Chapter 2
Avalon starred at the blonde vamp intensely. He suddenly looked away.
" Did I? Hmm, I don't rightly remember. Well, I must be off. " Spike started to walk away, but buffy caught him.
" What does she mean? What's going on here?" Buffy grabbed him and began to punch him in the nose.
" You know, I never get tired of this! Talk spike! Now!" Buffy stopped and spike wimpered.
" OK! I did a little tickle tickle with the old bird! So?" He sat on the curb of the street they had been walking on and wiped his bleeding nose.
" Is that true?" Buffy was hurt and sick at the same time.
" Yep. It caused a huge fight with my grandfather. She burnt him up in front of me. But she was always doing that. Any man she could. See, with hybrids, you don't have to summon us. And like kind can feel us from miles away. He felt me. You felt me. The girl in the magic shop definitely felt me. I try to cloak it, but.. Well, sometimes it just comes through. But I'm not dangerous, I swear." Avalon noticed that they were close to the magic shop.
" Are we going in there?" She asked buffy.
" Yeah my friends own it. My watcher used to run it." Buffy replied.
" oh. Maybe I should go. The girl in there doesn't like me." Avalon backed up, and backed into spike. She turned around and looked at him. She could feel how muscled his chest was. Wow, she thought, gramm's had good taste.
" Don't worry love, The big bad's here to protect ya. " Spike replied.
He liked her look. Her smile was magic. And this one didn't seem to want to hurt him. Not like the slayer. Yes, this one would do, for awhile, until buffy came around.
" Spike, what would you protect her from? Evil water? Come on, it'll be fine." Buffy said and she opened the door. The shop was empty except for the scoobies. Willow looked up and was surprised to see buffy with the demon girl.
" Hey buffy. What's up? Who's your friend?" Willow eyed the girl. Anya had went crazy for an hour after the girl left, scared that she would come back and flame Xander.
" This is Avalon. You will all be nice to her. She's ok." Buffy looked at anya.
" So, tell me what are you and how are you." Buffy stretched out on a chair and looked at the girl.
" Well, I'm only a quarter fire demon. It only happens when I'm very angry. I light people on fire and they're soul burns forever. My dad has always tried to bind the demon side, but ya know. It doesn't work. For a long time he thought maybe it missed me. IT was just my mom. She was a half, and she really liked the power. One night, she got mad at daddy and tried to burn him. I got her first and my father banished her." Avalon sat on a cushion and thought for a moment. She had tears running down her cheeks. Spike handed her a tissue.
" So, where did she go?" Anya asked. She came from the teapot with a cup for Avalon. She really wanted the answer to that question.
" She's in Portland. In a sanatarium. The demon part was locked in her head, so she's pretty much comatose. But as long as I avoid burning humans, I'm ok. So I hunt vamps. But don't worry, you're the slayer, and I do not want your job. The only reason I was out there was William. I was waiting for him." Avalon smiled at spike.
" Spike! Are you sure?" Xander was choking on his coffee.
Spike puffed his chest out a bit.
" Ah! A woman with taste." He smiled at her again.
" Ok! Enough of the unholy dating game. So your not here to make trouble?" Buffy was very intent.
" No, my dad's a doctor, we just want to be normal. That's why I need those ice crystals. They keep my fire down to an ember." Avalon looked lost. Buffy felt torn between helping this girl and staking her for wanting spike.
" Well, we can see what we can do to help you. I'll walk you home." Buffy stood but spike intervened.
" I'll take the lady home. Nite all" He said and walked out the door. Avalon stood up.
" Don't worry, we'll be fine. Thank for letting me talk. It's been awhile since I could tell anyone." Good night." Avalon left after spike.
Buffy couldn't believe it. Spike liked that girl. What could she do?
Spike walked next to Avalon for a moment then he took her in his arms.
" Are you gonna scream now? Are you scared pet?" He whispered in her ear.
" If I was, I would light your thighs on fire and show you I'm not to be toyed with." She kissed him. He couldn't believe how bad he wanted her. She was bright, sassy and wanted him back. He told her of his crypt near by and asked if she wanted to go there. She anxiously agreed. She had to know once and for all if he really was the end. If the prophecy was true, she would be free, and maybe, just maybe she could free her mother too.
Spike held the door for her, and she seemed surprised. Now that they were alone, she seemed unsure. Maybe this was a mistake, spike thought. But as he watched her walk around his dwelling, he began to think she was just a little innocent. Maybe this kitten's never caught a mouse, he mused.
