By Night - Chapter Six
by Angel Eternal aka Angeline
email: spikes_angel01@yahoo.com.au
Website: In Dreams and Shadows
http://www.geocities.com/spikes_angel01/index.html
Rating: R
Pairings: Primarily S/B, but also has W/T and X/A
Summary: Secrets revealed have a disastrous aftermath.
Author's Notes: This is set S6, and is loosely based on spoilers concerning the season. I just want to point out
though that I haven't seen S6 and won't for a while, so if things aren't quite right, you'd know why.
Distribution: "In Dreams and Shadows", "Shadow Borne", "Shelby's and Erin's Place" and at FF.net but it you want to
archive it go ahead, but just let me know first - I kinda like to know where it's going, and plus I find out about more
S/B shipper sites! ::grins::
Disclaimers: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is owned by Joss Whedon, several companies and God knows who else.
One thing is certain - I don't own any of it! Nothing - zip - nada!
Silently, he melded with the shadows, effortlessly moving in the night. He paused to take a sip here, a nip there,
gathering his strength. His very being howled for the utter darkness that he couldn't find.
The time would come to confront the Slayer, and the wayward vampire...the time was just not now.
* * *
"Look Red, what's more important here? Dark, gloomy things that go bump in the night, or my queasy stomach?"
Willow sighed, "I guess...it's just that...vampires don't get queasy stomachs."
Buffy nodded vehemently, "Will's right Spike - you're top priority at the moment."
Spike's chest puffed out at hearing Buffy's admission. Top priority.
Xander's eyes narrowed, glaring at the inflated vampire, "I don't know about this Buff..."
Buffy shrugged, "Look, there hasn't been anything seriously whacked in the vampire community - aside from Spike."
Xander frowned, "Oh, so you mean, the increase in vampiric attacks is piffle? Not to mention some new breed
of vamp?"
Before Buffy could open her mouth to protest, Dawn leapt in to intervene. "Guys, why don't half of us work on this
new vamp the other on Spike?"
Buffy, Willow and Xander blushed, while Spike merely laughed, "A child leads the morons!"
They glared at him, but Spike ignored them and continued to chuckle.
Dawn rolled her eyes, "You guys are just so seriously lost."
Buffy cleared her throat, swiftly taking the reigns of command, "Alright then, Xander and Willow you guys work on
this new vamp - Dawn, Spike and I will try to figure out what's wrong with him."
Dawn grinned at her sister, grateful to have been included.
Spike shook his head in protest, "There's nothing wrong with me!"
He was personally offended that they actually thought he was susceptible to mortal sickness. It was times like these that
he really wanted the Watcher back. Ripper would keep these children in line.
Buffy regarded him, "Queasy stomach huh?"
He rolled his eyes and nodded.
She plopped a donut in front of him, eyebrow cocked in expectation.
Spike glanced at it, "Oooh jam-filled!" He bit into it enthusiastically.
Buffy offered him potato chips next, which he wolfed down as swiftly as the donut.
She placed a Coke in front of him, which he promptly guzzled down.
Buffy and Dawn exchanged glances, and Dawn silently rose from the table.
Xander rolled his eyes, "And what did we learn from that? That Jr. eats like a pig?"
Spike glared at him, as Buffy shook her head, "He can eat human food just fine."
Willow, also distracted, frowned, "That doesn't mean anything Buff - he always eats our food."
Buffy shook her head again. "His only aversion seems to be to blood."
"Hello?! I'm still here!" Spike glared at the lot of them, irritated at them for talking as if he wasn't in the same room.
All of their gazes swung to him, Xander shrugged, "Maybe the blood was off."
"Got that covered." Dawn returned with a glass full of blood. "It's fresh."
"And is anyone else wigged out that Dawnie can tell if blood is fresh??" Xander asked, eww-face firmly in place.
Dawn rolled her eyes, "Xander! Eww much? Buffy got it for Spike - she threatens Willy to make sure it's fresh."
All gazes swung to the Slayer, shock evident on all their faces.
Buffy chewed on her lip, not noticing the incredulous looks directed at her. She focused on Spike.
"It's human." she casually informed him.
Their jaws, with the exception of Dawn's, almost literally slammed on the floor.
Dawn shook her head at them; "We checked it out ok? It's clean - donated."
Buffy ignored all of them, and focused on Spike, "Well?"
Spike, who was still trying to recover from the shock of finding out that the Slayer had obtained human blood for
him, and made sure it was fresh - him, a soulless vampire.
