In the empty field the dust under the tree started moving with a purpose of it's own coming together in a small fog. The fog rematerialized as it reformed into the lord of darkness himself as Dracula. Dracula took a calming breath until he could look around. Once he was certain no one was around he fell to the floor holding his face and screaming in pain. What the hell was that?


Clark woke up the next day and not to his surprise alone… again. He walked down and was surprised to find Faith at the table. "You know I got Claire indoors right. Got the burnt up sleeve as proof."

Faith nodded. "How'd you know I was in trouble anyway?"

Clark went for the fridge. "I heard you scream when the guy bit you I'm guessing from the look of your arm."

"Well, nice to know if I ever need your attention all I have to do is get killed." Faith quipped dryly.

Clark looked at her. "That's not funny."

Faith shook her head. "Not trying to be, just trying to figure out where you are right now."

Clark looked around not sure what she's getting at. "I'm home did you hit your head last night?"

Faith gave him a look usually saved for vampires. "Yeah, go save a cat or something."

Clark watched her leave and moved in superspeed cutting her off at the backdoor. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Faith looked at him. "You're never here anymore. Hell with the exception of a group thing once in a while we never see you. You're always running around all day all night."

Clark looked at her. "Not like I have much waiting for me at night do I?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" The slayer asked.

Clark shook his head. "Forget I said anything."

Faith cut him off. "No, what are you talking about?"

"You're never there." Clark replied. "You're more obsessed with your nightlife."

"Let me remind you Twinkie I'm a slayer, I patrol." Faith replied.

Clark shook his head. "It's more then that. Faith I'm not going to sit here and act like it's not. You're always out sometimes all night. Just talk to me Faith."

Faith shook her head. "We're late!"

Clark nodded and just followed her out the door.


Faith looked at the magical place that has her paycheck. She walked into the magic box and sat down next to Claire. "So what we miss?"

Claire shook her head wanting to kill something. Anything but this OMG show. "Not a damn thing. The way Buffy's talking you'd think she fought a vampire Bill Murray last night."

Faith looked at the young redhead well that's progress. "Since when do you know Bill Murray?"

Claire acted like she was paying attention but replied to Faith. "Xander showed me Ghostbusters the first one was good. Second one well… it was the same movie with half the heart. Still was a good movie though."

Clark turned to Giles. "So who's Buffy talking about?"

Giles looked at the alien. Really could have used his help last night. "We believe, she was attacked by Count Dracula last night if you believe…"

"He's real." Faith cut him off. "I fought him last night. Had Clark take Claire home in case his brides were in town."

Giles looked at her. "Did you slay him?"

Faith held up her taped up arm. "What do you think? Luckily however, Clark did."

Clark turned to the group. "Hit him a bunch of times at superspeed and punched him into a tree. He dusted like everyone else."

Xander smiled. "All hail the conquering hero. When were you going to tell us?"

Clark shrugged. "I stopped a vampire it's a common occurrence in Sunnydale."

Faith looked around trying to see any reason they should be here besides B's gushing. "So is there a reason we're still here? I mean the big vampire of the night is dead so the end right?"

"Yeah, I think we're good." Giles replied.

Faith simply got out of her seat and left.

Cordy glared at the door. "Did she seriously just leave me with all the work today?" Clark moved in a blur and a day of sorting was taken care of in all of ten seconds. "Thank you."

Clark nodded and went out the door at a human's pace.

Cordy turned to Giles. "What's eating them?"

Giles gave an honest shrug. He figured this would blow up at some point he just hoped it would happen over the summer and not in the middle of something like right now!


That night Clark was out on patrol in the end of Los Angeles maybe he should check in with Angel. Not like Faith will be waiting for him at home. Clark heard a ping on his phone and opened it to see a text from Chloe. "Need to see you urgent."

Clark ran in a blur to Chloe's instant dismay as her research was scattered to the winds. He looked and saw books and her laptop with a full history of Dracula. "Whoa, tech watcher"

Chloe worked quickly gathering a couple strays. "Doors Clark there's a rule about doors!"

