Angelus thumb nor take his abuse. In this we see Williams naivety in learning to kill and survive and although hiding shaping himself into the person / monster he will become sort of like a teen hiding things from it's parents.
The comment from Angelus was a direct strike on Williams manhood and meant to cut him down to size. I think more then anything Angelus was shocked as much as William that he would dare to strike out at him and it was just a means for Angelus to use it as a excuse to do to William what he always had in mind for him anyway's. It was very good for William to see Angelus is like everyone else and has weaknesses and can be taken down. I did get a gag response in reading this and sort of watching in horror at this happening to him but I kinda knew this was coming still it was hard to see this happen to a character I really love.
I think with this act of violence against his person he will no longer be willing to let himself be lead he will branch out on his own and that this is a turning point for him in learning how to fight or at least find out why Angelus is stronger or faster then him and for him to take it upon himself in finding out all he can on being a vampire and never allowing this to happen again.
I think this is a turning point for Spike and in this horrible act will the last thing of abuse he will take for anybody.


Author's Response: I know it was a difficult thing to read, Kalahara. It was definitely difficult for me to write. But I'm glad you see the reason behind the act. Vampires aren't teddy bears, and I don't want to shy away from that fact, but neither do I want to make the scenes gratuitous or overly graphic. Thanks for leaving me such detailed feedback, as usual. I hope you continue to enjoy the story in the future. :D

From this point on I can see William having his eyes open as to learning to fight and protect himself and looking for a way to get away from Angelus. Cause he now sees that Angelus had this in mind from the start and what a animal he really is.

Author's Response: In a way, all vampires are animals. I think this incident made William question just how much of an animal he wants or is willing to be. Thanks for the review! :)

William get out of there!

Author's Response: lol. Good advice! :D

This is good stuff. Really enjoying the dynamics between the characters here. Particularly your emphasis on how premeditated the act of dominance and control was. Says a lot about Angelus. Plus, we're seeing a nice, believable progression of William into the Spike that we all know.

Author's Response: Vampires are like animals and many male animals show their dominance by "mounting." Since Angelus has been the only male vamp in his "pack" for a long time, I thought it only made sense that he would attempt to show a newly-confident William just who was boss. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks! :)

I just finished reading the last two chapters that you posted and...wow.

Chapter 31 was perfect with William trying to make sense of his identity. And the way it was built up made it even better with Drusilla destroying his treasured book. And I'm loving the role that Angelus is playing in William's life. That was something I always wished we saw more on BtVS and Angel.

Now this chapter...I was actually waiting for the sexual scene between Angelus and William. Mainly because I had a sense that it was coming by the way you were writing the two of them (and also because of Spike mentioning being intimate that "one time" on an episode of Angel). I'm glad that you included it, and you definitely wrote the scene as realistic as it should be. Vampires always have had that sexual violence to them, and William and Angelus are not any different. In fact, they have it even more so.

And I love how William is still thinking of Elizabeth, and how it's still affecting his thoughts and actions.

I wish I could stress at how excellent this story is. I feel like I'm reading a historical vampire novel, except this time, all of my favorite characters are involved.

Wonderful, wonderful work.

Author's Response: So, you noticed the foreshadowing, did you? I was wondering if anyone would. ;) I've spent a huge portion of my time working with animals, and one thing I've notice about males of almost any mammalian species is that they mount each other as a show of dominance. Since BtVS showed us a certain correlation between vampires and animals, I thought it only fitting that this be a way Angelus attempt to dominate Spike. I'm glad you weren't too squicked out by it. :) I really appreciate your wonderful, detailed review. It's so nice to hear not only that a reader enjoyed the story, but also a breakdown of *why* they enjoyed it. You really made my day with this. Thank you. :)