Chapter 10

…Love in Vein…

The small group of hunters waited around Nicholas Hollister's gravestone in increasing impatience.

Eventually, the young man clawed out of the fresh grave and a new vampire finally stood for the first time in the night. He growled as he sensed the presence of humans and turned. He smiled in a deceptive manner as he took in the dark clad young people.

"That's right," Cordelia said with her hands on her hips. "Three for the price of one."

The witch and the young man with her moved back to give her some room.

As drool slid down the corner of his mouth, the vampire took two steps toward the May Queen.

She blurred to stand behind him and gave him a powerful side kick that sent him into the headstone of his grave.

The vampire roared then tackled her.

Oz jumped into the fray and pulled the creature back by the collar of his letter-man jacket while the X5 kipped up into a fighting stance.

The vampire stood momentarily stunned and glared at the two in confusion. Food was not supposed to fight.

"That's right," Cordelia smiled seductively as she pushed the dark hair off her shoulder and exposed her neck.

The vampire snarled menacingly and rushed her.

"Come and get some," she said as she clothes lined him and the creature that used to be Nicholas Hollister flipped end over end to land painfully on the ground.

Amy rushed in under the pair's watchful eye and staked the vampire into ash.

"Well," Giles said as he cleaned his glasses, "you all work very well as a team."

"Thanks, Mr. Giles," Amy said as she sat next to Cordelia.

"Hey, Cordy?" Xander's voice penetrated the silence, "Its all clear over here at Number 4."

"All clear here," the transgenic responded into her own walkie talkie as she got to her feet.

"Any luck finding Buffy?" the brunette asked as she eyed the Immortal curiously.

"I have a few leads I'm working on," the older man said as they began to walk toward the meeting point.

"You'd think that she'd at least get in touch with you, Willow or Xander," Oz said quietly as he kept an eye on Amy, making sure she did not stumble.

Giles shrugged, "I have no earthly idea as to why she would isolate herself from her friends." As an afterthought he continued, "Actually I do understand why she would do this."

Instantly, the watcher sensed the presence of another Immortal and looked over to the rendezvous point.

"Is there a story that we don't know about, G-man?" Xander asked as he came to them from the other direction with his group.

"I've asked you not to call me that infernal name," he said sternly.

The young man smirked, self-satisfied, "And you'll have to ask a thousand more times before I even think about not using it."

Everyone else, even Methos, laughed at the Watcher as he cleaned his glasses in consternation.

"How did your patrol go, Xander?" Cordelia asked as she noticed the bruise on his cheek that would fade in a day."

"Asshole was on the Gym Team," the transgenic said with a frown as he caressed the bruise on his cheek.

Willow, none the worse for wear, ran up to her boyfriend and hugged him.

"Are you alright?" he asked into her hair.

"I'm fine," she whispered as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Are you alright, Xander?" Giles asked as he eyed the young man in deep concern.

"I'm always alright," he said with a half smile.

Adam rolled his eyes as he moved to stand next to the other Immortal, "Did you want to use some of my contacts with the Watchers?"

"The Society of Wankers cannot help in finding a Council Slayer," Giles said to the ancient, voice full of annoyance. "Not that it's a rule or anything, but I don't want them anywhere near my Slayer."

Xander shared a meaningful look with Jonathon then turned to Willow, "I have one question, 'Come and get it, Big Boy'?"

Oz's turned a curious gaze on his girlfriend.

Willow blushed as everyone's attention turned to her, "Well… Buffy always says something witty to throw the vamps." She shrugged, "I thought I'd try it."

Xander grimaced as he looked at her and shook his head. "Not a good idea, Wils."

Cordelia turned away so that the others would not see her smile.

"School starts next week," Amy said as she sat on a bench nearby.

"Do we have to?" Jonathon frowned as he thought of what would happen when they went back to school. 'Would they all still be friends?' he wondered.

As if the transgenic had read his mind, Xander clapped a hand on his shoulder. "We're not the Breakfast Club," he said with a smirk.

"Course not," his girlfriend said as she turned back to the others with a friendly smile. "We're like… brothers and sisters."

The tall, dark haired young man looked over at her as he scratched the back of his head. "You're nuts, Cordy," he said with a totally Alec expression on his face.

"Shut up," she snapped, "You feel the same way."

He smiled then shrugged, "Yeah, you're right."

"Are we going out tonight?" Jonathon asked to change the subject.

"I'm out," Xander said as he checked his watch. "I've got a… thing."