Who Wants to Live Forever? (part 3 of 4)

Legalistic Disclaimer
Once again, this is the situation: The concept and characters of 'Highlander' (Duncan MacLeod, Richie Ryan, Joe Dawson, and Amanda) belong to Davis and Panzer Productions and Rysher. Meanwhile, over in Sunnydale, the concept and characters of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (Buffy, Angel, Xander, Willow, Giles, Spike, and Drusilla) belong to Joss Whedon, Warner Brothers, and Mutant Enemy. Any other recognizable characters also belong to their respective copyright holders. They'll all be returned to their owners none the worse for wear (sure, they will). Also, thanks once again go to my beta readers, Mary Ellen Jedrlinic and Claudia Diamond (who were also returned none the worse for wear).

One last thing before we get this show on the road, please do not re-post this story without first gaining the author's permission (that would be me). Violation of this caveat may result in either decapitation or staking (decisions, decisions, decisions).

** Important: Author's Note **
This is a sequel to my other crossover story, Immortal Dilemma. To minimize potential confusion, I recommend that you read it (among other things, I indicated that Xander is a pre-Immortal) before diving into this tale. When necessary, I've also taken the liberty of filling in some of those annoying gaps in character development. This story is set in the near future of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and during the fifth season of Highlander. In other words, the insanity of Highlander's fifth season finale, when Richie seemingly gets killed, is completely disavowed in my little universe. Of course, I'm also assuming that Angel will eventually somehow return from his recent (late second season) walk on the wild side with the fang gang. But, if all else fails -- and Angel stays evil and Richie stays dead -- well, then this can become an alternate universe story. Deal with it! Got all that? You do...really? Good.

Remember, all (positive) comments are welcome. All other (negative) comments will be criticized and/or ignored (hey, it's a free story, sometimes you get what you pay for). Please direct E-mail to me.
Enjoy.

Who Wants to Live Forever?(part 3 of 4)

*******************************************************************************

By later that evening, the seriousness of Xander's condition had become clearer. Although still restrained, he was rapidly consuming the remaining contents of Angel's refrigerator. The teen was also not himself, figuratively or literally. When he was freshly fed, he exhibited signs of his mortal self, but when he was hungry, he was exhibiting other more ominous characteristics that Angel recognized all too clearly.

To address the boy's worsening condition, Giles returned to the library to do some intense research into a possible course of action, while Angel left for the local hospital to obtain a fresh supply of blood products. This left Richie to care for his stricken friend alone. Ironically, he recalled that this experience was not very different from years before when he had helped friends through drug withdrawals while living on the streets.

"Easy, Xander. Angel said you shouldn't drink so fast."

Once the drained bag of plasma was removed from his lips and he had transformed back to normal, Xander was able to reply, "That's easy for him to say. He's been doing this longer than me. Man, I hate this shit." Looking down at his hands, he then added, "Can't you untie me? Then I could feed myself at least."

"Ah, sorry Xander. That probably wouldn't be such a good idea. You remember..."

"Yea, I know. I put the bite on Angelu...Angel. Served him right, though. He knows that can happen when you get too close to a monster."

"You're no monster, Xander. You're just...different."

"No, Richie. YOU'RE just different. I'm a freak," Xander immediately replied.

Trying to reason with the teen, Richie then explained how several years before a renegade band of Watchers with similar feelings about Immortals had set out to destroy his race. He finished by remarking, "And finally, MacLeod was able to kill Horton. But only after a lot of good people had died. Horton thought Immortals were freaks of nature to be hunted down and destroyed."

"But that's different. Immortals don't have to kill humans to survive."

"Neither does Angel."

"Hey, newsflash! I'm not Angel. In fact, I tried to make an hors d'oeuvre out of him."

"That may be true. But since we're having this conversation, I don't think you're very different than him."

Looking unconvinced, Xander then asked, "Where's Giles? I think I scared him before. He looked a little pale."

"Have you looked in a mirror yourself recently?"

"Very funny."

"I thought so. But, to answer your question, Giles went back to the library to crack his books. He's sure he'll find something to help you."

Wincing, Xander replied, "I'd be satisfied if I could just get rid of this damn headache. I guess I know how you and MacLeod feel whenever Angel is around."

Actually Xander, there's something I have to..."

Richie stopped short as a dramatic change visibly came over the teen. One moment he was completely lucid and the next, he was writhing in agony, struggling against his bonds."

