BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

ODIUM

CHAPTER SEVEN: DEAD GIRL WALKING

The door to the Magic Box swung rapidly inward, rebounding of the doorstop embedded in the floor with surprising force. The bells chimed loudly through the silent store, their cheerful tinkling offsetting the grim mood of the gang who strode in through the door. Buffy clutched the sword tightly, as if it were a lifeline. She couldn't describe it, but when she held the sword she found it harder to concentrate. There was something nagging at the back of her mind, a quiet sadness, mixed in with equally muted despair. It was so slight, so distant it actually felt worse. She couldn't get a handle on its source, couldn't beat it back like she could other emotions.

"Well…" came Gibson's patronising voice, rising her from her silent feelings. "You going to hide that or just stick it in the window on the off chance he'll be stopping by?" She shot him a venomous look.

"You keep talking to me like that, I'll feed you to King when he turns up."

"You think it's that bad?" Said Willow, sounding concerned. "You think he'll definitely find us? I mean he doesn't know about the Magic Box right?"

"Doesn't matter Red." Said Spike, scratching nervously at the back of his neck. Buffy's eyes widened in surprise. She'd never seen Spike so agitated before. "He'll find us sooner or later. Follow one of you back here, or just find your homes and burn them to the ground one by one 'till you give him what he wants."

"But there must be something we can do." Willow continued with gratingly false optimism. "Some way to keep him away from it, right?" she glanced around the assembled group. Eventually Marcus shook his head.

"Sorry Willow, but your vampire's right." Spike gave him a sharp glare. "King will find us, and when he does, he'll come for the sword. There's nothing we can do to stop him."

Buffy sank miserably into a seat at the large round table near the counter as a wave of despair flooded over her. She couldn't believe the way this was going. They were all giving up one by one. King was winning and he had barely even lifted a finger. She shook her head in disbelief. There was definitely something to be said for having the reputation of an unstoppable vampire butcher. Gradually she tried to pull herself together, tried to bring her thoughts under control but all she could think of was King, his angular features twisted into the demonic face of a vampire. She could picture his razor sharp teeth at the throats of each and every one of them, tearing them apart as he came for Odium. Odium… That was it. Slowly she stood up and placed the sword on the counter, her slim fingers releasing the hilt almost grudgingly. The moment she let it go, it was as if a veil had been lifted. The despair she was feeling fled to the back of her mind as if it had never existed. She could think again.

"Buffy?" it was Giles' voice. "Buffy, are you alright?" She blinked slightly at the question.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked are you alright?"

"Yeah…" she said, staring at the sword all along. "I'm fine. Just be careful when you're handling the sword. There's something off about it." Gibson gave a sharp laugh.

"I could've told you that. I've never come across anything that sounded in my head so strongly." Buffy frowned. That was the second time she'd heard references to Gibson hearing things. Things it seemed other people couldn't.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she said. Gibson smiled at her.

"You're telling me, our mutual friend Ripper here hasn't told you about me yet?" he turned his smile to Giles, the vaguest hint of accusation creeping into his voice. "Don't keep your Slayer very up to date, do you Ripper."

"I wasn't sure it was you until we were almost back here." Said Giles, both his voice and eyes wary of the other Watcher. "If I'd known you were here, believe me, I'd have told her to steer well clear of you." Gibson turned back to Buffy, seemingly ignoring Giles.

"Ripper has never trusted my talent Buffy, though there was a point where it made for some…" he paused as if considering the right word, "interesting times. Isn't that right Ripper?" Giles simply stared back at him disapprovingly. Gibson continued as if the tension level in the room hadn't just sky rocketed.

"You see Buffy, I have a unique talent among my friends on the Council. I can hear auras." Willow looked up from where she was wringing her hands in desperation, confusion etched into her face. Buffy didn't blame her.

"What do you mean 'hear auras'?" she asked.

"He listens to people's souls." Said Giles as he sank into a chair, never taking his eyes of Gibson the whole time. "Or at least something similar. Depending on the strength of your aura, he can hear you a world away if he listens carefully enough." A slight grin touched his lips. "It makes him an excellent blood hound for the Council." Gibson's eyes darted sharply to Giles then back to Buffy again.

"I prefer the term, tracker." He sniffed.

"You're telling me you can hear where King is right now?" asked Buffy disbelievingly. Gibson gave her a sage nod. She folded her arms and gave him a smile that wreaked of mock innocence

"Prove it." She said smugly.

"Easily done." He said, his mouth twisting into a dark smile. "He's heading for your house." Buffy's smug smile evaporated. In its place was a look of complete horror.

"My hou…" she paused as her mind whirled from the shock. King knew where she lived! Worse still he could come and go as he pleased!

"Dawn!" she yelled, panic spreading through her whole being. She was running before she even finished, vaulting up the small stairs and out through the Magic Box door in an instant.

"Buffy wait!" Marcus' voice was distant, almost as if he was shouting for someone else. "Buffy!" she turned to see him sprinting after her.

"Marcus, I don't have time for this. He's found my home, and every moment I waste is giving him more time to get there."

"Just answer me this!"

"What?!" she demanded.

"Who's Dawn?"

"She's my sister." Marcus let out a slight sigh.