Mechanically, he tipped the blood into this mouth, and promptly spat it out, disgust evident on his face.
"Boy, aren't you glad that Anya isn't around to see that!" Xander commented, eyeing the puddle on the once
impeccable floor.
Spike set the glass down, bewildered. Before he could recover, Buffy had hauled him into the training room.
* * *
Dawn simply sighed, and went up to the loft.
Willow shook her head, staring after the Slayer and the vampire; with a slight shake of her head, she focused back
on the book she was reading.
"So Wills, exactly what are we looking for?"
Willow sighed despondently, "That's the problem - I'm not really sure..."
Xander slunk into his chair, "Great, just great. A wonderful night ahead, without having any idea what we're doing."
Willow studied him over the rim of her tome, carefully; she set down the ancient text to fully study her best friend.
Xander looked up to find green eyes determinedly fixed on him. "What?"
Willow didn't reply as she continued to stare at him. Xander shivered lightly, a little uncomfortable beneath Willow's
probing gaze. "Willow, what is it? Come on, you're wigging me here."
Lightly, she shook her head, bowing her head in apology, "Sorry Xand, it's just that..."
"What?"
"What..." Willow stopped, not sure whether she should pursue this.
Xander rolled his eyes, seeing that Willow was just about twitching in her seat. "Spit it out Wills."
"What happened between you and Anya?"
The question hung in the air, as Xander leaned back, his face falling into an expressionless mask.
"We had a fight that's all."
Concerned, Willow pressed on, "Come on Xander, this is me you're talking to. I just want to help."
With a frown, Xander stared at Willow, "I could ask you a similar question - what happened between you and
Tara?"
Willow sat back, stung by the harsh tone in his voice. "Don't change the subject Xander."
Xander sighed, and finally looked back up at Willow, and she was stunned to see the pain in the chocolaty
depths. "I know I can be a colossal idiot - but this time..."
Willow rushed to reassure her friend who was obviously in pain, but Xander waved her aside, "Come on Wills,
I know you and Tara got in a fight - Tara's not even at home anymore. Can you imagine how I feel? I caused
that."
"Oh Xander..."
Again he cut her off, "Anya's..." he shook his head, unable to go on.
The two life-long friends sat, absorbed in thought, finally Willow looked up and smiled at him, "So...wanna go
pick up girls? There's this particularly yummy girl, brown hair..."
* * *
Spike growled low in his throat, resentful at being treated like this. Today had been a series of shocks, and he
was still reeling.
Buffy dragged him into the middle of the floor, turning to face him; she planted her hands on her hips, and waited
for him to stop muttering.
Spike glanced up at her, still resentful at being hauled around. "What now Slayer? Any more experiments?"
Buffy could see that he was still bristling over the tests she had run him through, probably an aversion since
his days at the hands of the Initiative. "Yeah, a couple more."
Without another warning, she punched him, his head snapped back.
Stunned, Spike gingerly touched his jaw and glared at her, "Oh great! Kick the vamp when he's down, why don't ya
Slayer?!"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Just testing if you can still take a punch, and considering you're still standing, and my guess
would be yeah."
Spike rolled his shoulders, still glaring at the Slayer.
Buffy sighed, "Too bad you can't fight back."
Spike heard the wistful tone in her voice, and his eyebrow shut upwards in surprise.
She wouldn't deny it, she had missed the days when they still fought physically, she would be the first to admit
that Spike was an excellent fighter, his movements fluid, graceful and masterful. To date, she had yet to find
another who so perfectly matched her in style and ability.
Spike shook his head, "Yeah too bad luv, it's been too long."
Buffy nodded in acquiescence, "Too long."
Hazel clashed with blue and clung, they looked intently at each other, a seeming eternity passing as they were lost
in the depths of each other's gaze.
Dawn's voice broke the silence, causing both of them to jump. Buffy guiltily cleared her throat, and tried to focus
on what her sister was saying, trying to ignore Spike's cocky grin.
"...not sure, but I think I found something."
Exchanging a glance, they quickly went out, and found Willow pouring over a book.
The witch looked up and motioned them over, "Hey guys take a look at what Dawn found."
Dawn grinned at them, "See? I'm useful!"
Buffy grinned at her, and ruffled her hair as she passed, "Maybe we'll keep you after all."
Buffy moved over to Willow's side and peered at the book, what she found was your average vamp.
"Wills - what is this? I mean, I just have to look over there - " she gestured at Spike, who obligingly slid on
his game face. " - and I have what's in the book."