Avalon walked over to a chair and tossed her jacket down. She was wearing a see through tee shirt in black and matching black bra. She fluffed her curls, and wandered around the crypt.
" So, do you like living here?" She looked over her shoulder at him with piercing interest.
" Would you like living here? It's a bleeding crypt! Really blondie, you should know better." He sauntered over to the fridge and removed a pouch of blood. He placed it in the microwave. She sat on the chair and smiled at him.
" So, why were you waiting for me?" Spike heard the ding and opened the microwave. He shook the bag and began to drink. She sat across from him not looking disgusted but with no real interest in what he was doing at all.
" I just wanted to see if the rumors are true. I wanted to see if the great William the Bloody was as beautiful as they said he was. And I wanted to see if you were really in love with the slayer." She trained her gaze on him with those dark eyes. He began to choke on his blood.
" What? Who said I'm in love with the slayer? I'll Bloody well spike them!!" He jumped up and started to pace back and forth.
" So it's true. You love her." Avalon stood up and grabbed her coat. She had small tears falling down her cheeks. It was over. She knew that if he really loved the slayer, she was done. There would be no hope for her or her mother. She walked toward the door.
" Where're you going?" Spike noticed that he was raving to an empty chair. He ran to the door and just barely made it there before she did.
" I need to go. There's nothing here for me." He stood in front of her and lifted her face up to meet his gaze.
" I'm here, luv. Will that do?" He held her face in his hands. He felt the softness of her skin. How like fine Chinese silk her cheeks felt. He felt her body heat, and suddenly, he wanted her more than anything. Not just physically, but everything. Everything Buffy would never allow him to have. That warm body next to him, the smile when he woke up, the privilige of watching someone you love sleep. But this one might give him everything he needed and more.
" I really have to go home now. Will you walk me?" She gazed up at him with pure eyes. There was no deceit there, no hints of regret in the morning.
"Of course luv. My pleasure." They left the crypt and began to walk across the cemetery. It was a brisk night, but not real chilly. They walked along the street, just talking to one another. When they came to her house, he noticed that she lived across the street from Buffy. Damn slayer, will you ever be gone from me?
" Well, this is my new home, for now. If I can manage not to fry anyone else." Avalon looked down for a moment. She found a small rock on the ground and began to kick it.
" Looks lovely. Good neighborhood too. During the day. Stay in at night though, there are nasties about." He smiled at her.
" Your one of the nasties, aren't you?" She poked him in the stomach. His body was like chiseled marble, hard, strong and smooth.
" I am. The nastiest! So you better bar your doors, kitten." He wondered if she got his meaning.
" I think your invited in anytime. So long as you don't try to eat me." She began to walk up the stairs. He stood at the bottom, looking up at her.
" I might pet, but you might not mind so much, I'll only nibble. " She opened the door, and with a smile she stepped inside and closed the door. He stood for a long time, watching to see what light s came on, which room was hers. He could smell her scent still lingering on his coat.
Avalon shut the door behind her and looked at all the boxes littered around the house. She hated the smell of cardboard. It was always the same, they moved and she unpacked. She went to school, and she unpacked. She was really tired of unpacking.
" So, is it him?" Her father came around the corner from the kitchen. She jumped back and glared at him.
" Damn Dad, you scared the daylights out of me! You know better than to do that! I could have roasted you!" She instantly regretted what she said. Her father's hurt eyes said it all.
" Is it him? Is he really William the Bloody? Tell me the truth." The man looked old all of the sudden. Like he began to age in the moments since she walked in the door.
" Yes he is. And dad, he's, well wonderful. Gramm's was right. He is the doorway to my salvation. And daddy, he really is sweet. There may be something there." She smiled and twisted a lock of her hair.
" Avalon, Be careful. You only have journals to go on, and you could end up like your mother.. Please, I can't do that again! I can't lose my baby and my wife!" Her father threw down the towel he was holding and buried his face in his hands. Tears ran freely this time, because he could no longer control his emotions. Avalon went to her father as he slid down the wall to the floor. She put her arms around him.
" Daddy, I'll be fine, and in the end, everything will work out just fine. You'll see. Trust me. Now, let's get some sleep. I'm too tired for words. " She smiled and began to walk up the stairs. Her father stopped her halfway up.
" Avalon? "
" Yes daddy?"
" Nite sweetie. I love you." He said softly.
" I love you too." She smiled.
She went into her new room, and sat on the bed. What a day it had been! She was so tired! She pulled back the covers, took off her clothes and crawled into bed. She drifted into sleep thinking of William and his beautiful smile.
