The Itch
Growling, Buffy threw the vampire off of her. She leapt up, and brought the stake quickly down, pushing it deep into his heart. A surprised look crossed his face, and then there was nothing. Smirking, she stood up, and walked over to her gear. 'And another one bites the dust...' Smiling, she grabbed her gear, and walked out of the park, heading for her small apartment. Sunrise was only 3 hours away, which meant that work was only 4 away. Grumbling softly to herself, she unlocked the door, and entered her loft apartment. It wasn't bad, but the price was more then she would have liked. Tossing her shoes off, she re-locked the front door, and then crossed to the small bathroom. Buffy started to peel the clothes away. She had worn a tight baby tee, with a pair of old baggy sweat pants. Her long hair was thrown haphazardly into a ponytail, which was half falling out. Turning on the shower, and adjusting the heat, Buffy removed the last of her clothes, and slipped into the warm caressing water.
As she let the water pound across her back, Buffy let her mind drift, as she often does in the dark recesses of night. Her mind touched briefly on Angel, her failed love. She missed him, and hadn't seen him in years, though once in a while, she received a letter, or phone call. He was busy now, his life having taken a turn after her that tore them apart. She was glad he was happy, but she really wished she could be, too. Her hands absently dragged the small bath puff across her wet skin, leaving a sudsy trail of vanilla scented soap behind it. Her mind continued its foray. She touched on her short affair with Riley, which ended with him leaving town. He had been a vampire junkie, craving the feeling of being bitten. She still didn't understand that. The years passed by to quickly for her. She was starting to feel as though she were attached to a live fuse, and was just waiting for the end now. Breaking down, she started to sob in the shower. Her back slid against the cool wall, until she was sitting on the floor of the tub, the water hitting her to mix with her tears.
Finally, she stopped, and turned the water off. She pulled herself from the tub, and wrapped a towel around her body. Buffy dried off quickly, and crawled to her futon. Since she only had enough money for a loft, she hadn't wasted money on both a couch and a bed. Instead, she bought a futon, and had both, in one. She quickly fell asleep, her empty mind to weary for even a dream.
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Her birthday was quickly approaching, and the council had plans for her. She was getting on in years, and they needed to know she could still do her job properly. It wasn't her strengths they were worried about, but rather her mind. They feared the time for her to self-destruction was growing near. A single plan, much like that on her 18th birthday, but more then just that. For Buffy's 25th birthday, she would be locked into a house with one of her enemies, and no strength, no help, nothing. There would be no lights, and the doors wouldn't open for 72 hours. They knew she would not come out happy, but it had to be done, to test her mental awareness. 1 beast would enter the house, both being locked into a cell. It would be released once Buffy was there. The clock was ticking, and it was almost time. The council had done their homework, and came up with the one thing she had never been able to defeat when it was in Sunnydale. It had been years since she had gone against, or even seen it.
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Opening her eyes, Buffy frowned. It was still dark. She felt like she had slept for hours, but that couldn't be, because it wasn't light out. She sat up, and looked over towards her clock, but it wasn't there. Frowning again, she went to stand up, only to realize she was on a mattress on the floor. She quickly stooped into a defensive crouch, and looked around, but could make nothing out. Her mind felt so fuzzy, so unclear. Nothing was making sense, and as she stood there, she grew dizzy. Before she knew what was happening, Buffy slumped over, passed back out.
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Groaning, Spike held his head as he sat up. He looked around, and growled loudly, seeing that he was locked up in a dark cage. Just like a bleedin animal, he thought. He stood and started to pace back and forth, growling to himself in a low guttural way. Stopping, Spike turned his eyes up, sticking his nose slightly in the air. He sniffed quickly, and then took a longer drawn out breath. That smell. He knew that smell. Slayer blood. He cursed softly, fearing that his time was nearing an end. He continued to prowl, and started calling out taunts in the darkened room. He could make out a smaller room attached to this one, and had a feeling that's where the slayer waited for him.
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Whimpering softly, Buffy placed a hand on her aching head. She sat up, slowly this time. Looking around her, she could make out nothing in this dark room. As she tried to get oriented to the room, she heard it. A voice she hadn't heard in years, but still knew from the first sound uttered. Spike. She should have known he was behind this.
"What's the matter slayer, to scared to come and get me? Just lie there, doing nothing. That's fine. Makes it more fun for me anyway when the girls just lay there." She stood, and her hand quickly shot out to find a wall. Luckily, she found it just as her body started to give out. Leaning heavily against the wall, she inched forward, slowly and cautiously.
