Angel Eyes

By jaepdbt

Disclaimer: Buffy characters belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, et al. Rest are mine.

Author's Note: I've been to Chicago and the Chicago area a few times, but I don't know much about the city itself. Therefore, I have taken liberties with certain locations, and the city I have created my bear only superficial resemblance to the actual city.

"Bow down piper leading, you were one.

Hungry, took the prize, then you got dumb.

Don't live out your life like a sad song.

Sprung, hypnotized by light, had to get some.

Get it all

She said I forgive you, You must too or die

You've got to let me go.

Angel Eyes, Four years and still I dream

Agonize, Such beauty not since seen."

Jerry Cantrell

Chapter 1

Tuesday, November 14, 2006 11:30 pm

The Joint was one of Chicago's most popular dance clubs. The type where reverb caused overpriced drinks to slosh out of their glasses, where the young and beautiful were packed as tightly as comfort and fire codes allowed, and where vampires stalked for their evening meal. It was designed with a huge, square dance floor in the center and slightly below the rest of the bar. On the North end of the dance floor, raised above its ruckus, was the DJ/Light show control booth. Opposite that, and also on the ground level was the main bar area. There, sitting at a table overlooking the mass of humanity below, sat a man without a heartbeat, a man without a soul, a man who wasn't really a man at all. A vampire.

This had long been one of Darryl's favorite hunting grounds. Tonight, he was just looking to get lost in the crowd…and maybe find a get the hell out of town treat. His hair was dyed a midnight black and slicked with enough gel that is was mirror like. His clothes were as black as his hair, a silk button down shirt with the top two buttons undone, black jeans, socks, and shoes. His wiry body oozed an aggressive sexuality that had never failed him in the past. He hoped that trend would continue.

For the last five years of his existence, Darryl had lived the good life. He worked for Chicago's demon kingpin Pinder Gast supplying Mr. Gast's demon bars, casinos, and bordellos with blood and other bodily fluids. In exchange, he was given a license for unlimited hunting in the city, a privilege granted to fewer and fewer demons these days. Life was perfect, until his supplier dried up, literally. Darryl's top competitor, another vampire named Cipher, ate him, but he couldn't prove it. In retaliation, Darryl started raiding his competitor's deliveries, during one of which, he was caught red handed. This type of tête-à-tête was not acceptable in the eyes of the Big Boss. Darryl knew he needed to leave Chicago before Mr. Gast's executioner found him, but instead, he decided he needed beautiful young girl first.

Now, he sipped a vodka martini looking for a good candidate. His muddy eyes landed on a small, slim blond girl gyrating on the dance floor. She was dressed to kill, a barely there black dress that left little to the imagination and men slobbering fools. Darryl was drawn to her, watching her for several minutes as the woman danced suggestively with an endless line of men, all left blue balled by the young beauty. The vampire felt the combination of bodily and blood lust surge forward, and cause him to head to the floor himself. 'Maybe I can pick up a traveling companion as well as a meal,' he thought to himself.

He approached her as a new song began. His predatory blue eyes locked with her hazel ones, as she stalked over to him. They danced, oh, they danced. If there was an inch between her sweaty body and his cool one, there was a mile. Her body pressed to his in all the right places, and his nether regions rapidly grew and hardened. As one of her grinding dance moves moved against this, she gave Darryl a knowing smirk.

Then, suddenly, the song was over, the woman, smirk still in place, took his hand and lead the vampire from the dance floor, gently stroking the back of his hand with her thumb. As they reached the top of the steps, she stood on her toes to whisper in Darryl's ear, "Let me get my coat and we can go someplace more…private." With a devilish smile, she turned and head towards the coat check. "Don't go anywhere," she called.

Darryl didn't think he could move if his unlife depended on it. This vixen was picking him up. That thought brought on a smirk of his own, knowing he could have his way with this hot little number. What a way to leave town.

She came back, her dress now covered with a long black leather duster. Out of one pocket, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. The goddess light one and sashayed her way back to Darryl. She slid next to him, taking his arm and headed for the exit. "My name's Joan, what's yours?" After Darryl replied, he thought he noticed a feral glint in her eye, but by the time she brought her smoke up for another drag, it was gone.

Joan silently smoked as the pair made their way through The Joint's crowded bar. Once outside, she glommed her body even closer to his and said, "I've always had a thing about fucking in alleys, whaddya say we give it a go." Her words were accentuated by puffs of smoke form her cigarette, now cast aside, and were followed by a casual stroke of the vampires crotch.

Darryl's eyes crossed, and he had to struggle to keep his true face from coming forward. He could smell the arousal dripping from this gorgeous woman before him, and needed no further encouragement. He roughly grabbed her arm again, raced to the nearest ally, and flung Joan against the wall. Her eyes locked with his just before he plundered her mouth, mining for the gold inside. Darryl lost himself in the passion of the moment, and after noticing her lack of underwear quickly moved to finish the deed.

As he reached his peak, Darryl vamped out and moved to claim the woman before her, make her one of his kind. However, he was caught with his pants down, literally, when Joan head butted him and with supernatural quickness switched their positions. A wooden stake appeared in her hand, seemingly from nowhere. "Hmm…stupid vampires, always have to have a post-coital bite. You've been a bad boy," she said as she wagged a finger at the reeling vampire.

Darryl struggled underneath her iron grip, but was unable to move himself. "What are you, a slayer?"

"Used to be, now I have a more profitable career, hunting down Mr. Gast's little problems." Darryl vamp face receded as he felt fear for the first time since he was turned.

"You're the Executioner."

"You know, I always thought that was a dumb name. I mean really, can't you demons be a little more creative," Joan huffed. "Anyways, you know the consequences for stealing from Mr. Gast. Ordinarily, I might make it last awhile, a little torture, starve you, but that sounds like an awful lot of work. Plus, I got a little action tonight, so I'm in a good mood."

With that, Darryl leaned back his head and resigned himself to his fate. As he turned to dust, he wished he'd paid more attention to the stories about the woman who was his ending.