Just like the description says, this fic takes place during season 7. It picks up around the S7 episode "Never Leave Me". Buffyverse characters debut in the first chapter. This short intro sheds a bit of history as well as mystery.
Please drop a review if you read this and tell me what you think. If you want to get constructive, go ahead. This gal doesn't mind. :) Constructive comments can be very helpful.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Buffyverse characters except Spike... but only in my dreams. :)
*Intro*
The sound of voices tumbled and echoed through her head. Struggling to understand them was much too hard and brought pain when she tried. There was a faint light beyond her closed lids, but she was helpless to open them and greet it. She could feel herself slipping out of what little consciousness she managed to get a hold of because she had no strength.
Giving in to the dark realm of slumber seemed to be her only option until she felt something cold brush lightly against her cheek. The touch traveled down the side of her face and to her neck where it paused briefly before continuing to her chest and finally resting between her breasts.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly and landed on the hand that was lightly pressed against her skin. Mindful of the dull pulsing pain in her head, she lifted it carefully and met eyes with a stranger. As soon as she looked into his dark brown irises, panic set in. She tried to move her arms, but found them to be tied. The girl attempted to yank fiercely at the velvet restraints that bound her wrists together above her head, but her arms were stretched nearly taut.
He put a single finger to her lips before she could scream. "Shh. Don't speak." He could hear his own desire and was unable to control it. He felt her now. Her entire being was submerge in fear and made his wanting for her that much more intense.
Her eyes were wide and focused on his face. He knew she had no idea what the terror she felt was doing to him. Her blood was singing in primal rhythms to his and it was like nothing he had ever known before. He was a fool to believe he could have prepared himself for this. Possessing the knowledge of her was all the preparation there could ever be.
With his right hand still to her mouth, he brought his left hand around to reveal a small golden blade with a black hilt.
Her eyes moved to the blade and tears began to well up. A plump sphere of moisture fell onto the hand at her lips. She closed her eyes as he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
"I'm not going to kill you, Lauren. You just have something I want." Something he needed.
As he knelt down in front of her, Lauren's tears continued to course down her cheeks and she began to sob softly. She didn't move when he touched her thigh and slid his cold hand up her smooth flesh, lifting up the flimsy white silk gown she wore. The slow, sensual motion had his own anticipation building with the passing seconds. He lifted the silk above her abdomen and held it in place.
Lauren drew in a sharp breath when the cool metal of the blade pierced her skin just above the navel, and she moaned as it slid about an inch across.
A second later, his lips were at the point of the incision, tasting the liquid of life that spilled from it. Flowing past his lips was something sweeter than ambrosia and more promising than any other reward under the sun. Any vampire would happily give up eternity for just a second's exposure to this euphoria-inducing pleasure.
Every stitch of his being heightened with a liveliness that was unparalleled. Not even the dark ecstasy one felt as a newly sired vampire could compare. He let the blade slip to the stone floor and pulled her torso closer to him as her flavor danced over his tongue. She had no idea how special she was.
With more than just a little regret and absolutely no reluctance, he ceased his revel in her fountain of strength. He knew very well that taking too much could possibly mean death for both of them. He would have to take care in resisting the urge to go beyond the satisfaction of his thirst.
She closed her eyes in relief when he pulled back, then scrunched her face in disgust when he gave the cut on her belly a slow and final lick. Once again, she was staring into his eyes. Dark and edgy, they seemed to shoot right through her as if he knew her. Every last one of her secrets and desires. That gaze of his set a curdle to her blood that she had been rendered defenseless to check.
Unexpectedly, the man reached up and untied her wrists from the wall. Without taking his eyes from hers, he lowered her trembling hands and brought them to his lips. The kiss he planted there was soft and lingering. Then his face relaxed into a faint smile.
She'd have thought it gorgeous if the situation wasn't so eerie and frightening.
He released her hand and walked to the door across the room. The heavy wood creaked open, then closed behind him.
The stone floor beneath her bare feet was like ice, just as the stone wall had felt against her exposed back. She hugged her arms and looked around the room at all the dozens of candles that provided the light. Taking small and hesitant steps, Lauren moved to a dark red velvet sofa that was trimmed with a golden frame. She had just made it before her legs gave under her.
The slit on her abdomen burned like his mouth had set fire to it. She lifted her hand from over it and grew slightly faint at the sight of her own blood spreading on the white fabric. She slumped lazily against the arm rest until her head was settled on it. The dark came close to claiming her when the door opened once again. Under the heaviness of her lids, she saw a woman approaching.
