Day 21

Disclaimer: See chapter one

Every 23rd fall,

For 23 days,

It gets to eat…

That phrase played over and over in Buffy's mind as she wandered through the quad. The same phrase that had echoed through her dreams for twenty consecutive nights. The dreams were always the same; those words repeated over and over by a disembodied voice as a bat-winged figure was silhouetted by the moon, and then there was blood, and screams… Giles was researching his heart out but so far hadn't found anything; add to that Spike being a pain in their collective asses, and the list of missing persons was getting longer.

One of the first to go missing had been a T.A. from her Psych class, she thought his name was Riley, and then Professor Walsh has disappeared…too bad Parker couldn't do the same. Buffy mentally berated herself for being a bad Slayer but couldn't stop a small smirk; it wasn't like the S.O.B. didn't have it coming. And who did he think he was not calling her?

Just then she caught sight of Parker on a bench, talking to a young brunette woman.

"You know, it hit me hard," he was saying. "My dad. Since then I just don't put stuff off anymore. It's all about living for the now."

Buffy's jaw dropped. He fed me a line? Squaring her shoulders she walked up to them.

"Parker?"

He looked up at her and smiled.

"Buffy," he greeted, all smiles then turned to his companion. "Buffy Summers, this is Katie Loomis."

Katie waved at the Slayer who gave her a polite smile before turning back to Parker.

"Parker, what's going on?"

Picking up a bag from the ground Parker handed it to Katie.

"Hey, Katie, you're gonna be late for class. I'll catch up later okay?"

The girl smiled once more at Buffy before leaving.

"Friend of yours?" the Slayer asked.

"Oh yeah, she's great," the boy gushed. "You'd really like her. So what's up?"

"Well, you didn't call," Buffy said, trying not to sound meek. "I'd understand if you were busy or sick or something…"

"It's only been a few days," Parker defended. "Did you need to talk to me about something?"

Steeling herself Buffy asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Sure it is," he replied nonchalantly.

"It is?" she sounded skeptical.

"Absolutely."

"Oh. Okay."

She nibbled her lower lip as he got ready to leave then suddenly blurted, "What was it to you? Was it just fun or…"

He turned to her and smiled.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you. You know, there aren't that many girls who view sex like I do. They're usually all like "oh we had sex now we must be soul mates' or something. If you wanna get together later sometime?" he continued, not noticing her dark expression.

"Actually I think I'm gonna be busy."

"Oh, that's cool," he said happily. "Just give me a call sometime."

He winked at her and left. Buffy watched him go, her hands clenched into fists and her nails digging bloody crescents into her palms then whirled as clapping sounded behind her, only mildly surprised to find Spike standing behind the vacated bench.

"Bravo, luv. Nice to see you've finally grown a pair."

"Found the ring?" she asked blandly.

The vampire held his hand up and wiggled the gem at her.

"Official sponsor of my killing you."

The Slayer didn't look impressed.

"Why don't you go bone Harmony and come back later. I'm not in the mood to kick your ass right now."

She didn't even try to go for a stake, leaving Spike mildly offended, and actually started to walk off. Thinking fast he called out, "So you let Parker take a poke eh? Didn't seem like you two knew each other that well, but tell me, what did it take to pry apart the Slayer's dimpled knees?"

"You're a pig, Spike," the departing Slayer called over her shoulder and the bleached vampire hurried to catch up to his (slowly strolling) quarry.

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"And then he's like 'what are you doin?' all innocent like and I'm like 'making a choice' and I can't believe I fell for that dead dad crap!" Buffy slurred and downed her latest shot of tequila.

"Yeah," Spike said. "Guys do that sometimes. Play the coy an' let the girl start it. Power trip makes 'em hotter."

"Guys're stupid," she muttered to the table top.

Spike snorted.

"Like you women're any differen'? Dru strings me along after that bloody Chaos demon then goes running off with a soddin' Fungus demon!"

He looked incredulous.

"I mean, have you ever seen one 'o those things? Looks like a giant rottin' mushroom, 'an don't even get me started on the smell," he trailed off and downed another shot, then found the bottle empty when he tried to refill his glass. "Oi! Willie! We need another bottle over 'ere!"

Gathering his minimal courage Willie the Snitch walked up to the table that Spike and the Slayer had claimed several hours earlier. His gaze flicked nervously between the two drunk and commiserating enemies and took a steadying breath.

"Look, Spike…and, uh, Buffy. It's not that I don't appreciate your business or anything, 'cause I do," he added quickly. "It's just that you're kinda scaring off my other clients."

He gestured to the nearly empty bar, occupied only by the two blondes and a couple Fyarl demons in a booth by the jukebox. Spike puffed up as much as he could without actually getting out of his chair, getting ready for a much needed fight but Buffy grabbed his wrist.

