050 Robot

Vida came in from keeping watch, rubbing her hands together. "Whoof. It's cold this morning."

Chip offered her a bowl. "Saved you some."

"Thanks." She sat between him and Clare, hunching forward towards the fire.

Xander stirred, rolling towards them and flinging one arm over his eyes. "What time is it?" he asked softly.

"Little before dawn."

"Vee?" He raised the arm, eyeing her. "You're early."

"Leelee and Necrolai are doing something down the block. Just came in to warn you guys and get warm before I go after them."

"What're they doing?" He rolled to his feet, glancing at Nick and Maddie to make sure they were still asleep before joining the others at the fire.

"I don't know, but there was a bunch of people with them."

"I'll come with." He took a spoonful of her breakfast over her shoulder, grinning at her outrage. "Come on."

***

Necrolai and the others had moved another two blocks down, and Xander and Vida were able to get relatively close undetected. Leelee was slouched against a wall, looking utterly bored despite the slightly desperate attempts of her entourage.

"There." Vida pointed to three people standing apart from the others.

"She's turning people," Xander murmured. The three were pale and sickly looking, and though they weren't moving they were looking increasingly afraid as the sun inched higher. "Making vampires."

"God." Vida shuddered. "That's horrible."

"We should go," he said suddenly.

"Why?"

"Because the sun's coming up and they're not moving."

"The…" Vida flinched, understanding falling into place. "She's going to kill them."

"Yeah. Come on. We need to go look for Toby…people need to know she's doing this."

Vida followed him back towards the school, but at the end of the block she hesitated, looking back. Leelee glanced up, catching sight of them just as the sun rose over the surrounding buildings.

Xander caught her shoulders, trying to pull her away from the sight. Vida resisted for a moment, watching Leelee, until he yanked her forcibly around the corner. "Come on!"

At the school he quietly explained to Nick and Chip, sending them out together to look for Toby. Once they were gone he turned on Vida. "What was that?"

"Leelee. I don't think she…she wasn't enjoying that, Xander. I don't think she's like them."

"She's Necrolai's daughter," Clare said tentatively. "Her father was human, but she's not. No one knows what side she's on."

"She's on Necrolai's side," Xander said impatiently. "You've seen her with her boy toys. She just let her mom kill them, for god's sake. Now get some rest, Vee, you were up all night. I'm going out to warn people."

"You want me to go to sleep while you're all gone? I don't think so. I'll go back on watch, get some rest when you come back."

"Feed her," Xander told Clare, turning away.

Vida looked back at Clare, who smiled weakly. "What would you like?"