1 Author's note: Thanks ever so much for the reviews. They are especially
helpful as I get nearer the end of this. Keep'em coming.
2 Entry# 28
Three days later there was another dead girl. This time her body was left in the woods adjacent to the Initiative's main entrance. As was expected, the media descended on Sunnydale and had a field day. The gist of the reporting was pure speculation that covered everything from a reopening of the Hellmouth to a powerful vamp gang but mostly it focused on the resurgence of the reign of William the bloody.
Giles insisted that I take up the traditional duties of a slayer. So from midnight to dawn I was out trying to find whoever was doing the killings. From dawn to dusk I was watching my lover die.
William mostly slept and merely sat up in bed as I tried to get him to sip from a mug. He seemed to have lost all interest in feeding. A dying body no longer requires sustenance.
By now I was near the breaking point. Willow tried to calm me down by promising that Xander was going to come through. I wasn't so sure.
The Initiative had tripled their efforts at security. It was a common sight to see their black jeeps circling the quiet Sunnydale streets or the squads patrolling the more urban areas. Sunnydale residents were place under a strictly enforced curfew but nobody complained.
With all the going-on it was understandable that Xander would have some trouble doing what he promised. The rational part of me understood that but the emotional part raged against this. And as always, my emotions got the better of me.
Just as I was seriously considering storming the compound I got the call from Xander. All was set for next Tuesday, exactly four days from now.
Xander had managed to scrounge-up two alpha-level ID's with total access to the labs. They came complete with Initiative gear to fit the roles. I also got a blueprint of the setup and a copy of the rotation so that I could know who was scheduled to be there at that time. I was relieved to discover that Riley would be away from the base and leading a patrol squad. Xander informed me that I would be going in between the hours of 1 and 2 am so even a workaholic like Maggie Walsh would have already gone home. I only had to contend with a skeleton crew. Xander had gone above and beyond and I was just about to tell him so when he dropped the bombshell.
I had to take William with me.
There was no way to disable the signal. The chip itself would have to be disabled and the only way to do that would be by running William through a device that resembled a CAT scanner and was housed in the lower level of the lab.
I was not only supposed to walk into the heart of the Initiative with their most-wanted by my side, I also had to walk in with a man who was too weak to even stay awake.
Xander understood my predicament but could not give me a solution. Somehow William had to impersonate an Initiative guard long enough to get us to that machine.
Mission f***ing impossible but I was out of options. Except for one
***
Its D-day. Xander had delivered the packet just an hour ago with last minute indications. I took it from him and gave him a much-deserved hug. I was extremely relieved that he hugged me back and wished me good-luck as he left. He was still Xander after all.
After going through all its contents, I placed the packet on the kitchen counter. On the island table were the two items I would need. I picked them up and made my way downstairs.
As usual, William was sleeping. I looked at his unconscious form for a bit. Two days ago he had stopped feeding altogether and it showed in his almost translucent pallor and sunken eyes. It hurt me to have to see him like this. And made what I was about to do a lot easier.
I put the can of vegetable juice on the bedside table, took a razor blade out of its cardboard envelope and drew it against my neck.
The blood flowed as I guided my lover's mouth towards its source. At first it merely stained his pale lips but soon enough I felt a weak suctioning against my throat. Even half-asleep I knew that he wouldn't be able to resist Slayer's blood. It was in his nature.
From my readings I had learned that the only thing that could save William was my very essence. Blood was life to a vampire and mine was especially strong. It would allow him to regain some strength, albeit only temporarily. What the books had not touched upon was the effect on me.
As William nursed I felt a change within me. A communion of sorts was occurring between Slayer/Vampire, Buffy/William that went beyond mere physical expression. It was as if my soul was being transferred to him through my blood. Flowing into him. I wanted it to stop and at the same time I wanted it to continue till I was completely immersed in him.
We rolled off the bed and I landed hard on the floor. I couldn't have cared less. My focus was entirely on him. His eyes were open now and were locked on mine. I was further lost in its blue depths.
Suddenly he pushed me away and backed against the bed frame. His expression was horrified.
