It All Ends Sometimes…
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I'm just playing with them for fun, no money involved. This story will be multiple chapters, at parts the rating will change, and those will be announced as they do. Over all, it will be at least R, and definitely more adult in spots. Enjoy.
Chapter Two
Buffy Summers walked through the front door to her home, dejected and fatigued, the victim of yet another shift at the Doublemeat Palace. Hat in hand, she tiredly walked in and headed to the kitchen, tossing her short bobbed hair around, running her hand through the blonde mane and grimacing at the greasy feel.
"Ew, much?" She moaned, a look of pure disgust distorting her fragile features. Walking into the kitchen, she set the bag in her hand down on the counter and called out, "Dawn! I'm home!"
The Slayer opened the refrigerator and pulled the juice carton out, opening it and drinking straight from the container. She swiped the back of her hand across her mouth and grabbed the bag she'd come in with, opening it.
"Dawn? I brought food, yummy food…food fit for…" Buffy looked at the wrapped sandwich she was extracting from the bag. "Well, I brought food! Come and get it! Hey, it's a new item on the men…" Buffy turned as her sister walked in, an uneasy and reluctant expression on her face. The youngest and newest Summers sat on a bar stool and placed her chin in her hands, her hair falling around her face, framing it with a soft brunette curtain.
"Buffy, not to seem ungrateful, but I already ate. Sorry…" Dawn gave a small half smile, the expression on her face apologetic. She hoped frantically that Buffy couldn't tell she was lying, desperately lying. God, I CAN'T eat another Doublemeat ANYTHING!
Buffy nodded. "Well, maybe Willow will want it."
Dawn shook her head. "I doubt it." She smiled, the grin wickedly curving her features. "Willow is over at Tara's dorm, 'working on her computer'." The teen said, that last said with her fingers making a "quote" motion in the air.
Buffy's eyes went wide, her mouth dropping open, ending in a huge smile. "No way! You think they're on the mend finally?"
Dawn shrugged. "She sure seemed cheerful on the way out. She left about three hours ago, in a HUGE hurry. She was moving so fast, she nearly knocked Spike…" Dawn stopped, the guilty look on her face enhanced by how red she was turning.
Buffy rolled her eyes, heaving an exasperated sigh. "Dawn! Spike was here? Please tell me he left, please…" Dawn looked uncomfortable, eyes looking about the kitchen at the curtains, the fridge…anywhere but at her older sister. "Dawn, he DID leave, right?"
The kitchen door opened, admitting a peroxide blonde man, leather duster rustling softly as he eased into the kitchen. Spike reached behind himself, flicking his nearly spent cigarette out the door. "Actually luv, he didn't." Spike exhaled the smoke out the door before shutting it behind himself. "He just stepped out for a fag."
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The vampire sat back in the shadows, golden eyes hungrily eyeing the female body lying at his feet. His gaze traveled over every inch of its lithe form, noting the length of her legs, the soft swell of her buttocks. The demon licked his lips, tasting the remnants of her blood, relishing the tangy, salty flavor. I bet she tastes real good other places, too. The creature chuckled at the thought, reaching out with his hands to the cold and stiffening body, running his hands over the corpse's legs, stroking the thighs and squeezing the curves of her backside, still in the ripped panties from his earlier attack. He checked his watch, then settled back to wait. Yeah, I bet real good…
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Buffy grabbed the arm of the British vampire. "Spike, I'm tired. I just got home, I'm going to bed…" The corner of Spike's mouth curled up at Buffy's words. "Really, luv? Well…"
"…and you're leaving. Go home Spike." Buffy moved the vampire to the door, opened it, and ushered him out. "Good night Spike."
William the Bloody grinned, opening his mouth to retort with a smart-ass reply as he leaned against the doorframe, reaching out to stroke the Slayer's cheek. Hastily, he drew it back as Buffy slammed the door, nearly smashing his hand in the process. "Fine, be that way, ya git. Don't come crying to the Big Bad when you can't nod off." He sulked. Stepping off of the back porch, he reached into his duster and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one and dropping his lighter into his pocket. Looking back, a disgusted snort escaped from his mouth, smoke curling from his lips and nose. Shaking his head, he stalked off, the night enveloping his form into its warm embrace, the humidity from the earlier storm making the air thick and oppressive.
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Buffy turned back from the door to pin an accusing glare on her younger sister who, inexplicably, had disappeared. "Dawn? Answers? Now?" Buffy moved out of the kitchen and up the stairs. "What were you and Spike doing here all this time?" Halfway up the stairs, the ringing of the phone stopped her. Rolling her eyes to the ceiling with an exasperated groan, the blonde turned and made her way back down to answer the phone. "Hello?"
"B-Buffy? This is Tara. Have you seen Willow?!"
"Tara! Hi! What are you calling me for? I'd've thought you and Will would—" Buffy stopped speaking, icy spiders crawling up her spine. Noting the note of worry and frantic tone coming through the phone line, Buffy latched onto the last words Tara spoke…Have you seen Willow. "She still hasn't shown up yet? When did you speak to her last?" Buffy turned and yelled up the stairs, hand covering the mouthpiece. "Dawn!"
Buffy could hear the worry in Tara's voice. "It's been at least three hours. I know she can be distracted so I didn't worry at first, but after this long she would've at least called. Buffy, I'm really worried."