Avalon starred at the blonde vamp intensely. He suddenly looked away.
" Did I? Hmm, I don't rightly remember. Well, I must be off. " Spike started to walk away, but buffy caught him.
" What does she mean? What's going on here?" Buffy grabbed him and began to punch him in the nose.
" You know, I never get tired of this! Talk spike! Now!" Buffy stopped and spike wimpered.
" OK! I did a little tickle tickle with the old bird! So?" He sat on the curb of the street they had been walking on and wiped his bleeding nose.
" Is that true?" Buffy was hurt and sick at the same time.
" Yep. It caused a huge fight with my grandfather. She burnt him up in front of me. But she was always doing that. Any man she could. See, with hybrids, you don't have to summon us. And like kind can feel us from miles away. He felt me. You felt me. The girl in the magic shop definitely felt me. I try to cloak it, but.. Well, sometimes it just comes through. But I'm not dangerous, I swear." Avalon noticed that they were close to the magic shop.
" Are we going in there?" She asked buffy.
" Yeah my friends own it. My watcher used to run it." Buffy replied.
" oh. Maybe I should go. The girl in there doesn't like me." Avalon backed up, and backed into spike. She turned around and looked at him. She could feel how muscled his chest was. Wow, she thought, gramm's had good taste.
" Don't worry love, The big bad's here to protect ya. " Spike replied.
He liked her look. Her smile was magic. And this one didn't seem to want to hurt him. Not like the slayer. Yes, this one would do, for awhile, until buffy came around.
" Spike, what would you protect her from? Evil water? Come on, it'll be fine." Buffy said and she opened the door. The shop was empty except for the scoobies. Willow looked up and was surprised to see buffy with the demon girl.
" Hey buffy. What's up? Who's your friend?" Willow eyed the girl. Anya had went crazy for an hour after the girl left, scared that she would come back and flame Xander.
" This is Avalon. You will all be nice to her. She's ok." Buffy looked at anya.
" So, tell me what are you and how are you." Buffy stretched out on a chair and looked at the girl.
" Well, I'm only a quarter fire demon. It only happens when I'm very angry. I light people on fire and they're soul burns forever. My dad has always tried to bind the demon side, but ya know. It doesn't work. For a long time he thought maybe it missed me. IT was just my mom. She was a half, and she really liked the power. One night, she got mad at daddy and tried to burn him. I got her first and my father banished her." Avalon sat on a cushion and thought for a moment. She had tears running down her cheeks. Spike handed her a tissue.
" So, where did she go?" Anya asked. She came from the teapot with a cup for Avalon. She really wanted the answer to that question.
" She's in Portland. In a sanatarium. The demon part was locked in her head, so she's pretty much comatose. But as long as I avoid burning humans, I'm ok. So I hunt vamps. But don't worry, you're the slayer, and I do not want your job. The only reason I was out there was William. I was waiting for him." Avalon smiled at spike.
" Spike! Are you sure?" Xander was choking on his coffee.
Spike puffed his chest out a bit.
" Ah! A woman with taste." He smiled at her again.
" Ok! Enough of the unholy dating game. So your not here to make trouble?" Buffy was very intent.
" No, my dad's a doctor, we just want to be normal. That's why I need those ice crystals. They keep my fire down to an ember." Avalon looked lost. Buffy felt torn between helping this girl and staking her for wanting spike.
" Well, we can see what we can do to help you. I'll walk you home." Buffy stood but spike intervened.
" I'll take the lady home. Nite all" He said and walked out the door. Avalon stood up.
" Don't worry, we'll be fine. Thank for letting me talk. It's been awhile since I could tell anyone." Good night." Avalon left after spike.
Buffy couldn't believe it. Spike liked that girl. What could she do?
Spike walked next to Avalon for a moment then he took her in his arms.
" Are you gonna scream now? Are you scared pet?" He whispered in her ear.
" If I was, I would light your thighs on fire and show you I'm not to be toyed with." She kissed him. He couldn't believe how bad he wanted her. She was bright, sassy and wanted him back. He told her of his crypt near by and asked if she wanted to go there. She anxiously agreed. She had to know once and for all if he really was the end. If the prophecy was true, she would be free, and maybe, just maybe she could free her mother too.
Spike held the door for her, and she seemed surprised. Now that they were alone, she seemed unsure. Maybe this was a mistake, spike thought. But as he watched her walk around his dwelling, he began to think she was just a little innocent. Maybe this kitten's never caught a mouse, he mused.