"You said it was urgent." Clark countered.

Chloe sighed. "Yeah, I did. So main thing. I don't think Dracula is dead."

"What!"


Xander was walking down the block bag in hand. Cordy wanted Aspirin so he got Aspirin against her wishes. Xander turned the corner and walked right into the dark stare of Dracula. Damn you Murphy.


Clark looked at her. "I impaled him on a tree. I saw him dust. How could he be alive?"

"He has the power of transmogrification he can hold the dust together and reform into a person. I think it's how he turns into a wolf and bats too." Chloe explained.

Xander looked at Dracula practically jumping out of his skin but finds his voice as a five year hellmouth veteran after all. "Great. Perfect… Know what? You're not so big. One round of old fashioned fisticuffs, and I bet you'd fold like a bitty baby…" He puts his fists up ready to 'headbutt' the Count's hands and feet. "Okay. Lets do it. No poofing." Xander he starts moving around ready for a fight. "Come on, Puffy Shirt. Pucker on up, 'cause you can kiss your pale ass good…"


Clark rolled his eyes he has to find him again and figure something out that will stop him or kill him. He might be trying out Jor El's newest gadget. "What else can Dracula do?"

"Supposedly he has hypnosis." Chloe replied.


Dracula looked at Xander with a deadly stare demanding his respect. "Silence."

Xander weakly replied. "Yes, Master." Xander looked appalled. That's the last thing he meant to say. Hell Cordy called him a 'fangist' over the summer. "No! That's not-"

Dracula held a hand out and Xander fell silent like a loyal little lapdog as the Count ordered.. "You will be my emissary. My eyes and ears in daylight… The slayer. I want to know everything."

From that point on, Xander grew more captivated as he helplessly Fell deeper and deeper into Dracula's thrall going fully butler like the guy from the movie. "Your emissary…"

Dracula just nodded and kept him a level stare. "Serve me well and you'll be rewarded. I'll make you an immortal. A child of darkness, feeding on life itself, on blood…"

Xander smiled growing excited. "Blood. Yes, yes… I will serve you, your excellent spookiness." He looked at Dracula's death glare. "Or Master. I'll just stick with Master."

Dracula stared at him maybe he should just turn the redhead that was with them the other night. "Go now."

Xander looked at him. "But master… um,not to question your greatness… that is great… but… um."

Dracula looked at him. "Speak your piece servant."

Xander nodded. "What slayer am I following there's three now… actually four but I don't know where the other one is."

Dracula nodded. "Two of them are abominations, and I do not wish to provoke another fight with the sun god. Keep me informed of Ms. Summers. Now go."

Xander eagerly starts off into the darkness. Then he turns back. "But, Master, how can I find?" He stopped. Dracula is gone. Xander takes this in appreciatively. "Brilliant. What an exit. Guy's a genius." Xander started to Giggle maniacally. He's on the train to crazy town.


Chloe looked at the screen. "Clark, if Dracula can do all this stuff can you even kill him?"

Clark looked at it and saw the pictures of Dracula turning into smoke. "I don't know. Maybe fire, If this stuff is true even then I'm not sure. If I could fly I'd just take him into the sun."

Chloe shook her head in a disbelieving smirk. "How is it that the one power I've seen you use before you showed your alien side is the one you don't know!?"

"Because my so loving father my way or brainwashing." Clark replied. "It would be nice to know if he actually can do all this or whether or not I actually killed him."

Chloe nodded. "I'll talk to Spike tomorrow see if he knows anything."

Clark looked at her. "Since when are you and Spike so close?"

Chloe looked at him. "Over the summer… I just he's immortal. And there's a good chance with how I heal it will stop me from aging so…"

Clark frowned. "Why didn't you come to me?"

Chloe looked at him oh joy this should be fun. "You… you haven't exactly been easy to get to. Look why don't you stop by tomorrow at sundown and we'll go see Spike OK."

"Sure" Clark replied as he rolled his eyes hearing the familiar sound. "I gotta go."

