A/N: I should really be catching up on my Harry Potter fic at the moment, but I've sorta developed a block for it...ah well, at least y'all get a Buffy chapter! Man, I really have to finish off the re-written version of Grace's diary, but I guess it'll have to wait until I've finished this fic.

Disclaimer: See other chapters. Not interested in writing this.

Dedication: Whoever invented holidays. **Grins** I just love mine!

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The vampire approached the sideroom of the warehouse apprehensively. Dawn had been lighting the skies for just over an hour now, and two hadn't returned from last nights hunt. Now came the question of how to break the news to Zachary without ending up like Lee. The leader was in a foul mood owing to several factors of annoyance: Ambulo Mortuus, diminishing numbers of the army, and lack of food. He'd sent several vamps out to get him some prey as he didn't trust Ambulo Mortuus alone, but last nights pair hadn't come back. Now, they were either staked or combusted or fled. Which would Zachary prefer to hear?

Hovering outside the entrance, the vampire could hear Zachary inside talking angrily to the shrouded witch that was Ambulo Mortuus.

"How much longer do we have to wait to find the Book of Amora?" he demanded. "We have known its position for long enough!"

"Zachary." Ambulo Mortuus cut in. "If you truly wish to restore the Anointed One to his full former glory, you must have patience. I am certain that he would be grateful for it in the long run."

There was a split-second pause before there came a terrible crash- Zachary had slammed his hand into an already broken table. His voice was angry and full of loathing when he next spoke.

"Remind me why we don't kill you now."

"You can't. I could send you back from me with a simple utterance of a spell. I could wipe you from existence with my magicks. Even the brute force and intense strength you put to use in controlling this sorry gathering are not a match for black magicks."

Zachary's voice lost none of its hatred and fury, but gained a sarcastic note of wonderment to it. "And yet you are but mortal.If you were stripped of your powers, you would be nothing."

"As you would be to in circumstances as such. As would anybody."

Zachary laughed derisively. "You talk highly for one so lowly. Why are you doing this exactly?"

"You already know what it is that I want in return for my services."

"Eternal life as one of us? But why is it you require it such?"

"The reasons are my own, and I choose not to divulge them with you or anyone else."

"Again, the haughtiness. And why do you mask your identity with this cloak?"

"My reasons are my own. Why should such trivial things as looks bother you when I aid you in restoring your rightful leader, as well as bringing to you the Slayer and her associates, including the traitorous vampires you seek, for the leader's will to deal with."

The vampire messanger lurking outside could see nothing of what was happening inside from where he stood, but listened with some interest to the conversation, worries about delivering his message to Zachary currently forgotton. Of course, he wondered also who Ambulo Mortuus really was- most did- but nobody spoke of it. The cloaked stranger was evidently ruthless and powerful.

Without warning, a strong hand shot out around the door and grabbed the vampire by his hair. With a yelp, the messanger was pulled into the room and slammed against the wall by his very irate leader.

"It's not polite to eavesdrop." Zachary hissed through his fangs. The vamp's eyes widened and he visibly gulped.

"I...I didn't mean...I'm sorry, I..."

Over Zachary's shoulder he could see Ambulo Mortuus standing tall and thin, arms folded across their cloaked chest. A smirk was evident in their next words.

"Spare us from your rambling. Did you have a purpose in coming here?"

In a lightning fast movement, Zachary's grip shifted to the vamp's throat and he seized up a broken leg of the table, pressing the splintered end into the vamp's chest.

"Well, Tom? Did you have cause to be here, or was it just a social call?"

"I...had to tell you. Andy and Tanna didn't return from the hunt last night."

"So that was why I went without a meal for another day." Zachary sneered, prodding the makeshift stake harder towards the messanger's heart. "And here I was, convinced that my followers were loyal enough to bring me a meal. But no. It has been two nights since I have eaten, two nights! And then that was just a morsel. A mere taste." He dug his claw-like nails into the vamp's throat. "Pray that the Anointed One will be as patient as I."

With that, he dropped the vampire to the ground and tossed the stake aside. The vamp massaged his neck, knowing that Ambulo Mortuus's shadowed eyes were boring into him with a glint of sadistic glee. Those thin, pale hands uncurled themselves and flexed as though pining for a fight.

Zachary was still continuing his tirade.

"Soon I tell you, we shall raise our master and I shall be as free as any of you to go and hunt! But I exercise loyalty for my betters, unlike the idiots I am forced to control! This Slayer diminishes our numbers time and again, and a simple meal for one vampire is now having to be risen again just to keep our numbers up! She..." Unable to express his rage in words, Zachary picked up a large part of the table and flung it against the wall, where it snapped in half. He roared angrily.

"Zachary, tempers are to be controlled outside of fights." Ambulo Mortuus chided in their cold accented voice. "The ritual will take care of her. And as of which, I shall leave now. But remember what they say."

Zachary said nothing but glared at Ambulo Mortuus with such hatred that anyone else would probably run whimpering. But not the witch.

"Don't kill the messanger."

With a parting scornful glance at both of them, the mysterious witch left.

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