BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

ODIUM

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters from the TV shows of Angel or Buffy. They belong to Joss and the rest of the gang. All the other characters are figments of my own imagination, so I hope you enjoy them.

Authors Note: This being a sequel to one of my earlier stories called Inner Light, here are some quick pointers to those of you who haven't read it and don't really want to.

King is an ancient and very powerful vampire who used to rule a kingdom of vampires. He was dying of a poison and seeking a life-giving temple beneath Sunnydale to restore him. His symbol is black bladed sword. He was eventually cured but then sealed in by Buffy.

Marcus is a vampire bogeyman, known as The Reaver. His mother was cursed prior to his birth causing him to be still born, yet to grow like the living. Being dead, all of his senses save his sight are dulled and next to useless. His blood is poison to vampires and he is the one who poisoned King. He too was seeking the temple to restore himself but he was never able to use it.

Phew, that took longer than I thoughtJ so without further ado, its now season five (post Riley breakup) and here's the sequel. One last thing, if you've read this far please read and review.

"…hatred is by far the longest pleasure; Men love

in haste but they detest at leisure…"

                                                                                    Lord Byron

PROLOGUE: THE BIG CITY

The shadows cloaked the stranger as he huddled in the corner beneath his stinking blanket. The night was rich with living blood so glorious he could almost taste it. Mere metres away at the mouth of the alleyway cars roared through the night in a blur of light and sound. The sounds and sights tantalised his senses almost as much as the smells of the world around him. Hundreds of people, men, women and children crammed into such a small space sent his thirst almost spiralling out of control. He licked his dry cracked lips and groaned. The city was so tempting. It was a wondrous feast upon which he could gorge himself and slate his almost insatiable thirst. Worst of all it was only a couple of metres away. He groaned again at the sheer temptation of it and huddled closer to his blanket. The stench of the blanket masked the smell of the thousands of people all around him but it felt like simply being a case of choosing a lesser evil over a greater one.

The scratching sensation at the back of his head began and immediately he knew there was nothing he could do to hide from this. Wherever he went and no matter how far he ran there was nothing he could do to escape from him. The voice was cruel, endless and unceasing, a constant barrage that taunted and mocked him. It even fought with him. Many times over he had found himself losing control over himself when the voice came into his head. He'd run so far to try and escape from him but in the end he had ended up here. Los Angeles, the city of Angels. He was only looking for one.

The footsteps echoed down the alleyway chasing the approaching voices back into the recesses of his mind. Slowly he raised his head and watched as the tall figure strode past him and down the alley. It was a man. He was tall with a medium build and walked slightly hunched. A long black coat fell down to the back of his knees and his posture seemed very restrained, almost as if he was holding something back. Considering what the stranger knew of this person it would seem most likely that he was.

"I know you." He rasped through his parched throat. The sound was low and guttural.

"What did you say?" The tall man said turning to face him.

"I said I know you." The man leaned closer trying to see him.

"I'm sorry." He said, shaking his head as he did so. "But I don't think I've ever met you before." He began fumbling in his pocket. "Here. You look like you could use this more than I do." His hand emerged holding a few crumpled notes. The stranger smiled revealing glistening white teeth that seemed surprisingly clean next to the rest of his grime covered body.

"I don't need your money Angel." The man stepped back slightly. He disguised his surprise well behind his brooding mask but the stranger could tell he was alarmed by the use of his name.

"How do you know my name?" he asked. The stranger smiled again.

"I already told you, I know everything about you."

"And I told you we've never met before."

"And I've never met you but that doesn't matter. The point is that I know you and I know what you are." His own face rippled into a cruel twisted visage of its former self.

"You're a Vampire!" Angel gasped. The stranger wasn't in the least surprised by the amazement in the others voice. After all most Vampires didn't live like this.

"Got it in one." He said. Slowly he stood up, his height equalling Angel's "But that isn't the only thing we have in common."

"Oh really," Angel said straightening slightly. "And what's that?" The stranger's eyes narrowed.

"Take one guess." He hissed.