"No, leave me. . .alone." The protest was a barely coherent mumble. For the second time, her gown rose and a moment later the burn was intensified. But only for a second. She was slipping again but was fighting with everything she had to stay alert.
The woman commenced to bandaging up the wound, and worked deftly around Lauren's feeble attempts to push her hands away. When she finished, she put away the bandaging materials and picked up a crystal glass filled with liquid from a silver tray.
"Here. Try to drink some of this, it'll help you to feel better." The woman reached over and held the back of Lauren's neck to pull her up.
Help her to feel better? Answers would help, not this concoction that felt as thick as bile being shoved down her throat. She sipped it slowly, tolerating the taste as best she could. She nearly choked as she tried to speak. Who. . .who are you?"
"My name is Maureen." She held the glass steady and waited for Lauren to finish drinking.
"Where the hell am I?"
Maureen sat silent for a moment and gazed at Lauren with sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry." She brushed Lauren's hair from her face and exhaled. "I'm so sorry," she repeated.
Lauren shoved the glass back at the Maureen. "Tell me." Her fatigued countenance fired up for a moment and her face looked hot with frustration. "Now."
Maureen continued to calmly smooth Lauren's hair. Her eyes contained a steel softness and her face exuded a motherly charm that was meant to soothe. She looked like a parent longing to nurse a motherless child. She stared at Lauren until the girl broke under her gaze, then she gathered the lass into her arms and rocked her gently while apologizing one more time.
Lauren's body jerked with huge sobs and her eyes bled warm tears. "Please..." She paused as her voice cracked. "Please help me..." She buried her contorted face in Maureen's shoulder. The pain from the cut had been forgotten.
Maureen knew the girl was no more than about fifteen years old. Her innocence would be gradually taken away as she was forced to into a dark world. She would have to navigate through an existence that was nearly devoid of all light and as she learned to find her way, any simplicity of childhood would vanish with the familiarity of the dark. This was the way fate would have it.
As painful as the momentary departure would be, Maureen had to leave her. She gave Lauren one last squeeze before carefully nudging the girl to lie down.
"No." Lauren watched through her tears as Maureen delicately wrenched her fingers from around her arm. "Don't, please. I'm so scared..."
The heavy door closed and Lauren was left alone on the velvet sofa with no comfort or any clue as to what was happening. She laid down, grabbing a pillow to turn her face into. She never felt so lonely or frightened in all her sixteen years.
*-*-*-*
Please drop a review if you read this and tell me what you think. If you want to get constructive, go ahead. This gal doesn't mind. :) Constructive comments can be very helpful.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Buffyverse characters except Spike... but only in my dreams. :)
*Intro*
The sound of voices tumbled and echoed through her head. Struggling to understand them was much too hard and brought pain when she tried. There was a faint light beyond her closed lids, but she was helpless to open them and greet it. She could feel herself slipping out of what little consciousness she managed to get a hold of because she had no strength.
Giving in to the dark realm of slumber seemed to be her only option until she felt something cold brush lightly against her cheek. The touch traveled down the side of her face and to her neck where it paused briefly before continuing to her chest and finally resting between her breasts.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly and landed on the hand that was lightly pressed against her skin. Mindful of the dull pulsing pain in her head, she lifted it carefully and met eyes with a stranger. As soon as she looked into his dark brown irises, panic set in. She tried to move her arms, but found them to be tied. The girl attempted to yank fiercely at the velvet restraints that bound her wrists together above her head, but her arms were stretched nearly taut.
He put a single finger to her lips before she could scream. "Shh. Don't speak." He could hear his own desire and was unable to control it. He felt her now. Her entire being was submerge in fear and made his wanting for her that much more intense.
Her eyes were wide and focused on his face. He knew she had no idea what the terror she felt was doing to him. Her blood was singing in primal rhythms to his and it was like nothing he had ever known before. He was a fool to believe he could have prepared himself for this. Possessing the knowledge of her was all the preparation there could ever be.
With his right hand still to her mouth, he brought his left hand around to reveal a small golden blade with a black hilt.
Her eyes moved to the blade and tears began to well up. A plump sphere of moisture fell onto the hand at her lips. She closed her eyes as he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
"I'm not going to kill you, Lauren. You just have something I want." Something he needed.
As he knelt down in front of her, Lauren's tears continued to course down her cheeks and she began to sob softly. She didn't move when he touched her thigh and slid his cold hand up her smooth flesh, lifting up the flimsy white silk gown she wore. The slow, sensual motion had his own anticipation building with the passing seconds. He lifted the silk above her abdomen and held it in place.