"Stop!" Chloe covered up all the books. "Go!"

Clark disappeared in a blur.


Buffy's sleeping soundly when the wind picked up outside her room… A mist formed at the window, then seeped through the crack and moved on its own across the floor to Buffy's bed.

Buffy sensed the intrusion. She immediately sat up ready for a fight when she sees Dracula at her bed, looking down at her. She's about to strike out when he holds a finger to his mouth. She remained silent despite wanting to quip. She can only submit to his lingering gaze… He looks at her for a long beat, then, finally. "You're magnificent."

Buffy fought to speak, determined to not get eye whammied again. "Bet you say that before you bite all the girls."

Dracula shook his head. "No. You're different. Kindred."

Buffy kept her focus. "Kindred? Hardly, I…"

"Pull your hair back." Dracula ordered cutting her off.

To her consternation, Buffy obeyed his command, and bared her neck to him… Still, she protested weakly. "Ha. You really think you can just waft in here with your hypno eyes and you music video wind and… and…"

She faltered as he moved to the bed and sits near her. Dracula looked at her intrigued by her… "I've searched the world over for you. Yearned for you…"

She shuddered as he ran his fingers along the curve of her throat. Then he stops, intrigued by the scar that Angel left when he bit her.

Buffy still felt the scar. "He was…"

"Unworthy." Dracula finished. "He let you go."

He moved closer. Buffy struggled, but he's too strong for her as he continued. "But the embrace. His bite… you remember…"

Buffy shook her head. "No…"

Dracula gently caressed her neck. "Don't fight… I can feel your hunger."

In this moment, Buffy is locked in his orbit. She can't deny it. And he bent to her, sinking his fangs deep into her neck. Buffy gives into it, gasping…


The next day Clark walked into the magic shop followed by Chloe. Faith slept in her own room after coming home at 5 in the morning. So they've broken down to the avoidance game.

Clark easily caught the scoobies in alert mode. "What's going on?"

"Dracula is still alive." Faith replied.

Clark sighed as he sat down. "Do we have anything?"

Willow nodded. "Yeah, all kinds of Dracula factoids."

Xander shook his head jelly donut in hand. "Yeah, Like any of that's enough to fight the Dark Master…" He saw the entire room looking at him in confusion. "bator."

Cordy looked at him. "You feeling alright that was weak even for you Doofus?"

Xander held up his doughnut. "I'm not sugar rushed yet."

Willow continued. "A lot of it we already knew… Turn offs: wood, fire, crosses, garlic. Turn ons: nice duds, minions, palaces, and long slow bites that last for days…"

Clark sighed. "I think we can cross wood off that list."

Faith looked to Clark. "You think you can freeze him and just chuck him to the north pole?"

Clark shook his head. "No guarantee he won't be able to mist out of the ice."

Faith went to snap her fingers as a joke but remembered she's mad at him so didn't.

Claire looked up. "Well what if me and Clark just turn the whole ground he's standing on into a plate of glass?"

Giles shook his head. "He could fly away."

Cordy shook her head. "At this point I'm wondering if it's time to brush off the rocket launcher."

Giles cleared his throat getting everyone's attention back. "I think it wise we start with the more luxurious places at least find him first. Sunlight might be our best chance. Don't you think Buffy?"

Buffy remained oblivious now concerned that every plan the scoobies offered were shut down.

Clark looked at her clearly for the first time and realized. Who in California wears a scarf on a sunny day like this. He quickly got his answer when he X-rayed her. "He bit you."

Buffy held her neck. "What gave you the right to do that?"

Clark looked at her. "It's the first time I saw a scarf in two years. If I was paying closer attention it would have been a dead giveaway."

Buffy glared at the alien. "What gave you the right to violate my privacy like that?"

"It's not like I haven't seen more Buffy." Clark countered.

Buffy looked at him. "You had no right no right to…."

Clark quickly slapped the table in frustration not a good mix as the table snaps in two as the whole gang got up to avoid the crash.

Cordy looked at it upset. "Damn it Clark, you owe us a table."