"No...not again! Richie...get more blood...please...it really hurts."

"Xander, stay with me here. Angel will be back soon. Try to fight it."

Falling back against the headboard, the now heavily perspiring teen could only feebly respond, "I'll try."

For his part, the Immortal took small comfort in one positive development, thinking, "At least he's not sweating blood again."

*******************************************************************************

Back at the darkened school library, Giles was sitting at a table lit only by a green-shaded lamp, frantically looking for something -- anything -- that could be used to reverse vampirism. This, he realized from speaking to Angel on several occasions in the past, was no minor feat. Truth be told, the vampire himself had unsuccessfully scoured the globe for the better part of a century looking for just such a cure. Finally resigning himself to his fate, he had come to Sunnydale on a mission: Although he would remain a vampire, he would help the Slayer destroy others of his kind and thereby lessen their harm to mankind. In so doing, he also sought absolution for his multitude of past crimes.

The Watcher was so engrossed in his search that he didn't hear the doors to the library quietly swing open and close again. Therefore, when he finally looked up from the dusty volume he was inspecting, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Standing before him were three teenage girls...and they didn't look very happy.

"Where have you been for the last two days, Giles? I've left messages for you on your machine and with Miss Calendar who, by the way, is also not pleased."

"Buffy, please, let me explain. I've..."

Willow then said, "Giles, Xander has disappeared. Do you know where he is? He really can't afford to miss classes. His grades aren't that good to begin with."

The Watcher then tried again, unsuccessfully, to continue. All he could get out was, "I've been with Xander..." before Cordelia remarked to no one in particular, "That worm. If he's hiding from me, I'll kill him. We were supposed to go out last night..." Then, noticing the look of disgust on the two other girl's faces, she quickly added, "...to the mechanic. Yes, we were going to the mechanic to have my car tuned- up."

Turning back towards her Watcher, the Slayer then said, "Speak up, Giles. What's making all the men around here act like a bunch of dorks. First Xander, then Angel, and then you fall off the face of the planet. You didn't all go on one of those male bonding things where you go into the woods and stand around a campfire in your underwear and howl at the moon, did you?"

"What? No, nothing like that. I've..."

It was now Willow's time to interrupt with a daydream, absently remarking, "Xander and Angel in their underwear...heh...ha...oh...oh...I mean, not that I would ever want to see them in their underwear." Realizing that all eyes in the room were now locked on her, she sheepishly concluded by saying, "I'll be quiet now."

Before attempting to continue, Giles waited to make sure that no other random comments were forthcoming from the three who were now standing before him, hands on hips, each impatiently tapping a foot on the floor.

"Are you all finished?"

Looking first left then right for nods of agreement, Buffy then answered for the group, "Yes."

"Right. As I was saying, I've been with Xander for the past 48 hours. Angel and Richie Ryan have been with us."

At the mention of the Immortal's name in the same sentence with Angel's, Buffy's wiggins detector immediately went to Red Alert status.

"Richie Ryan? Why would..."

"Please let me continue."

"Fine. Go on."

"As I was saying, the three of us have been helping Xander who was...attacked by Spike on Wednesday night. He hasn't quite been himself since..."

That was as far as he got before complete pandemonium broke out in the room. Willow practically collapsed into the nearest chair as Buffy and Cordelia rapidly starting advancing. Now closely examining his fingernails, the Watcher absently listened as a voice in the back of his head calmly noted that this wasn't going very well. As he pleaded for quiet, he was only vaguely aware of the verbal barrage being directed at him from all sides, the highlights of which included:

"Attacked by Spike! Not himself! Who the hell is he then, Giles?"

"My poor Xander."

"And you kept this to yourself for two days! Could you possibly be any more feeble?"

"My poor Xander."

"Where is he, Giles? I want to see him! Now!"

"My poor Xander."

"Does this mean I'll have to give him his class ring back?"

It soon became obvious that Giles had also reached the end of his rope when he picked up a thick volume and started repeatedly slamming it down on the tabletop.

"Silence [boom], silence [boom], silence, I say [boom, boom, boom]!"

Although the women were still glaring at him, some semblance of order was restored. Considering Angel's earlier admonition, Giles then decided to withhold the facts about Xander's Immortal nature from the group, choosing only to relate the recent vampiric complications. Selecting his words carefully, he then continued, "The truth of the matter is that Xander is exhibiting some ah...attributes...of vampirism. That's why I'm here. I'm trying to find something to help him get well." Only Buffy was able to respond to this bombshell.