Willow shook her head, "Not quite a vampire Buff, it's a Imitorlamia ...like a pseudo-vampire. It looks like
a vampire in full game-face all the time. It says here that the Imitorlamia doesn't feed on blood, like a
normal vampire would, but rather on a mortal's fear." Willow looked up excitedly, "So they go around
scaring people."
Buffy nodded, "So how do I kill it?"
"Oh...um..." Willow goes back to the book. "You can't stake it like a normal vampire, it won't turn to dust..."
"Ah-ha! Non-dusty!" Xander excitedly emphasised.
"It can only be killed while it's feeding, because that's the only time it physically manifests."
"Willow..." Buffy prompted impatiently.
Willow blushed, "Oh, right...you have to...well...chop off it's head. It gets stronger every time it feeds."
Spike frowned, "So pet, how can you tell if it's feeding off a person's fear? How do we know that it didn't
take a chomp, so to speak, out of you or the whelp?"
Willow rushed on, "Oh no, you see it's very specific. Being an imitation vampire, its mouth has to make contact
with the victims skin - a lot of them go for classic vampire neck bite. To the victim it feels like a vampire is
sucking the blood out of them, but it's actually feeding off...fear."
Buffy nodded in understanding, "So, how can I tell if it's an actual vampire or this imitation?"
"There won't be any actual bite marks on the victim..."
"But at the moment of feeding, how can I...?"
Spike shrugged off that concern, "Easy pet, vamps turn to dust if you slice our heads."
Buffy glared at him, "Are you suggesting I carry around a sword with me for patrol?"
Spike grinned at her, "Well, yeah."
"Exactly, how would I hide a sword?"
Xander piped up, "Why don't you ask Connor?"
They all turned to him puzzled; he rolled his eyes, "Connor McLeod of the Clan McLeod? Highlander?"
A chorus of "Ohs" revibrated around the room, and Xander sat back, pleased with himself.
Buffy sighed, "I guess I'll be carrying around a sword from now on."
* * *
Xander wearily let himself into the apartment., heading straight for the closet, he went to hang up his coat.
He flung the closet open, and stared dumbfounded at the lack of clothing within. Or to be precise, the lack
of Anya's clothing within.
Minutes ticked by, as Xander stared at the nearly empty closet, feeling his stomach clench tight. He had the
strongest urge to simply run to the bathroom and hurl out all the contents of his stomach.
Numb, he mechanically stripped off his jacket and hung it up in the painfully empty closet, before turning to
collapse on the bed, shoes and all.
Anya had left him.
* * *
Nervously, Willow tugged at her shirt, for what had to be the twentieth time since she arrived. She ran
trembling fingers through her hair, fixing a smile on her face.
A young woman, with chestnut hair, and large hazel eyes, opened the door. Leaning on the doorjamb,
her eyes ran over Willow. "You must be Willow...what do you want?"
Taken aback, Willow faltered beneath the scrutinising gaze, "I just...I was wondering if Tara..."
"She's sleeping." without another word, the woman slammed the door on Willow's face.
For a moment, all she could do was blink, as her eyes vainly tried focusing on the grainy wood.
Mechanicaly, she mumbled thanks, before stumbling out of the building and onto a bench.
Heavily, she sat down, tears already slipping down the curve of her cheek.
* * *
With a grunt of distaste, Anya stripped the dingy bed of its covers. Slowly, meticulously, she placed her
own covers on the disgusting bed, not wanting to speculate on the dark stains that covered the bed.
Grateful for her foresight, Anya sunk on the bed, and thought.
What future did she have? What job could she take? Her life was meaningless without...
Abruptly, Anya cut herself off. She really should've known. She'd been in the revenge business a damned
long time. What made her think she would be invulnerable to the thousand aches of the heart? She had been
a fool. An idiot, it was disgraceful.
* * *
"She's gone."
"I know." Tara turned to Clarise, "Thank you."
Clarise stared down at her, saw the pain in her eyes, "Are you sure you don't want to see her?"
Silently, the blonde shook her head, returning to her post by the window.
With a sigh, Clarise left her to seek the comfort her bed.
Tara gazed out the window, her gaze riveted on the slender figure who sat on the bench.
There was something about red hair in the moonlight, it had lustre, and a life of it's own, the fiery strands
gleaming beneath the pale light.
Feeling as if her heart was breaking, her eyes traced the path of one crystalline tear as it slid down Willow's
cheek , curving beneath her jaw finally falling on one pale hand.