Clark never took his eyes off Buffy except to look at Faith for a moment before turning back to Buffy. "What is going on with the two of you? Faith's out all night patrolling are you doing it too? You don't ask for help and your ego is going to get you in trouble. So please just tell me what is going on with the two of you?"

Buffy kept her stare. "We don't need help it's what we do. If Mars Attacks I'll call you."

Giles looked at her concerned. He's been so busy acclimating and giving Claire a home he took his eyes off Buffy and Faith. "Buffy?"

Buffy turned to Giles and seeing his look of concern her anger stems almost immediately showing the first signs of breaking Dracula's hold on her. "Oh god!" She removed the scarf showing the two holes.

Giles looked at her. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Xander tries to play it down, offering- "'Cause she didn't want to worry us, right Buffster? It's nothing. Just a scratch…

Willow shook her head she's not buying it. "Two deep, puncture-y scratches."

Buffy looked at the group. "I'm not sure why I tried to hide it. I guess I was embarrassed that I let him do this to me… And, I don't know, I couldn't fight this voice telling me to cover it."

Clark looked at him concerned. "How did he even get in?" The scoobies turned. "I mean even with all he can do the marks Buffy's neck shows he's still a vampire."

Buffy's eyes widened as the realization kicked in. "Oh god, mom!"

Willow put her hands up. "Don't worry about your mom Buffy. Me and Tara can handle the de-invitation spell."

Faith got out of her seat. "In the meanwhile I think it best to take Buffy somewhere Dracula doesn't know."

"My place." Xander offered. "Me and Cordy can protect Buffy from the dark prince…" He see the return of the confused looks. "-bator."

Faith looked at him stumped. "Take Claire maybe we can surprise him with a human flamethrower."

Xander looked at her. "Well she's kinda young and hot headed."

Claire glared at him. "Hey when you were my age Cordy said you nearly lost your big head and little head to a praying mantis. I can handle myself thank you."

Giles turned to the former cheerleader. Cordy can only reply with. "In my defense… Faith started that and I might have inadvertently made it worse."

Faith looked at everyone. "I'll patrol since Dracula just seems to want me for a punching bag."

Clark looked at her. "Me and Chloe are going to stop by Spike's I doubt a vampire as powerful as Dracula can make an entrance and not be known by other vampires."

The scoobies broke off each with a purpose.


Clark and Faith walked into their house and started up the steps. Clark looked at her. "Good luck tonight, just shout if you need anything."

"Yeah, you too." Faith replied before they went in other directions.

Martha and Jonathan watched the scene play out for a moment. Before long they were upstairs as well. Martha heading for Faith's room Jonathan heading for Clark's so they can have one long overdue chat.


Faith got dressed for tonight back in the trenches again. She hears a knock on the door. "It's open but I'm getting changed if it's Jonathan."

Martha opened the door. "It's just me?"

"Oh, what's up?" Faith asked.

"Are you OK?" Martha asked.

"I'm fine." Faith assured her.

Martha kept her eyes on her full of concern only a parent can manage. "Really?"

"Yes." Faith answered and even she knew that was a load of crap. "No…" She answered more hesitantly. "Maybe… I don't know." She finally decided taking a seat on the bed.

Martha sat down next to her. "You know I'm here if you need to talk right."

Faith looked at her. "I know it's just last year I found out that Clark's douchbag dad was using me as a timeshare. I just… I just wanted something that was mine seeing Clark reach out for more. I fell into patrolling."

"So that's where you are so late at night?" Martha asked.

Faith looked at her. "Wait you knew?"

Martha looked at her. "Faith I consider you one of my own of course I knew. You're just not seventeen anymore."

Faith nodded. "Is that your way of saying I'm grown up now?"

Martha thought it over herself she honestly wished she had met Faith sooner but yeah. "Faith you and Clark you're not teenagers new in love there's always going to be challenges."

Faith nodded on her bed. "I know, it's just I know Clark's destiny is going to be greater then probably the whole gang's put together. I just worry about him and when I'm out it lets me focus on something else."