"Ok Tara, just stay there in case she shows up. I'll start looking and Dawn will call Xander and Anya to help. Call Xan's cell-phone or beep me if she shows. I'm sure she's ok, Tara." Buffy hung up the phone as her face screwed up into a furious mask. "DAWN!! Damn it; get your ass down here! Willow's missing and I don't have time for your games!" Buffy raced up the stairs to her room, grabbing her weapons chest and rummaging through for stakes, her favorite axe, and other miscellaneous items of death. Dawn careened around the corner, breathing hard.
"What?! I thought she was going to--"
Buffy grimly cut her off. "She never showed up." Straightening, she turned to her sister and asked. "When did she leave, Dawn?" The Slayer headed out of her room, moving her sister out of the way and heading down the stairs.
"Um…uh…three or four hours ago? I-I'm not sure--" The teen paused, then brightened. "Oh, wait! Spike might know! He got here right as she was leaving!"
Buffy rolled her eyes and said, "Great. Spike again. Why can't he just disappear?!" She paused at the front door. "Call Xander and Anya. Have them meet me at the campus gates and make sure he has his cell-phone with him." The eldest Summers spun around and took off at a run, her senses at their fullest, making a direct line for the campus of UC Sunnydale.
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Darkness.
Consciousness slowly roused the creature, awareness slowly clawing its way to the fore. "Feeeed--what?--FEED!--So hungry--So HUNGRY--" She tried to move, but her body wouldn't quite cooperate—she seemed at war with herself, willing herself to move, but being fought every step of the way. "I can't…move--you're mine—no--you're ME—NO—YES—I…I'm…nooo…."
The battle ended and a finger twitched.
After the finger, the entire hand spasmed, then moved, extending up to full extension, then flexing down to push against the alley sidewalk, straight-arming the body over from its prone position to supine. Her entire body shuddered, twitched, then lay still, eyes blinking in confusion, slowly coming into focus.
The vampire watching this with absorbed interest moved from his seated posture to hands and knees, moving over to the woman, his hands slipping up her thigh, under her shirt and over her belly, finally cupping a pert, full breast.
"Well, I see someone decided to wake up. Welcome to the Undead, Childe." He said, a dry, rasping chuckle echoing from his lungs. He reached for her shirt and began to slice buttons off, his talons whicking them away with careless ease. "You and I…we're going to have so much fun. You see, Childe, as your Sire, you have to obey me." He moved his hand to her bra, slipping a single talon beneath the center strap. "Your first order, sweetmeat, is to make me feel really, really good."
He bent down and began to lick her neck, his raspy tongue slipping across her skin, fetid breath in her face, fangs grazing the too white skin, brushing over the location of the now non-existent killing wound. Her hair smelled of sandalwood and coppery blood, the combination arousing his lust, making the demon in him respond. He felt hands reach up to cup his face and he smiled, fangs showing in the dim light. "Hey, no need to be tender. I didn't plan on being nice to you, bitch."
His golden eyes met those of his new Childe and saw the typical ridged face and golden eyes of a vampire. The golden eyes rested behind a frame of luscious, thick red hair…which suddenly changed as the eyes suddenly swirled to a deep, socket filling black, leaving the gold as dim specks in the obsidian depths. He inhaled sharply in surprise, then in sudden fear as she whispered back, "Oh good. Tender is SO boring…bitch."
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Buffy slid to a stop at the gates of the UCS campus, eyes roving and calling, "Willow! Willow, can you hear me?" Frantically she hurried about, her senses keenly attuned to the sounds and feel of the night. Cocking her head, she sniffed the air, taking in the fresh, washed scent of the night. Unfortunately, the earlier downpour of rain virtually killed any other scents, so that sense was virtually useless. Most of the Scoobies weren't aware of it, but her Slayer sense went beyond just her "6th sense" feelings...they also included the normal five. Her sight and hearing were often the most used, but her sense of taste, touch, and smell were all equally acute. Off in the distance, she heard a male voice calling, "Willow! Red, where are you?"
The Slayer let out a breath of tension. At least something is working out, she thought. "Xander! Anya! Over here!" Buffy headed over to where she had heard her high school friend, alert for any signs of danger on the way. "Xander, any luck?" She asked as the tall, brown haired man strode into view, a thin, dishwater blonde walking beside him, arms wrapped around her torso from the night chill.
"No, none." He replied, swiping his hand up and through his hair, already tousled from his bed…and judging from the scent coming from them both, they weren't sleeping when Dawn called them. "Dawn said she was going to Tara's. Has she seen or heard from her?"
Buffy shook her head while scanning the dark, shadowy grounds. "No, Tara called us to ask if we knew where she was. She was supposed to have been there hours ago." The slim blonde looked troubled, a pained look flitting across her features. She heaved a great sigh then said. "We need more help. I'm going to get Spike…he was the last to see her. You two keep looking around here."
Xander rolled his eyes. "Oh joy, Evil Dead Boy is going to be so much help, I'm sure…make sure you have plenty of cash on you."
Anya piped up. "Yes, just make sure it's not ours…we need that money. Yes."
Buffy rolled her eyes and moved off towards the cemetery that housed Spike's crypt. "He may be a pain in the ass," she called out. "But he has his uses." Buffy tried to hide her guilty look as she turned to go. More than you know, she thought.
Author's Note: Ok, Chap 3 starts tomorrow…Living Dead Girl…is she Willow? (duh!) Will the Scoobies find her? Will Buffy boff Spike instead of searching? Will Anya ever NOT pinch a penny? Tune in for Chap 3 to find out…