~To be continued~
by Angel Eternal aka Angeline
email: spikes_angel01@yahoo.com.au
Website: In Dreams and Shadows
http://www.geocities.com/spikes_angel01/index.html
Rating: R
Pairings: Primarily S/B, but also has W/T and X/A
Summary: Secrets revealed have a disastrous aftermath.
Author's Notes: This is set S6, and is loosely based on spoilers concerning the season. I just want to point out
though that I haven't seen S6 and won't for a while, so if things aren't quite right, you'd know why.
Distribution: "In Dreams and Shadows", "Shadow Borne", "Shelby's and Erin's Place" and at FF.net but it you want to
archive it go ahead, but just let me know first - I kinda like to know where it's going, and plus I find out about more
S/B shipper sites! ::grins::
Disclaimers: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is owned by Joss Whedon, several companies and God knows who else.
One thing is certain - I don't own any of it! Nothing - zip - nada!
Silently, he melded with the shadows, effortlessly moving in the night. He paused to take a sip here, a nip there,
gathering his strength. His very being howled for the utter darkness that he couldn't find.
The time would come to confront the Slayer, and the wayward vampire...the time was just not now.
* * *
"Look Red, what's more important here? Dark, gloomy things that go bump in the night, or my queasy stomach?"
Willow sighed, "I guess...it's just that...vampires don't get queasy stomachs."
Buffy nodded vehemently, "Will's right Spike - you're top priority at the moment."
Spike's chest puffed out at hearing Buffy's admission. Top priority.
Xander's eyes narrowed, glaring at the inflated vampire, "I don't know about this Buff..."
Buffy shrugged, "Look, there hasn't been anything seriously whacked in the vampire community - aside from Spike."
Xander frowned, "Oh, so you mean, the increase in vampiric attacks is piffle? Not to mention some new breed
of vamp?"
Before Buffy could open her mouth to protest, Dawn leapt in to intervene. "Guys, why don't half of us work on this
new vamp the other on Spike?"
Buffy, Willow and Xander blushed, while Spike merely laughed, "A child leads the morons!"
They glared at him, but Spike ignored them and continued to chuckle.
Dawn rolled her eyes, "You guys are just so seriously lost."
Buffy cleared her throat, swiftly taking the reigns of command, "Alright then, Xander and Willow you guys work on
this new vamp - Dawn, Spike and I will try to figure out what's wrong with him."
Dawn grinned at her sister, grateful to have been included.
Spike shook his head in protest, "There's nothing wrong with me!"
He was personally offended that they actually thought he was susceptible to mortal sickness. It was times like these that
he really wanted the Watcher back. Ripper would keep these children in line.
Buffy regarded him, "Queasy stomach huh?"
He rolled his eyes and nodded.
She plopped a donut in front of him, eyebrow cocked in expectation.
Spike glanced at it, "Oooh jam-filled!" He bit into it enthusiastically.
Buffy offered him potato chips next, which he wolfed down as swiftly as the donut.
She placed a Coke in front of him, which he promptly guzzled down.
Buffy and Dawn exchanged glances, and Dawn silently rose from the table.
Xander rolled his eyes, "And what did we learn from that? That Jr. eats like a pig?"
Spike glared at him, as Buffy shook her head, "He can eat human food just fine."
Willow, also distracted, frowned, "That doesn't mean anything Buff - he always eats our food."
Buffy shook her head again. "His only aversion seems to be to blood."
"Hello?! I'm still here!" Spike glared at the lot of them, irritated at them for talking as if he wasn't in the same room.
All of their gazes swung to him, Xander shrugged, "Maybe the blood was off."
"Got that covered." Dawn returned with a glass full of blood. "It's fresh."
"And is anyone else wigged out that Dawnie can tell if blood is fresh??" Xander asked, eww-face firmly in place.
Dawn rolled her eyes, "Xander! Eww much? Buffy got it for Spike - she threatens Willy to make sure it's fresh."
All gazes swung to the Slayer, shock evident on all their faces.
Buffy chewed on her lip, not noticing the incredulous looks directed at her. She focused on Spike.
"It's human." she casually informed him.
Their jaws, with the exception of Dawn's, almost literally slammed on the floor.
Dawn shook her head at them; "We checked it out ok? It's clean - donated."
Buffy ignored all of them, and focused on Spike, "Well?"
Spike, who was still trying to recover from the shock of finding out that the Slayer had obtained human blood for
him, and made sure it was fresh - him, a soulless vampire.
