Nykos scrambled to its feet, glaring at Spike, horrid features pinched with anguish. "To steal prey from a Lothgar is the ultimate offence," the beast panted. "Hunt you to the ends of the earth to make you and your woman pay for the indignity."

"You're joking. You followed us halfway around the bloody world 'cause we stole your supper?" Spike asked with a confused tilt of his head. "Not pointing fingers, mind, but I'd say someone's in need of some serious anger management counselling."

Nykos shrieked and sprang across the room. Its claws slashed down, black and gleaming. "Die!"

Spike sidestepped the attack and drove his elbow into the back of his attacker's head, sending it crashing to the floor. The Lothgar rolled, claws scritch-scratch scrabbling at the ground before it leaped to its feet again.

"Come all this way so I could finish the job all proper like, eh?" Spike asked as he lashed out. His blow cracked bone in the demon's chest and sent it reeling against the wall. "Guess I should feel honoured."

He struck Nykos in the face and thick, dark blood spattered across the whitewashed wall. Always filled with bluster and swagger, Spike knew how to set off an enemy with the appearance of arrogance. He'd gotten so good at it - and had the skill and savagery to back it up - that he had almost forgotten it was for show. Not this time. The Lothgar was deadly and enraged and if he didn't end this quickly, it might not end the way he wanted it to.

Spike grabbed the demon's head and yanked it down even as he drove his knee up into its face. He stepped back and studied the monster as it struggled to stay on its feet. "Could be you're no more a threat to me then a mountain of camel dung in the road."