"C'mon Spike, it's no fun here anymore," she said solemnly then perked up. "We should go find something to kill."

Intrigued he turned to her.

"Got somethin' specific in mind, luv?"

She thought for a moment.

"Well, I've been havin' Slayer dreams for like twenty nights now about the same thing and people are disappearing all over the place."

He looked skeptical.

"It has wings."

The vampire grinned.

"Well, all right then. Got ourselves a bit of a challenge."

He stood and pulled his duster on.

"Lead the way, pet."

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"So have got any idea what this thing looks like, luv?" Spike asked as they wandered aimlessly through the park. Buffy shook her head.

"Not really. It's human looking but it has wings…"

"So you've said. What about this dream of yours?"

"It's just the thing flying over the moon and some creepy voice saying 'Every 23rd fall, for 23 days, it gets to eat'. Totally cryptic. Giles has been researching it but so far he hasn't found anything."

Dejected she plopped down on a bench and fiddled with her stake.

"Am I repulsive?" she asked suddenly, catching Spike off guard.

"What?"

"It's like I'm cursed. I sleep with a guy and he goes all evil. I'm such an idiot."

"No you're not," he said, wondering why he was comforting her then decided that it had to be the alcohol talking. "People make mistakes, Slayer."

"Parker says it's okay to make mistakes. It was sweet."

Spike snorted derisively.

"No, it's not."

He sat down next to her. "He said it so you'd take a chance and sleep with him. Forget him, pet, he's a right git."

Buffy thought on that for a moment.

"You're right," she said fiercely. "He's shallow and manipulative and why doesn't he want me? You'd tell me if I was repulsive, right?"

"Slayer, I'd be the first to tell you if you were repulsive."

Buffy grinned a little. How true was that statement?

"But, maybe Parker and I could work it out?"

"Luv, I think you're missing something major in the 'right git' part of this equation."

She made a noncommittal noise and slumped back against the bench as Spike lit up a cigarette, lost to her thoughts when the vampire suddenly sat up straighter, a grin curving his full lips, and why had she never noticed them before?

"What?" she asked.

Soon, she too heard the sound of voices then two figures emerged from behind a row of bushes. She recognized Parker right off but took a little longer to place the girl he was with. Katie something. Suddenly Spike pulled her onto his lap.

"What the hell are you doing?" Buffy hissed at him.

"We're sticking it to the prick," he whispered. As soon as Parker noticed them Spike pressed his lips to Buffy's, mildly shocked at how nice it was. After an initial resistance Buffy melted into the vampire. 'Oh my God I'm kissing Spike!' fading to 'oh my God he's a good kisser'.

Now for the piece de resistance, thought Spike and discreetly tickled the Slayers side. Buffy pulled back with a squeal and almost fell off his lap. Spike caught her and stood effortlessly, turning the glowing Slayer to face the dumb struck boy.

"Hey Parker," Buffy greeted. "You've met Spike right?"

The vampire in question wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"This the git from the party then, luv?" he purred. "Thanks for gettin' me my girl back."

Parker looked confused.

"I thought you said you didn't date?"

"I did?" Buffy asked. "I'm such a blonde sometimes. I thought you meant were we dating at the moment. Me and Spike have been seeing each other for years."

Which was true.

"But I really have to thank you for the other night. For reminding me why I stay with Spike," Buffy said with a pointed scathing look at Parker's crotch, then turned to Spike. "Let's go home, babe. I need a real man tonight."

The two blondes moved off, Buffy grinning triumphantly and Spike shaking with silent laughter. Once they were out of earshot of the humans Spike let his laughter loose.

"God, luv, did you have to insult his bits like that?"

"There's not much there to insult," she said and he dissolved into laughter again.

Then a scream cut through their merriment. Katie passed them on their way to the other side of the bushes.

"It, oh, my God! It has him!" the girl screamed.

"What has him?" Buffy grabbed the young woman.

"The, the thing. We thought it was a homeless guy…it has wings."

Buffy released the woman.

"Go home."

Then she and Spike raced to the rescue.

Parker was clasped to its chest and the thing glared at them before pulling something from the pocket of the raggedy coat it wore and flung the object at vampire and Slayer. Spike tackled Buffy, taking her to the ground as the weapon embedded itself in a tree, barely missing her neck. Parker struggled in the things embrace, calling for help. Buffy stood and launched herself at the creature but it spread huge bat wings and took to the sky, the figure silhouetted by the moon.

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The creature sat in its cave, admiring its handy work with its new eyes. The humans from its first feeding now lined the walls, stitched together. They were all missing something but it was only visible on some; a hand here, a leg there. The skin of the former owner of its new eyes stared back at it morosely; the empty, bloody sockets almost accusing.

That one had screamed for a long time. Screamed for the blonde female, to his god, then just screamed… The creature shook itself from its thoughts. The 23 days were almost done and it still had much to do.