"Giles, are you saying that Xander is a vampire?"

"Well, I didn't...wouldn't...say..."

"For God's sake! YES or NO, Giles!"

"Yes."

As Buffy exhaled deeply, Willow muttered, "Oh, God." Cordelia, meanwhile, was dumbstruck.

"I'm very sorry. But we're doing all we can."

Giles could actually visualize the gears spinning in the Slayer's mind when she asked, "He's at Angel's apartment, isn't he?"

"Yes, but I don't think..."

Quickly spinning around on her boot heal, Buffy simply said, "We're going to see him."

At that, the Watcher practically ran across the room to physically block the trio from leaving, stating, "No, you're not! You can't!"

"Move, Giles."

"No!"

"I'm warning you, Giles. Move it, or else."

Removing his glasses, the Watcher replied, "Or else, what? What are you going to do young lady, throttle me? Why don't you try. I'm tired of being treated as everyone's punching bag today."

"Lay off the tea, Giles, I think you're getting delusional. Try decaf for a change."

"I'm not moving and you're not going to see Xander."

"OK, Giles, I'll play along. Why aren't we going to see Xander?"

"Because he doesn't want to see you -- any of you."

Hearing this, Willow stepped forward and said, "I've known Xander since the second grade. Why wouldn't he want to see me...us?"

"It is precisely because he cares for all of you that he doesn't want you to see him...like he is. That's why Angel and I didn't tell you what happened."

Softly, Cordelia asked, "Giles, how bad is he?"

"He's not good. That's why we must find a cure -- or at least a treatment -- for him. You and Willow would be most useful helping me here. As for you, Buffy, you should go out and patrol tonight. There's no indication that Spike won't be carrying on as usual. Therefore, so should we."

"I just don't like doing nothing, Giles."

"You are doing something -- we all are. However, we just can't let Spike run roughshod over Sunnydale in the meantime."

With a small, somewhat reluctant nod, the Slayer replied, "OK, Giles. I'll do this your way."

"Thank you, Buffy."

A few seconds later the Slayer departed, leaving two slowly closing wooden doors in her wake.

"Giles, what should we do?"

"Help me go through the stacks looking for any references to halting and, hopefully, reversing the early onset of vampirism. Willow, if you could search through Miss Calendar's computer web...whatevers..."

"Websites, Giles."

"Yes, yes. Well, that would also be very helpful."

The young computer hacker extraordinaire then asked the Watcher, "Giles, who's with Xander now?"

"Richie Ryan. And Angel should also be home by now." Then, seeing the obviously worried expression on her face, he added optimistically, "Don't worry, Willow, I'm sure everything's under control."

*******************************************************************************

Richie was having great difficulty handling the teenager who weighed only slightly less than he did. Making matters worse, the boy, now alternating between occasional strangled speech and inhuman growls, was frequently convulsing off the mattress. This forced Richie to either hold him down by the shoulders or pick him up off the floor.

At one point, Xander had even managed to get on his feet and tried to hurl himself through the black curtained bedroom window before the Immortal managed to wrestle him back down and tie his legs together with a curtain sash. Richie would actually have preferred to lash the teen to the bed if he had some rope. Now, Xander was desperately trying to bite through the leather belt binding his hands.

"Xander stop, please, you're going to hurt yourself."

As he tried to move Xander's head away from the strap, the boy suddenly turned to the side, growled, and bit the Immortal in the hand.

Quickly pulling his limb back, Richie yelped, "Son of a bitch!"

"Let me go! You've got to let me go!"

Waiting for the bleeding to stop as little flashes of lightning quickly closed the small wound, Richie then asked, "Why, Xander? Tell me why you've got to go."

"Have to feed...the hunger! Where's Angelus? He knows how it is."

"Angel's coming. He called to say he's on his way home."

After unsuccessfully thrashing against his bonds again, Xander sighed, "No time -- the hunger -- forgive me, Richie." As the demon took control of Xander, he focused his golden eyes on the Immortal's deep blue pupils. Speech suddenly became very difficult as Richie felt as if he had been struck over the head by a two by four.

"Xander...why? What...are you doing?"

"Release me."

"Xander, I...can't"

"Release me. Now."