Avalon walked over to a chair and tossed her jacket down. She was wearing a see through tee shirt in black and matching black bra. She fluffed her curls, and wandered around the crypt.
" So, do you like living here?" She looked over her shoulder at him with piercing interest.
" Would you like living here? It's a bleeding crypt! Really blondie, you should know better." He sauntered over to the fridge and removed a pouch of blood. He placed it in the microwave. She sat on the chair and smiled at him.
" So, why were you waiting for me?" Spike heard the ding and opened the microwave. He shook the bag and began to drink. She sat across from him not looking disgusted but with no real interest in what he was doing at all.
" I just wanted to see if the rumors are true. I wanted to see if the great William the Bloody was as beautiful as they said he was. And I wanted to see if you were really in love with the slayer." She trained her gaze on him with those dark eyes. He began to choke on his blood.
" What? Who said I'm in love with the slayer? I'll Bloody well spike them!!" He jumped up and started to pace back and forth.
" So it's true. You love her." Avalon stood up and grabbed her coat. She had small tears falling down her cheeks. It was over. She knew that if he really loved the slayer, she was done. There would be no hope for her or her mother. She walked toward the door.
" Where're you going?" Spike noticed that he was raving to an empty chair. He ran to the door and just barely made it there before she did.
" I need to go. There's nothing here for me." He stood in front of her and lifted her face up to meet his gaze.
" I'm here, luv. Will that do?" He held her face in his hands. He felt the softness of her skin. How like fine Chinese silk her cheeks felt. He felt her body heat, and suddenly, he wanted her more than anything. Not just physically, but everything. Everything Buffy would never allow him to have. That warm body next to him, the smile when he woke up, the privilige of watching someone you love sleep. But this one might give him everything he needed and more.
" I really have to go home now. Will you walk me?" She gazed up at him with pure eyes. There was no deceit there, no hints of regret in the morning.
"Of course luv. My pleasure." They left the crypt and began to walk across the cemetery. It was a brisk night, but not real chilly. They walked along the street, just talking to one another. When they came to her house, he noticed that she lived across the street from Buffy. Damn slayer, will you ever be gone from me?
" Well, this is my new home, for now. If I can manage not to fry anyone else." Avalon looked down for a moment. She found a small rock on the ground and began to kick it.
" Looks lovely. Good neighborhood too. During the day. Stay in at night though, there are nasties about." He smiled at her.
" Your one of the nasties, aren't you?" She poked him in the stomach. His body was like chiseled marble, hard, strong and smooth.
" I am. The nastiest! So you better bar your doors, kitten." He wondered if she got his meaning.
" I think your invited in anytime. So long as you don't try to eat me." She began to walk up the stairs. He stood at the bottom, looking up at her.
" I might pet, but you might not mind so much, I'll only nibble. " She opened the door, and with a smile she stepped inside and closed the door. He stood for a long time, watching to see what light s came on, which room was hers. He could smell her scent still lingering on his coat.
Avalon shut the door behind her and looked at all the boxes littered around the house. She hated the smell of cardboard. It was always the same, they moved and she unpacked. She went to school, and she unpacked. She was really tired of unpacking.
" So, is it him?" Her father came around the corner from the kitchen. She jumped back and glared at him.
" Damn Dad, you scared the daylights out of me! You know better than to do that! I could have roasted you!" She instantly regretted what she said. Her father's hurt eyes said it all.
" Is it him? Is he really William the Bloody? Tell me the truth." The man looked old all of the sudden. Like he began to age in the moments since she walked in the door.
" Yes he is. And dad, he's, well wonderful. Gramm's was right. He is the doorway to my salvation. And daddy, he really is sweet. There may be something there." She smiled and twisted a lock of her hair.
" Avalon, Be careful. You only have journals to go on, and you could end up like your mother.. Please, I can't do that again! I can't lose my baby and my wife!" Her father threw down the towel he was holding and buried his face in his hands. Tears ran freely this time, because he could no longer control his emotions. Avalon went to her father as he slid down the wall to the floor. She put her arms around him.
" Daddy, I'll be fine, and in the end, everything will work out just fine. You'll see. Trust me. Now, let's get some sleep. I'm too tired for words. " She smiled and began to walk up the stairs. Her father stopped her halfway up.
" Avalon? "
" Yes daddy?"
" Nite sweetie. I love you." He said softly.
" I love you too." She smiled.
She went into her new room, and sat on the bed. What a day it had been! She was so tired! She pulled back the covers, took off her clothes and crawled into bed. She drifted into sleep thinking of William and his beautiful smile.