Lauren drew in a sharp breath when the cool metal of the blade pierced her skin just above the navel, and she moaned as it slid about an inch across.
A second later, his lips were at the point of the incision, tasting the liquid of life that spilled from it. Flowing past his lips was something sweeter than ambrosia and more promising than any other reward under the sun. Any vampire would happily give up eternity for just a second's exposure to this euphoria-inducing pleasure.
Every stitch of his being heightened with a liveliness that was unparalleled. Not even the dark ecstasy one felt as a newly sired vampire could compare. He let the blade slip to the stone floor and pulled her torso closer to him as her flavor danced over his tongue. She had no idea how special she was.
With more than just a little regret and absolutely no reluctance, he ceased his revel in her fountain of strength. He knew very well that taking too much could possibly mean death for both of them. He would have to take care in resisting the urge to go beyond the satisfaction of his thirst.
She closed her eyes in relief when he pulled back, then scrunched her face in disgust when he gave the cut on her belly a slow and final lick. Once again, she was staring into his eyes. Dark and edgy, they seemed to shoot right through her as if he knew her. Every last one of her secrets and desires. That gaze of his set a curdle to her blood that she had been rendered defenseless to check.
Unexpectedly, the man reached up and untied her wrists from the wall. Without taking his eyes from hers, he lowered her trembling hands and brought them to his lips. The kiss he planted there was soft and lingering. Then his face relaxed into a faint smile.
She'd have thought it gorgeous if the situation wasn't so eerie and frightening.
He released her hand and walked to the door across the room. The heavy wood creaked open, then closed behind him.
The stone floor beneath her bare feet was like ice, just as the stone wall had felt against her exposed back. She hugged her arms and looked around the room at all the dozens of candles that provided the light. Taking small and hesitant steps, Lauren moved to a dark red velvet sofa that was trimmed with a golden frame. She had just made it before her legs gave under her.
The slit on her abdomen burned like his mouth had set fire to it. She lifted her hand from over it and grew slightly faint at the sight of her own blood spreading on the white fabric. She slumped lazily against the arm rest until her head was settled on it. The dark came close to claiming her when the door opened once again. Under the heaviness of her lids, she saw a woman approaching.
"No, leave me. . .alone." The protest was a barely coherent mumble. For the second time, her gown rose and a moment later the burn was intensified. But only for a second. She was slipping again but was fighting with everything she had to stay alert.
The woman commenced to bandaging up the wound, and worked deftly around Lauren's feeble attempts to push her hands away. When she finished, she put away the bandaging materials and picked up a crystal glass filled with liquid from a silver tray.
"Here. Try to drink some of this, it'll help you to feel better." The woman reached over and held the back of Lauren's neck to pull her up.
Help her to feel better? Answers would help, not this concoction that felt as thick as bile being shoved down her throat. She sipped it slowly, tolerating the taste as best she could. She nearly choked as she tried to speak. Who. . .who are you?"
"My name is Maureen." She held the glass steady and waited for Lauren to finish drinking.
"Where the hell am I?"
Maureen sat silent for a moment and gazed at Lauren with sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry." She brushed Lauren's hair from her face and exhaled. "I'm so sorry," she repeated.
Lauren shoved the glass back at the Maureen. "Tell me." Her fatigued countenance fired up for a moment and her face looked hot with frustration. "Now."
Maureen continued to calmly smooth Lauren's hair. Her eyes contained a steel softness and her face exuded a motherly charm that was meant to soothe. She looked like a parent longing to nurse a motherless child. She stared at Lauren until the girl broke under her gaze, then she gathered the lass into her arms and rocked her gently while apologizing one more time.
Lauren's body jerked with huge sobs and her eyes bled warm tears. "Please..." She paused as her voice cracked. "Please help me..." She buried her contorted face in Maureen's shoulder. The pain from the cut had been forgotten.
Maureen knew the girl was no more than about fifteen years old. Her innocence would be gradually taken away as she was forced to into a dark world. She would have to navigate through an existence that was nearly devoid of all light and as she learned to find her way, any simplicity of childhood would vanish with the familiarity of the dark. This was the way fate would have it.
As painful as the momentary departure would be, Maureen had to leave her. She gave Lauren one last squeeze before carefully nudging the girl to lie down.
"No." Lauren watched through her tears as Maureen delicately wrenched her fingers from around her arm. "Don't, please. I'm so scared..."
The heavy door closed and Lauren was left alone on the velvet sofa with no comfort or any clue as to what was happening. She laid down, grabbing a pillow to turn her face into. She never felt so lonely or frightened in all her sixteen years.
*-*-*-*