"Don't...do this."

"You can't resist me."

Losing his ability for voluntary muscle control as the vampire's will overpowered his own, Richie slowly started to untie Xander's restraints. Although he was unable to break the trance, the young Immortal's mind did not surrender easily. As the battle of wills continued, Richie's pulse and blood pressure dramatically increased, eventually causing several blood vessels near the surface of his skin to rupture. By the time the vampire was freed, Richie -- now standing motionless next to the bed -- was bleeding from his nostrils and an ear.

Xander then rose and carefully placed the palms of his now claw-like hands on both sides of the Immortal's face. Deepening the mental link, Xander started picking up images buried deep in Richie's psyche, flashes of sword duels, Quickenings, and death as well as the most overpowering emotions of all -- love and guilt. The love of two woman, Tessa Noel and Christina O'Leary, one shot dead on a dark street and the guilt of not preventing it, and the other butchered in her apartment. There was also something else, the images of an abandoned child, left to grow up in orphanages and foster homes.

However, this exchange of thoughts and images was not a one way street. On his end, Richie was receiving the overwhelming emotions of a teen who was deeply in love with a girl who loved another. A teen who was betrayed and nearly killed -- and eaten -- by several potential lovers and finally brutally tortured and crucified by two undead fiends. And, finally, most telling of all were the images of a neglected child, left to occupy himself in an empty house.

Also passing between the two was the unmistakable, undeniable message: WE ARE THE SAME!

Nearly staggered by this stark realization, Xander Harris then realized what had to be done. Tears running down his cheeks, he slowly sank his fangs into Richie Ryan's neck.

*******************************************************************************

When Angel returned to his apartment, he immediately realized something was wrong. Most telling was that he received no response from Richie when he called to the Immortal. Placing a small cooler containing the freshly acquired blood down on the floor, he quickly proceeded to the bedroom. There before him, peacefully stretched out across the mattress, was the young redhead. Once again calling his name, Angel then realized that Ryan was actually snoring. Only by shaking him by the shoulders, did he start to receive a response.

"Ryan, what the hell happened? Where's Xander?"

"Huh...what? Xander?"

"Yes, Xander. You know, the guy YOU were supposed to watch."

Shaking his head from side to side to clear the cobwebs, the Immortal only then started to recall the events that had transpired nearly an hour before.

"Oh, man! He did something to me! I think he hit me with that Vulcan mind-meld whammy thing that you guys do."

"That's impossible. He's too young to have that power. I only acquired it in the past century or so."

"Oh, yeah, Mr. Spock? Well, I'm telling you that he took one look at me and I folded like a house of cards."

"Damn. I didn't expect that. I wouldn't have left you alone with him. I'm surprised he didn't use YOU as a blood source."

Rubbing the right side of his neck, the young Immortal replied, "Ah, I wouldn't say that."

"Sorry."

"Yea, well, I'm a fast healer. However, he didn't kill me. I know that."

"What do you mean?"

"Before he tapped my keg, I remember exchanging bits of memories and...I can only describe them as emotions...from our lives, both as children and more recently. At one point, this weird feeling of kinship passed between us. It almost felt like a Quickening...it was that intimate. I must have fallen asleep then, but I never died. That's something I always remember. Gives me an upset stomach."

"Tell me about it."

"So does that mean anything to you?"

Suddenly noticing a folded piece of paper on the nightstand, Angel moved towards it while replying, "It means that Xander now knows about his Immortality. Otherwise, he would have drained you completely. No doubt about that."

"That wasn't the best way to find out about it. First the shock of being a bloodsucker ah... sorry... vampire, and now this. So, where would he go?"

Handing the sheet of paper to Richie, Angel replied, "I think I have some idea."

Quickly scanning it, Richie could also remark, "This is not good."

"I agree. Let's go. We'll take your bike, mine's dead."

"What happened?"

"Blown manifold, that's why I was delayed. I walked halfway home."

As the two rapidly moved through the living room, Richie stopped to retrieve his boots, helmet, and long beige coat, which was strewn across the couch.

"Whoa...whoa! Something's missing here."

Standing at the door to the apartment, Angel asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, except that I seem to have misplaced a four-foot piece of sharpened steel. Call me old- fashioned, but I had a sword when I came in and I'll have a sword when I go out."

"Xander..."

"...has sticky fingers. I've obviously been training him a little TOO well."