"This complicates things." A look of disbelief spread across her face.

"What's that supposed to mean? Does my sister not fit into your carefully considered plans for dealing with King? You never explained to me why you had such an interest in him!"

"I mean it complicates matters about whose to guard Odium. I mean if you even want to have a chance against King, you're going to need my help, right?" Buffy stared at him for a moment, before a slight smile split her lips.

"Thank you." She said softly.

"Hey," said Marcus with a small grin, "the longer we stand here wagging our jaws, the longer he has to get to your house right?" Buffy nodded, already breaking back into a run. 

*****

Buffy leapt from passenger seat of Giles' car before Marcus had even killed the engine. She sprinted desperately up the path to her front door, nearly tripping twice in her mad scramble to reach the house. How could she have been so brain dead! King knew her name, her friends, everything he needed to know to track her down, and yet she'd assumed he'd leave her family alone. No, she hadn't even assumed. The thought had just never come to her! Since this had all started two days ago, she'd never once thought that King might be tracking down her home so that he could strike out the dearest thing to her. Her family. She didn't even pause to open the door. Her shoulder dropped, she charged full tilt into the solid wood. The flimsy frame around the lock splintered under the pressure and the door slammed open, sending a deafening crash through the house.

"Dawn!" Buffy yelled, panic setting into her voice. "Dawn where are you?" There was no answer. She dashed hurriedly through the ground floor, pausing in each room for no more than a moment or too as she hunted for her sister. "Dawn! Please answer me!" tears were practically streaming down her cheeks as she hurtled through the house.

"Dawn please!" There was still no answer. She dashed into the hall and was about to start up the stairs when she caught sight of him. A broad figure stood at the top of the stairs, the sword tattoo next to his eye creased by a smile that split his face.

"Need a tissue Slayer?" He chuckled, motioning derisively at the tears that stained her cheeks. Buffy glared at him, her eyebrows arched in fury.

"What have you done with Dawn?" she growled in a tone that surprised even her.

"Dawn?" said King, cocking his head slightly. "Dawn, Dawn, Dawn, Dawn, Dawn." He clicked his tongue slightly as he mulled over the name. Buffy watched every move he made, cautiously waiting for any opening she could use to launch an attack. She watched as his hand moved slowly to the inside pocket of his jacket. All the time he was moving down the stairs toward her. He produced a torn section of photo, holding it up to the light as he moved.

"That would be this skinny little thing I assume, yes?" Buffy clenched her fists tightly, her fury rising with each passing second. "She can't be more than fifteen years old…." He paused and licked his lips. "Good, the younger they are, the better they taste."

Finally it exploded. With a scream of unadulterated fury, Buffy launched herself up the stairs toward the ancient vampire. As she hurled herself through the air, all she focused on was his face with that set jaw and dark penetrating eyes, eyes that all of a sudden she felt the need to tear out of their sockets. She delighted in the image of King being brought down by her as she plunged a stake into his heart and spat in his dust.  Suddenly she felt herself brought up short, a cold hand grasping at her throat. Her eyes widened as she felt icy fingers begin to tighten, choking the breath out of her. King held her like a rag doll, one arm holding her a full two feet from the stairs, so that she was eye to eye with him. His eyes looked her up and down, giving her an appraising gaze.

"So…." He said coldly. "You're learning after all." His hand tightened even further as Buffy kicked out vainly at him, her lungs felt like they were on fire. Just as everything began to fade into darkness, she heard a familiar voice crying out for her.

"Buffy!" she opened her eyes to see Marcus stood at the bottom of the stairs, tensing for his own attack.

"Let her go King!" he roared. "This is between you and me. Leave her out of this." King frowned for a moment, before tossing Buffy aside as if she was nothing more than an insect. She crashed heavily through the banister, plunging to the floor a good six feet below her.

"Between you and me?" he said, sounding a little taken aback. "What makes you think this is between you and me?" It was Marcus' turn t frown now.

"Hasn't it always?" King stared at him for a moment, then threw his head back and let out a roaring laugh.

"You're a fool Marcus!" he said, barely able to control his laughter. "And an arrogant fool at that. I owed you a debt of pain for what you did to me. A debt I now consider paid in full. If not for me you'd have your dream by now, your dream of life, to feel a heart pounding in your chest and blood racing through your veins. My debt to you is paid so now, you hold no interest for me." He turned his attention back to Buffy, and for an instant, a hateful sneer crossed his face.

"The Slayer on the other hand, has earned her own debt with me which must now be paid." Slowly and painfully, Buffy clambered to her feet, all along glaring at King.

"If I owe you, come and collect." She said, trying to hide the wince inducing pain she felt as her back straightened. "I'm sure I can pay you back." King gave her a dark smile as he stepped off the stairs and strode past Marcus to the front door. 

"Unfortunately Slayer," he said, turning to face her as he reached the doorway, "your currency isn't up to much at present. If you want your sister back, I suggest you listen for you already know how much I hate to repeat myself. Bring my sword to me at the old smelting plant on the outskirts of town in five hours time. If you don't have it for me then, well…." He held up the picture of Dawn and unceremoniously tore it in two. "I take my payment in the Girls blood." With that, he turned and disappeared into the night.