"Buffy" was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.
TBC.
2 Entry# 28
Three days later there was another dead girl. This time her body was left in the woods adjacent to the Initiative's main entrance. As was expected, the media descended on Sunnydale and had a field day. The gist of the reporting was pure speculation that covered everything from a reopening of the Hellmouth to a powerful vamp gang but mostly it focused on the resurgence of the reign of William the bloody.
Giles insisted that I take up the traditional duties of a slayer. So from midnight to dawn I was out trying to find whoever was doing the killings. From dawn to dusk I was watching my lover die.
William mostly slept and merely sat up in bed as I tried to get him to sip from a mug. He seemed to have lost all interest in feeding. A dying body no longer requires sustenance.
By now I was near the breaking point. Willow tried to calm me down by promising that Xander was going to come through. I wasn't so sure.
The Initiative had tripled their efforts at security. It was a common sight to see their black jeeps circling the quiet Sunnydale streets or the squads patrolling the more urban areas. Sunnydale residents were place under a strictly enforced curfew but nobody complained.
With all the going-on it was understandable that Xander would have some trouble doing what he promised. The rational part of me understood that but the emotional part raged against this. And as always, my emotions got the better of me.
Just as I was seriously considering storming the compound I got the call from Xander. All was set for next Tuesday, exactly four days from now.
Xander had managed to scrounge-up two alpha-level ID's with total access to the labs. They came complete with Initiative gear to fit the roles. I also got a blueprint of the setup and a copy of the rotation so that I could know who was scheduled to be there at that time. I was relieved to discover that Riley would be away from the base and leading a patrol squad. Xander informed me that I would be going in between the hours of 1 and 2 am so even a workaholic like Maggie Walsh would have already gone home. I only had to contend with a skeleton crew. Xander had gone above and beyond and I was just about to tell him so when he dropped the bombshell.
I had to take William with me.
There was no way to disable the signal. The chip itself would have to be disabled and the only way to do that would be by running William through a device that resembled a CAT scanner and was housed in the lower level of the lab.
I was not only supposed to walk into the heart of the Initiative with their most-wanted by my side, I also had to walk in with a man who was too weak to even stay awake.
Xander understood my predicament but could not give me a solution. Somehow William had to impersonate an Initiative guard long enough to get us to that machine.
Mission f***ing impossible but I was out of options. Except for one
***
Its D-day. Xander had delivered the packet just an hour ago with last minute indications. I took it from him and gave him a much-deserved hug. I was extremely relieved that he hugged me back and wished me good-luck as he left. He was still Xander after all.
After going through all its contents, I placed the packet on the kitchen counter. On the island table were the two items I would need. I picked them up and made my way downstairs.
As usual, William was sleeping. I looked at his unconscious form for a bit. Two days ago he had stopped feeding altogether and it showed in his almost translucent pallor and sunken eyes. It hurt me to have to see him like this. And made what I was about to do a lot easier.
I put the can of vegetable juice on the bedside table, took a razor blade out of its cardboard envelope and drew it against my neck.
The blood flowed as I guided my lover's mouth towards its source. At first it merely stained his pale lips but soon enough I felt a weak suctioning against my throat. Even half-asleep I knew that he wouldn't be able to resist Slayer's blood. It was in his nature.
From my readings I had learned that the only thing that could save William was my very essence. Blood was life to a vampire and mine was especially strong. It would allow him to regain some strength, albeit only temporarily. What the books had not touched upon was the effect on me.
As William nursed I felt a change within me. A communion of sorts was occurring between Slayer/Vampire, Buffy/William that went beyond mere physical expression. It was as if my soul was being transferred to him through my blood. Flowing into him. I wanted it to stop and at the same time I wanted it to continue till I was completely immersed in him.
We rolled off the bed and I landed hard on the floor. I couldn't have cared less. My focus was entirely on him. His eyes were open now and were locked on mine. I was further lost in its blue depths.
Suddenly he pushed me away and backed against the bed frame. His expression was horrified.
"Buffy" was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.
TBC.