She stepped forward, delicately picking her way through the tumbled stones on the floor, dress whispering against them, cloak swinging behind her. Black hair shone even in the dim, unsteady light from the candles, pouring down her back. White skin and black, glittering eyes; red lips that smiled as she stopped in front of him and raised a hand, brushing his skin.
"My Spike," she whispered.
Spike stared, unable to speak, his eyes drinking her in, noticing the smoothness of her skin, the glow that said she'd fed, and recently. The blood gave her an illusion of humanity, flushing her pale skin slightly, making her eyes shine. She stroked his cheek, the way one might idly touch a favoured pet. Spike swallowed and took a step back, relaxing into his human face. Dru's hand hovered for a moment then dropped to her side. Her eyes narrowed slightly and she pouted. "No welcome for me, Spike? Haven't you missed me? I'm all better now, you know." She giggled suddenly, a small evil sound. "Oh, yes. All better. I feel……strong. Stronger than ever." She twirled in a small circle, raising her hands up above her head, dress and cloak swirling out around her. She stopped and lowered her arms again, smiling, head tilted to one side.
Spike cleared his throat and looked at her. "You - you got fed up with that Chaos demon then, did you? Told you he was no good. Told you you'd come running back to me." He moved away from her along the wall of the crypt, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. Something was missing. Joy at seeing her, for one thing. He hesitated then turned to face her, making sure the bulk of the tomb was between them. She'd turned to watch his progress round the mausoleum.
"Thing is, Dru………… I've been thinking, you know, while you've been away." He paused, looking at her lovely face, as she suddenly Changed, letting her true vampire face show through. He pulled a packet of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket and lit one before he continued. "It nearly killed me when you left. I even tried to put a spell on you, to get you back. Yeah, me and magic, eh? Bloody hell. All that mess with Angel and that bloody Slayer. Well, I'm over it now. I'm strong again, too. And I'm going to finally kill that bitch, get her out of the way for good." He found himself nodding. "Yeah. Do it. Finally."
He realised that Dru was laughing, softly, under what should have been her breath. She took a few steps towards him and he backed away, making sure the way to the crypt entrance was clear. She was laughing harder now, and then she suddenly stopped, as if she'd realised something. She snarled and lunged without warning, catching him unawares, and pushed him against the wall, one hand grasping his throat as she pinned him. She stared intently into his face. Her other hand, fingers crooked, took hold of his chin as she turned his head this way and that. She ran a pointed nail down his cheek, leaving a thin red welt behind, beaded here and there with small drops of blood. He'd dropped the cigarette and it rolled unheeded on the floor, crushed under Drusilla's boot heel.
"Don't struggle, Spikey…" she sang softly, voice rising and falling. lilting, soft with malice. "I just want to look at you………look inside you……" She giggled malevolently again. "See if what Princess knows is true………… you don't want to kill the Slayer, Spike." She let go and turned away, letting him slide bonelessly down the wall. "You feel something for her. You're tainted……….with feelings. Like one of them." She moaned, swaying softly as she turned away from him.
He stared up at her, and began to shake his head, climbing to his feet, mouth open to speak . She whirled and her face was suddenly filled with monstrous rage as she spat her next words at him. He collapsed back onto the floor, staring up at her in disbelief.
"You're in love with - her! With the Slayer!" Her voice was harsh, no softness in it now. Suddenly her face lost its anger and she became Drusilla again, insanity glittering in those fathomless, dreamy black eyes. "Weak, stupid Spike. She'll kill you before she ever loves you. You're a demon. You're less than nothing to her, just a dog for her to beat." She began to laugh again, the sound ringing out in the hollow crypt. "I won't kill you, Spike. I'll wait for you to come to me, and beg me to take you back, when the Slayer's finished with you. If she doesn't kill you. But I'll leave you something to remember me by. You're mine." Stepping forward, she bent swiftly and her hand lashed out, leaving four bloody stripes on Spike's white skin.
Turning on her heel, cloak swinging out, she swept away as suddenly as she'd come, leaving Spike standing in his empty mausoleum, staring after her.