Mechanically, he tipped the blood into this mouth, and promptly spat it out, disgust evident on his face.
"Boy, aren't you glad that Anya isn't around to see that!" Xander commented, eyeing the puddle on the once
impeccable floor.
Spike set the glass down, bewildered. Before he could recover, Buffy had hauled him into the training room.
* * *
Dawn simply sighed, and went up to the loft.
Willow shook her head, staring after the Slayer and the vampire; with a slight shake of her head, she focused back
on the book she was reading.
"So Wills, exactly what are we looking for?"
Willow sighed despondently, "That's the problem - I'm not really sure..."
Xander slunk into his chair, "Great, just great. A wonderful night ahead, without having any idea what we're doing."
Willow studied him over the rim of her tome, carefully; she set down the ancient text to fully study her best friend.
Xander looked up to find green eyes determinedly fixed on him. "What?"
Willow didn't reply as she continued to stare at him. Xander shivered lightly, a little uncomfortable beneath Willow's
probing gaze. "Willow, what is it? Come on, you're wigging me here."
Lightly, she shook her head, bowing her head in apology, "Sorry Xand, it's just that..."
"What?"
"What..." Willow stopped, not sure whether she should pursue this.
Xander rolled his eyes, seeing that Willow was just about twitching in her seat. "Spit it out Wills."
"What happened between you and Anya?"
The question hung in the air, as Xander leaned back, his face falling into an expressionless mask.
"We had a fight that's all."
Concerned, Willow pressed on, "Come on Xander, this is me you're talking to. I just want to help."
With a frown, Xander stared at Willow, "I could ask you a similar question - what happened between you and
Tara?"
Willow sat back, stung by the harsh tone in his voice. "Don't change the subject Xander."
Xander sighed, and finally looked back up at Willow, and she was stunned to see the pain in the chocolaty
depths. "I know I can be a colossal idiot - but this time..."
Willow rushed to reassure her friend who was obviously in pain, but Xander waved her aside, "Come on Wills,
I know you and Tara got in a fight - Tara's not even at home anymore. Can you imagine how I feel? I caused
that."
"Oh Xander..."
Again he cut her off, "Anya's..." he shook his head, unable to go on.
The two life-long friends sat, absorbed in thought, finally Willow looked up and smiled at him, "So...wanna go
pick up girls? There's this particularly yummy girl, brown hair..."
* * *
Spike growled low in his throat, resentful at being treated like this. Today had been a series of shocks, and he
was still reeling.
Buffy dragged him into the middle of the floor, turning to face him; she planted her hands on her hips, and waited
for him to stop muttering.
Spike glanced up at her, still resentful at being hauled around. "What now Slayer? Any more experiments?"
Buffy could see that he was still bristling over the tests she had run him through, probably an aversion since
his days at the hands of the Initiative. "Yeah, a couple more."
Without another warning, she punched him, his head snapped back.
Stunned, Spike gingerly touched his jaw and glared at her, "Oh great! Kick the vamp when he's down, why don't ya
Slayer?!"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Just testing if you can still take a punch, and considering you're still standing, and my guess
would be yeah."
Spike rolled his shoulders, still glaring at the Slayer.
Buffy sighed, "Too bad you can't fight back."
Spike heard the wistful tone in her voice, and his eyebrow shut upwards in surprise.
She wouldn't deny it, she had missed the days when they still fought physically, she would be the first to admit
that Spike was an excellent fighter, his movements fluid, graceful and masterful. To date, she had yet to find
another who so perfectly matched her in style and ability.
Spike shook his head, "Yeah too bad luv, it's been too long."
Buffy nodded in acquiescence, "Too long."
Hazel clashed with blue and clung, they looked intently at each other, a seeming eternity passing as they were lost
in the depths of each other's gaze.
Dawn's voice broke the silence, causing both of them to jump. Buffy guiltily cleared her throat, and tried to focus
on what her sister was saying, trying to ignore Spike's cocky grin.
"...not sure, but I think I found something."
Exchanging a glance, they quickly went out, and found Willow pouring over a book.
The witch looked up and motioned them over, "Hey guys take a look at what Dawn found."
Dawn grinned at them, "See? I'm useful!"
Buffy grinned at her, and ruffled her hair as she passed, "Maybe we'll keep you after all."
Buffy moved over to Willow's side and peered at the book, what she found was your average vamp.
"Wills - what is this? I mean, I just have to look over there - " she gestured at Spike, who obligingly slid on
his game face. " - and I have what's in the book."
