**********
I watched Buffy dance with yet another brain-dead moron, the fifth so far tonight. I still hadn't quite decided on the proper approach to her yet. Then I got just the break I needed when the song was over and the song ended. I headed to the dance floor to ask for a dance when the guy she had been dancing with started leading her to the back. I followed quickly through the crowd as they went through the doorway.
By now I was close enough to catch their scents.
Buffy's: Her perfume, rosemary and her underlying scent that I knew as well as Faith's.
And His: Cologne and under that blood and death.
I grinned. This might work out perfectly. People tend to be a bit disoriented after a vampire attack. That and grateful to their rescuer, too. I followed them out the back as he led her down the alleyway. I could smell her confusion with a stirring of fear when he guided her farther back into the alleyway. Stalking behind them and shifting from shadow to shadow, I kept close to interupt when he revealed himself.
"Why are we going back here? I thought you were going to walk me home?" Buffy's frightened voice rang out. Now I felt the first stirrings of the beast within her stirring.
"Of course, I am," he replied while looking around. I crouched down behind one of the trash bins nearby. "My home."
"No, let me go. I'll scream," she cried out.
"Go ahead. I like it when they scream," came his reply.
I heard her shocked gasp and stood. The vamp was in his game face backing her into the wall. She was frantically searching her purse for something.
"Enough," I called out as I stepped from the shadows. "Let her go."
"Oh, good. More food," he sneered as he shoved Buffy against the wall.
I growled and charged. His fist tried to meet me when I got there, but I dodged to the outside. A strike to the side of his neck, a knee to the gut, and then a powerful haymaker uppercut sent him flying. I drew one of my stakes as I walked to where he lay stunned. A quick glance at Buffy from the corner of my eye told me she was watching when I plunged the stake down.
Buffy seemed surprised but not overwhelmingly. Maybe she isn't as clueless as those she hangs with. Good, I can use that.
I walked over to her. "You alright?"
I could smell her curiosity as well as her dissipating fear when she muttered, "Fine." Her Beast was also dormant again. Damn.
"Come on, let's get outta here," I said motioning to the entranceway of the alley with my arm.
She nodded and meekly followed me down the alleyway. Once out I looked down at her. I have to do this just right or I'll lose her. I need her trusting, so I can get what I need from her. So...
"Which way to your house?" I asked knowing the answer.
She gestured in the general direction of her house and I walked with her matching her pace. Slowly, I could see and smell the changes in her manner as we walked. Buffy regained her confidence and strength, but kept her curiosity as she was making side glances at me. Each time she seemed ready to ask a question but unwilling to take it further.
"Ask me whatever you like. I don't mind," I said looking at her face.
"Um... yeah, sure. Ahh.. that... that was a vampire, right?"
I gently smiled at her, well, gently for me anyway. "Yeah, you should be careful who you go off with around here." Like me.
"Thank you, I mean.. you know... for saving me."
"I was glad to help," I replied before remembering something. I searched my pockets for a moment. "Here," I said pulling out the extra cross I had grabbed for her. It was a simple silver cross on a chain. "This should help next time."
"It's beautiful. Thank you," she said as she put it on.
"Glad you like it," I said. A couple more hooks and she'll be mine. "So where are we going? We should...." I trail off when a scent catches my attention. Looking around for the source, I spot a group of figures coming out of the shadows. The one in the lead caught my attention though when they spoke.
"Find someone new to play with, Xander?"
"Always looking for a new playmate. I see you brought yours too, Darla," I sneered at her. This could be a good thing, I thought. If Buffy's Beast reacts to danger, what better way to bring it out than in a good, old-fashioned brawl.
"I told you before I would make you pay for burning me. I just had to wait for the right moment."
I smirked wider at that thought. "Well, what are you waiting for," I remarked pulling out a pair of stakes. One I handed to Buffy. "Aim for the heart. Use the cross to keep them back." No sense leaving her unprepared. I wanted her threatened, not dead.
Without another warning five attacked me and the other two attacked Buffy. Her scream announced the start of the fight as I grabbed another stake and charged my group, tackling the three in the middle. Two swift strikes later, I was rolling away from the remaining dazed vamp. The other two were surprised I moved so quickly and were unprepared when I jumped up and staked the right one. His partner's dusting brought him out of his stupor and he charged. A front snap kick to the jaw stunned him and a stake finished him. My last deadhead was just getting up, right in time to recieve a stake to the heart.
My group down I had a chance to look over at Buffy to see how she was doing. She surprisingly had one already dusted and was holding the other back with the cross looking for an opening to stake him. I was going to help her when I felt her Beast raging closer to the surface. I was going to settle back and watch when I caught Darla coming from the corner of my eye. Turning, I saw her surprised expresion as I stalked towards her.
"Aren't you going to save your girl?" she asked wide-eyed.
"She can hold her own long enough for me to finish you," I said. Darla was a threat to my future pack. One that I could deal with now. "Time to die rabbit," I growled out knowing my eyes were flashing yellow.
Darla's eyes widened further at the glow and I pounced. She cried out as I slammed her down on the ground and proceeded to pound on her. I struck her several times before I slammed my stake into her heart. Her shocked expression she wore as she dusted was extremely satisfying.
I got up and turned to help Buffy, but saw her running full out down the street to her house. Damn it. I got ready to chase after her when I felt a sharp sting on my backside. I grasped at the offending stinger and found a dart. A tranquilizer dart. Growling, I turned to find Faith and the others coming out of the nearby trees. I spotted Giles carrying the tranq gun.
Growling as I charged, I headed right for Giles planning on taking him with me if I was going down. I nearly made it when Faith tackled me, pushing me away from my target. I threw her off snarling, but felt another sting in my chest before I could attack her. Tossing the dart away, I turned my attention back to my original target. I felt the effects of the darts beginning to get through as I got back up on my feet for one last try.
I never made it. Faith's kick sent me tumbling. I struggled to get up once more but felt another dart strike and darkness began to collapse in on me.
This just isn't my night, I thought as oblivion welcomed me.
***
Muffled voices greeted me as I swam from the depths of unconciousness. My head and side made themselves known quickly with a lot of pain. This, more than anything, jolted me awake. I found myself in the library on the floor when I finally opened my eyes.
"Who decided it was okay to use me as a crash test dummy," I groaned grasping my head.
"Are you alright? You're you, right?" Willow asked from my side.
I looked over at her strangely. "What kind of question is that? Of course I'm me. Who else would I be?"
"You were possessed by a hyena spirit. But we were able to find a way to remove it," Giles stated from behind Faith.
"Err, okay. I didn't.. do.. anything, did I?" I asked.
They all glanced at each other.
"Nope."
"Not really."
"No."
"You did nothing worth mentioning."
I slowly nodded. "Okaaay, I'll take your word for it. What time is it then?"
"It is Saturday. Three o'clock in the afternoon to be precise," Giles informed me.
"I missed a whole day?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yes, now it is time to get you home before your parents begin to worry."
Fat chance there, I thought as he helped me up. We said goodbye to the others and went out to his car. Giles helped me in and we drove off to my house. We drove in silence for a while leaving me with my thoughts of what to do now.
Giles voice brought me back to reality. "I don't recall reading anything about memory loss for this kind of thing," he paused awaiting my reaction. I couldn't answer so he continued, "You remember everything, don't you?"
"Yes," I quietly answered. "You won't tell the others?"
Giles looked at the road for a moment. "No. Your secret dies with me. I do want to know if you.. uh.. attacked... Prin...."
"No," I replied cutting him off. "I was elsewhere. There is something I think you should know though. There is a girl named Buffy Summers......"
***
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Up next: A Slayer's Fate