Chapter Twenty

Kakistos looked out at the humans of this small town with disdain. For all its advantages, he did not like the modern world. He longed for the simplicity of times long past, where he could indulge in the pleasure of his victims screams as he tortured, raped, and pillaged. Humans had grown too prolific to risk the size of the inevitable mob that occurred each time he truly indulged himself. That was the true reason why he wished for the return of the Old Ones.

He had fought Heinrich Nest for control of this Hellmouth long ago but, although Nest had been younger than he, his rival had made wise choices when it came to his Childer. He had been forced to 'lay low' for nearly five decades to recover and rebuild his powerbase. He would have taken Sunnydale when he had been informed of Nest's entrapment, but he had been told to opening the Hellmouth would not only free Nest, but also grant him Ascension. That simply would not do until he was powerful enough himself to face the other vampire.

Hmm, he thought as he looked at town, it looks as if that little worm Wilkins has fulfilled his end of his bargain with Nest. I wonder what has become of him. If he is still around, he could prove useful. He made a mental note to have Trick look into it.

He had rejoiced when he'd learned of Nest's demise at the hands of the Slayer. He would have returned to the Hellmouth then but for situation that he had found himself in at the time, and by the time he had managed to return to the Colonies, he found himself dealing with his past in a way that he had never expected.

It had been the mad vampire seer Drusilla that had informed him of the source of his obsession to destroy the young Slayer, Faith. The spirit of the Slayer that he and his Maenads had tortured and killed had been granted a dying wish by the Vengeance Demon that had once been her daughter, who had been tortured to insanity, also at the hands of his mad servants.

By the time the Slayer had discovered the truth and purged the vengeful spirit, she had already scarred him, and earned his eternal wrath. He would not stop until he was drinking the blood of her still beating heart. Now she has come here, to the one placed he most wanted to be, and he could finally achieve both of his goals.

"We're here, my Lord." The driver informed, glancing back over his shoulder after pulling over to the curb since he couldn't see the vampire in the mirror.

"Go inside and bring Trick to me." The ancient Master ordered.

"Yes, my Lord."

~~~ BtVS ~~ AU ~~ BtVS ~~~

Buffy smiled at the collection of people in the den. Callista, Mala and Diana were on the couch talking about children, while Willow, Sera and Tara were, oddly enough, talking about parents. Buffy almost laughed as she listened to the almost parallel conversations.

It had been a great day. Mala, Sera and Callista had caught up on what they'd each been doing while they'd been apart. Diana had thoroughly tested and examined Willow's magick skills and potential.

Best of all, Buffy had gotten to know Tara. Buffy had shown her around town and they had talked until it was nearly the end of the school day, then they made their way to the high school where they waited for Sera and Willow.

'We should locate her sire and eviscerate him.' Lillith said.

'As tempting as that sounds, we can't leave until we take care of Tacky Kaky.' Buffy told her.

Tara had told Buffy about her life before she and her mother had found the Na'Gash community. They had been both physically and mentally abused until Diana had discovered her husband viciously beating her eight year old daughter after he'd been called by one of his friends who had seen her practicing her growing magic.

Knowing that they wouldn't get any help in the small town where her husband was both well known and well liked, Diana had knocked her husband out with her stepson's baseball bat and taken Tara and run as far and as fast as she could. She had taken the first ride that had stopped. The woman had taken one look at the mother and daughter, and taken them straight to her Matriarch.

Buffy let her eyes roam of the luscious curves of the white witch. A wicked smile curved her lips. She couldn't wait to get her hands on those curves. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to happen tonight. Her mother was expecting them for dinner, and the Maclays had agreed to join them. She had already informed the newcomers that her mother did not know the exact nature of her demon or her relationship with Sera, so they knew to carefully watch what they said.

"Is everyone ready to go?" She asked, drawing their collective attention.

Sera immediately crossed the room to throw her arms around Buffy's neck and kiss her. Buffy grinned as she wrapped her arms around her slender waist. She went over to where the other two girls were standing and wrapped an arm around Willow's waist as well, smiling slyly when Willow blushed. She turned with her girls and nodded to Callista and Mala, indicating her readiness to be off. She held Sera back as the others passed them, her eyes fixed on the blonde and the redhead walking close together. "What do you think of those two, my Pet?"

"There is something between them, Mistress." Sera answered as they followed the group. They found Mala waiting just outside the room to walk with them. "They connected instantly. I cannot see such things as well as Callista or Mother, but if I had to make an assumption, then I would have to say that their coming together is inevitable."

"Then it is a good thing that I want her, isn't it?" Buffy smirked.

"And if they wish to only be with one another?" Mala asked curiously. "Humans have odd ideas of singular relationships."

'Take them both anyway.' Was Lillith's immediate response.

'No, I will not keep anyone against their will.' Buffy said firmly. "If I cannot convince them otherwise, then I will release Willow. You forget, Mala, that I used to be human myself. I know that sometimes humans need monogamous relationships. Somehow though, I don't think that will be the case here."

The group split up at the garage, half in Callista's car and the other half in Sera's. As they rode, Buffy turned to look at the Matriarch of the Na'Gash. "I was wondering. How do you guys make your money? I seriously doubt that staying at the Bellagio was cheap, even with a group rate."

Mala smiled. "We make adult toys, for both humans and demons. It is a very profitable business, despite the strange notions humans have regarding sexual proclivities."

"Really?" Buffy's eyes lit up with interest. "Do you have stores or is it done online? Do you make the toys yourselves, or outsource?"

"It is mostly online, although our items can be purchased in most retail adult stores. Items that are sold retail are mass-produced in a factory owned by the clan, but employed with only humans, but we make the special-orders ourselves." Mala explained. "One particular group within the clan runs an exclusive escort service. Very expensive and by referral only. Our clan also owns several sex clubs and numerous nightclubs, for both humans and demons and even a few that allow both to co-mingle, which cater to the more 'extreme' appetites. They are all yours now."

"Huh?" Buffy's eyes went wide. "Mine?"

"Of course. You are our Mistress. All that we are and all that we have, is yours. Other clans own other businesses, which will more than likely also be signed over to you when the Matriarchs of each clan takes your Mark."

"Well, I don't want or need them." Buffy's incredulous look turned thoughtful. "I'll have to think of something. When we get to the house, we'll get together after dinner and talk. Maybe Willow or my mother will have an idea, as long as we don't tell them exactly what types of businesses these are."

Buffy was quiet the rest of the trip as she thought about this new situation she found herself in. How was she going to deal with having multiple businesses?

'I would think the more interesting concern would be how you are going to tell the Slayer that her enemy has arrived.'