Moving towards a wall-mounted display case, the vampire then said, "Use this. I won't need it where we're going." He then handed an eighteenth-century British Army saber, complete with a red tassel hanging from the hilt, to the Immortal.

With a low whistle, Ryan remarked, "Nice. Very nice. Does it clash with my jeans?"

"Hurry up, Ryan!"

*******************************************************************************

Meanwhile, at the lair, Drusilla was happily serving tea to her dolls, waiting for Spike to return with something -- or someone -- to eat. Also with her were a couple of Spike's personal guard, left to protect Her Evil Highness.

"She's cracked, isn't she?"

"Shhh! Are you crazy? She'll hear us."

"The Master was much better than these two crackpots. At least he followed our traditions. Now we're getting our asses kicked by the Slayer."

"If you don't shut up, Spike'll stake us. Is that what you want?"

"Not if we stake him first."

"That's treason! He's our leader! We can't..."

"Oh, boys."

"Shit. Now look, she's heard us."

Moving towards their queen, the vampires known as Matthew and Jeremy asked, "Yes, Drusilla?"

"Which looks better, the blue dress or the pink one?"

Looking first at each other and then back at Drusilla, Jeremy quickly replied with a smirk, "the pink one."

With a small smile, Drusilla then picked up and flung a stake that had been lying on her bed with lighting speed. Before Jeremy even had time to scream, he was a pile of dust on the floor.

"Wrong. I like the blue one. Don't you agree, Matthew?"

"Yes...yes my queen!"

"Don't EVER forget that Matthew!"

As the remaining vampire quickly retreated, a crashing noise emanated from the direction of the building's loading dock entrance. Quickly putting her doll down, Drusilla said, "Company's coming. Matthew, please go welcome him."

As the vampire quickly departed holding a long metal rod for defense, Drusilla picked up her deck of tarot cards and started shuffling. Moments later, as she dealt out the skeletal death card, the distinctive sound of metal clashing against metal could be heard, followed by screaming (which soon faded) and the unmistakable sound of a vampire being dusted. Placing down the deck, she looked up in time to see a figure standing in the doorway, sword held erect.

A deeply resonant voice remarked, "Hi honey, I'm home!"

"Spike said you were dead. But I knew you were special. He never listens to me though."

After using his tongue to lick Matthew's remains off his lower lip, Xander answered, "Spike was right. I am dead. You killed me, remember? But death's like Jell-O -- there's always room for more."

"I always liked you, Alexander. You're very handsome. I'll talk to Spike about letting you rule with us. We can be one big happy family."

"Yeah, like the bloodsucking Brady Bunch -- NOT! You don't get it Drusilla, I'm kinda PISSED right now -- death has that effect on some people -- and I'm going to do to you and Spike what I just did to your stooge out there."

"That's not very nice."

Golden eyes flashing with light reflected off the now bloody swordblade, the newly fledged Xander Harris replied, "You're right, Drusilla. It's not going to be very nice at all. In fact, I'm still hungry and you're beginning to look pretty yummy right now."

*******************************************************************************

As Buffy made her way around the perimeter of the block where the Bronze was located, she heard a muffled cry. Running around a corner, she was confronted with the image of a teenage girl being pulled head first into a black 1950s vintage car with orange flames highlighting its front fenders. Upon sensing the Slayer, the car's occupants quickly released the girl and exited the vehicle to confront her. They consisted of four male vampires, including Spike himself.

"I told the lads that picking up something at the drive-thru of that finger-lickin good place would be a better idea. But do they listen? No!"

Quickly unzipping various pockets in her leather jacket to better access her assorted weaponry, Buffy wryly responded, "Guess that would have tasted just like chicken?"

"Yeah, that just what the boys said. But nowadays, it's always eat and run."

Without missing a beat, she replied, "Don't you know that can cause serious indigestion?" Then, holding up a stake, she added, "But so can this."

"Oooh, a sharpened stick. I'm sooo frightened."

"You should be, Spike. Actually, considering what you did to Xander, I'm going to enjoy this."

"Well, at least he tasted like fish."

"You bastard!"

With a smile, he replied, "You're right about that."

The vampires then advanced as a group with Spike in the lead. Soon, they split up and were attacking from four different directions. After Buffy had staked one and knocked another to the ground with a kick to the side of the head, she suddenly realized that she could no longer freely move her upper body. She immediately realized that a vampire who had been holding back from the battle had somehow managed to grab both her arms, which were now held firmly behind her back. Within seconds, the vampire that had previously been sprawled on the ground was also holding her legs immobile.