Martha looked at her. "Clark can take a beating."

Faith shook her head. "Not it's not that… it's just crappy Faith logic."

Martha shook her head. "You have a good head on your shoulders Faith despite what you tell yourself."

Faith nodded. "I'm worried about Clark Kent. Lately it just seems like he's turned into Jor El's personal kryptonian warrior. He's never around and I know what he does is important… I know but he can't be that thing 24/7 even I need a break from slaying every now and again."

Martha looked at her. "You're concerned he's being swallowed whole by his new activites."

Faith nodded. "No job, no school, it's not exactly like there's much Clark Kent does now."

Martha nodded in understanding. "I think you two need to talk to each other."

Faith shook her head. "Tried that already didn't end well. It's just last night…"

"What happened last night?" Martha asked.

Faith got out of her seat. "It's nothing. I have to go out and patrol I might want to talk later tonight. I have to try to find and kill the latest version of Dracula."

Martha nodded. "Be sure to call Clark for help if you need it even if you're upset with him."

"Will do." Faith assure her on the way out.


As that conversation was happening,

Clark heard a knock on the door. "It's open." He sees Jonathan. "Hey dad, what's up?"

Jonathan looked at him. "Well I was concerned. We don't see you at home all that much lately."

Clark nodded. "Yeah I've been keeping busy."

Joanthan looked at his son. "Is something troubling you?"

Clark looked at him for a moment before weakly replying. "Yeah, it's about Faith."

Jonathan nodded in understanding. "You mean her late nights."

Clark looked at him for a brief moment before deciding no, he's not surprised he knows. "She's always out patrolling anymore. And I know that her work is important I just the look in her eyes makes me feel that it's more then patrolling."

"What do you mean?" Jonathan asked.

"I don't know." Clark replied. "And something happened to her last night. She won't tell me and it's driving me crazy that she's keeping a secret. And yes I know how hypocritical that sounds."

Jonathan looked at Clark for a moment welcome to his life. Guess the kids really are growing up. "Well to be fair to her. You're not the only that's been constantly waking up to an empty bed this summer."

"You mean how I've been spending my nights." Clark asked.

Jonathan nodded. "Clark on the farm I always knew a day would come when me and your mother would have to let you go for the rest of the world. But at the same time I always wanted you to keep your grades up. Do you know why?"

Clark looked at him. "F's get you kicked out A's get unwanted attention?"

Jonathan shook his head. "No I wanted you to keep your grades up. I have no doubt with your powers as Kal El that you are going to change everything son, but that doesn't mean I want Clark Kent to have a full life as well."

Clark looked at his father pondering his words as his phone went off. He looked at the message and said. "I have to meet up with Chloe."

Jonathan watched him about to leave but asked. "Clark there's another question I need to know."

Clark nodded. "I know just ask me after we deal with Dracula OK."

Jonathan turned to him intrigued. "Dracula like Nosferatu? I though Faith staked him last year."

Clark rolled his eyes. "So many vampires have used that name even Claire has killed one. We think this one is the real deal though so can I answer that question later?"

"Sure." Jonathan replied.


Clark exited his room and came downstairs only to run into Faith.

Faith looked at him and knew they needed to talk but nor right now. B is a potential groupie and while she's savoring the irony in that she also has a job to do. She'll scream this time she's not dying to Dracula she's the slayer it's what she does.

Clark looked at Faith every ounce of him wants to clear the air right now but with Buffy under the thrall he knows they both have work to do. "Call me if you need help."

"Uh huh."

They both head out on separate paths but with the same goal. Find the lord of the vampires and end him once and for all.


Author Notes

Thanks for the reviews follows and favorites

This was supposed to go up along time ago but my tech was decimated because verizon messed with the outside wiring which meant cutting off my phone, internet, and TV. Then thanksgiving then Black Friday, then getting ready for Christmas, and seeing it was December making a United we Stand Christmas fic, Christmas shopping.

Up Next: Hopefully the end of the long awaited return.