Willow shook her head, "Not quite a vampire Buff, it's a Imitorlamia ...like a pseudo-vampire. It looks like
a vampire in full game-face all the time. It says here that the Imitorlamia doesn't feed on blood, like a
normal vampire would, but rather on a mortal's fear." Willow looked up excitedly, "So they go around
scaring people."
Buffy nodded, "So how do I kill it?"
"Oh...um..." Willow goes back to the book. "You can't stake it like a normal vampire, it won't turn to dust..."
"Ah-ha! Non-dusty!" Xander excitedly emphasised.
"It can only be killed while it's feeding, because that's the only time it physically manifests."
"Willow..." Buffy prompted impatiently.
Willow blushed, "Oh, right...you have to...well...chop off it's head. It gets stronger every time it feeds."
Spike frowned, "So pet, how can you tell if it's feeding off a person's fear? How do we know that it didn't
take a chomp, so to speak, out of you or the whelp?"
Willow rushed on, "Oh no, you see it's very specific. Being an imitation vampire, its mouth has to make contact
with the victims skin - a lot of them go for classic vampire neck bite. To the victim it feels like a vampire is
sucking the blood out of them, but it's actually feeding off...fear."
Buffy nodded in understanding, "So, how can I tell if it's an actual vampire or this imitation?"
"There won't be any actual bite marks on the victim..."
"But at the moment of feeding, how can I...?"
Spike shrugged off that concern, "Easy pet, vamps turn to dust if you slice our heads."
Buffy glared at him, "Are you suggesting I carry around a sword with me for patrol?"
Spike grinned at her, "Well, yeah."
"Exactly, how would I hide a sword?"
Xander piped up, "Why don't you ask Connor?"
They all turned to him puzzled; he rolled his eyes, "Connor McLeod of the Clan McLeod? Highlander?"
A chorus of "Ohs" revibrated around the room, and Xander sat back, pleased with himself.
Buffy sighed, "I guess I'll be carrying around a sword from now on."
* * *
Xander wearily let himself into the apartment., heading straight for the closet, he went to hang up his coat.
He flung the closet open, and stared dumbfounded at the lack of clothing within. Or to be precise, the lack
of Anya's clothing within.
Minutes ticked by, as Xander stared at the nearly empty closet, feeling his stomach clench tight. He had the
strongest urge to simply run to the bathroom and hurl out all the contents of his stomach.
Numb, he mechanically stripped off his jacket and hung it up in the painfully empty closet, before turning to
collapse on the bed, shoes and all.
Anya had left him.
* * *
Nervously, Willow tugged at her shirt, for what had to be the twentieth time since she arrived. She ran
trembling fingers through her hair, fixing a smile on her face.
A young woman, with chestnut hair, and large hazel eyes, opened the door. Leaning on the doorjamb,
her eyes ran over Willow. "You must be Willow...what do you want?"
Taken aback, Willow faltered beneath the scrutinising gaze, "I just...I was wondering if Tara..."
"She's sleeping." without another word, the woman slammed the door on Willow's face.
For a moment, all she could do was blink, as her eyes vainly tried focusing on the grainy wood.
Mechanicaly, she mumbled thanks, before stumbling out of the building and onto a bench.
Heavily, she sat down, tears already slipping down the curve of her cheek.
* * *
With a grunt of distaste, Anya stripped the dingy bed of its covers. Slowly, meticulously, she placed her
own covers on the disgusting bed, not wanting to speculate on the dark stains that covered the bed.
Grateful for her foresight, Anya sunk on the bed, and thought.
What future did she have? What job could she take? Her life was meaningless without...
Abruptly, Anya cut herself off. She really should've known. She'd been in the revenge business a damned
long time. What made her think she would be invulnerable to the thousand aches of the heart? She had been
a fool. An idiot, it was disgraceful.
* * *
"She's gone."
"I know." Tara turned to Clarise, "Thank you."
Clarise stared down at her, saw the pain in her eyes, "Are you sure you don't want to see her?"
Silently, the blonde shook her head, returning to her post by the window.
With a sigh, Clarise left her to seek the comfort her bed.
Tara gazed out the window, her gaze riveted on the slender figure who sat on the bench.
There was something about red hair in the moonlight, it had lustre, and a life of it's own, the fiery strands
gleaming beneath the pale light.
Feeling as if her heart was breaking, her eyes traced the path of one crystalline tear as it slid down Willow's
cheek , curving beneath her jaw finally falling on one pale hand.
~To be continued~