"Very good, Gregory. I'll reward you and Louis for this. Looks like we're going to have a real treat tonight."

"You're vile!"

"Now, now. Please be a good sport. Sticks and stones, you know. I don't want to remember you as a sore loser."

As Spike bared his fangs and slowly closed in for the kill, he was suddenly staggered by an overpowering sensation that hammered into his brain. Grabbing the sides of his head with both hands as he crumbled to his knees, he could only manage to scream, "Drusilla!"

Momentarily distracted by their leader's collapse, the two vampires loosened their grip just enough for Buffy to wriggle one arm free. She immediately elbowed the vampire behind her in the stomach and followed up with another kick to the head of the vampire holding her legs.

As the tide of battle started turning, Spike managed to get back to his feet and make his way back to the car. Without a word, he jumped in and sped off in the direction of his lair, leaving his two comrades to fend for themselves.

"Good old Spike knows when to turn tail and run. Do you?"

Realizing that death -- permanent death -- at the hands of the Slayer was now a very real possibility, the two fiends also quickly departed in the direction of the fleeing car.

After a few seconds, Buffy started analyzing what had just happened. "That was way weird. Well, Giles would say to quit while I'm ahead. But if I can get Spike and Dru, I'll be way, way, way ahead. Me thinks, I'll go see what's up at the undead Ponderosa."

The girl then made her way across town at a brisk jog.

*******************************************************************************

Screeching his car to a halt alongside his headquarters, Spike was greeted by a steel door ripped from its hinges. No longer sensing the presence of his lover of nearly a century, he ran inside without first taking his customary precautions before entering an unknown situation.

"Drusilla! Matthew! Jeremy! Where are you?" Receiving no response, he then shouted into the darkness of the shop floor, "Is anybody here?"

It was then that the vampire noticed the flickering of candles emanating from the inner sanctum that he shared with Drusilla. Quickly stooping down to pick up a discarded monkey wrench lying on the floor, he cautiously made his way towards his living quarters. As he neared the chamber's doorway, he started to experience a painful sensation quite unlike anything he had ever encountered. Since he had never brushed up against any other types of Immortals, this was completely understandable. Once again, he called, "Dru!"

Entering the chamber, Spike's eyes quickly adjusted to the light, which was being provided by the dozens of black candles that Drusilla had gathered over the decades. Before him, scattered on the floor, were the heads of his lover's dolls, while the decapitated toys themselves were still sitting on their shelves. Standing at the foot of his bed, sword in hand, was a male figure turned away from the doorway.

"What took you so long, Spike? I almost ran out of dolls."

"You'll die horribly for this...this outrage. Where's Dru?"

"Die horribly? Sorry, been there, done that. Change the CD Spike, you're repeating yourself."

When Xander turned around, the blond vampire was momentarily speechless. However, after several seconds, he managed to state, "I drained you -- I didn't sire you -- you should be dead!"

"Everyone keeps saying that. Guess you just can't count on anything these days."

Realizing that something was very odd about this situation -- even by Sunnydale standards -- Spike quickly decided to try a different tack. Smiling, he said, "Xander, brother, we can work something out. It's so hard to find good help these days. Me, Dru, you...we'd be unstoppable."

"That's really funny. Drusilla also wanted a threesome. If only these things happened when I was alive. Man, you're a lucky guy, Spike, she seems like a really kinky girl...ah vampire...or is it vampiress? Whatever."

"And?"

"After much thought, about one second's worth, I turned her down. Shame, she kinda got hung up by the rejection. But, I know how that can be." The teenager then used the tip of his sword to point towards the ceiling. Spike's gaze followed. There, suspended by a thick metal chain, was the unconscious, crucified form of Drusilla. Wearing a now tattered and bloody flowing white dress, she was nailed to the wooden beams by several of Spike's trademark pieces of hardware. A low sizzling noise could be heard and a haze of smoke was emanating from the places where her bare flesh was in contact with the cross.

"Like I told her, Spike, payback can be a REAL BITCH!"

With a guttural growl, the older vampire threw himself at Xander.

*******************************************************************************

end part 3 of 4 Who Wants to Live Forever by Richard Ruth