"Come on, then, Slayer. Let's have at it. I feel the need to mess with your doilies." That voice, how it grated on her last nerves. She had sent him away after that whole mess with Angelus, and until now, she hadn't heard from him again. She couldn't say she was upset at having never heard from him again. Finally, she found a doorway, and crept through it. She was looking blindly from side to side.
Spike knew the instant she entered the room. The hairs covering his arms and neck stood on end, and he turned in the cage just in time to see her enter the room. His lips curving into a sardonic smile, he started rattling at the cage walls. He smiled gleefully when he saw her jump and turn towards his direction. Just as he was about to start calling out more taunts, the cage lifted, and his eyes narrowed. He had been watching her, and knew she hadn't opened it for him. Just what was she up to?
As soon as the cage cleared his body, he sprung forward, pouncing on her. She fell quickly to the floor, and then went into defensive mode. Jabbing upward, she tried to unbalance him, and succeeded only in tossing his upper body far enough to the side that she could pull away from him. Crouching on the floor, she stopped breathing for a moment, and concentrated on just the sound of the room. Her senses were attuned only so far, however, and in this situation, she sensed nothing of him.
Spike got up, and started prowling around her like a lion on the hunt. He knew she was lost without her vision, and that it would be fun to make her suffer before killing her. He stepped back finally, and watched her turn in circles. She was scared, he thought.
Looking around, Buffy shivered. She had felt it once before. She knew what was happening. Her powers were gone. Her extra sensitive senses, her strength, everything. Growling, she looked in one direction, and focused all her energy there.
Spike watched as the scared slayer quickly became a brassed off slayer. He knew that look. Preferred it really, to that mousy scared look she had on before. He liked to talk big, but deep down, he would prefer the fight to the girl just giving up to him. It was like foreplay, really, this dance of theirs. Spike's eyes narrowed when he noticed that she was looking directly at him. He knew she couldn't see him, but he figured her senses had kicked in.
"What's the matter, slayer, confused?"
"The only thing that confuses me right now, is why you came back, and why the little ho didn't." She quickly started towards the voice. She stumbled once, then righted herself, and walked until she was right in front of where she had figured him to be. Looking at him, or hoping she was, she smirked. "What's the matter, she giving it out to everyone but you?"
Spike's hand shot out, and backhanded her. Buffy had been expecting it, to some degree, but still wasn't prepared for it. She went sprawling, and felt the world spin. Shaking herself for a moment, she sat up again, and looked up at him. He stilled when the scent of blood filled the air. Growling low, he looked down at her, and saw blood dripping from her nose.
She went to stand, but the dizziness assailed her senses again for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she stood, and faced the dark spot.
Spike silently circled the slayer, watching her reactions to the hit. He had fought her before, and she seemed off. Something wasn't right. Finally, he stopped, this time behind her. He leaned in, and gently whispered by her ear.
"What am I doing here, slayer?" She jumped and spun around, fist flying out and connecting with his jaw. It staggered him a bit, but nothing like what it should have. His laugh sounded loudly in the room, breaking the tentative silence.
More to follow soon!
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Growling, Buffy threw the vampire off of her. She leapt up, and brought the stake quickly down, pushing it deep into his heart. A surprised look crossed his face, and then there was nothing. Smirking, she stood up, and walked over to her gear. 'And another one bites the dust...' Smiling, she grabbed her gear, and walked out of the park, heading for her small apartment. Sunrise was only 3 hours away, which meant that work was only 4 away. Grumbling softly to herself, she unlocked the door, and entered her loft apartment. It wasn't bad, but the price was more then she would have liked. Tossing her shoes off, she re-locked the front door, and then crossed to the small bathroom. Buffy started to peel the clothes away. She had worn a tight baby tee, with a pair of old baggy sweat pants. Her long hair was thrown haphazardly into a ponytail, which was half falling out. Turning on the shower, and adjusting the heat, Buffy removed the last of her clothes, and slipped into the warm caressing water.
As she let the water pound across her back, Buffy let her mind drift, as she often does in the dark recesses of night. Her mind touched briefly on Angel, her failed love. She missed him, and hadn't seen him in years, though once in a while, she received a letter, or phone call. He was busy now, his life having taken a turn after her that tore them apart. She was glad he was happy, but she really wished she could be, too. Her hands absently dragged the small bath puff across her wet skin, leaving a sudsy trail of vanilla scented soap behind it. Her mind continued its foray. She touched on her short affair with Riley, which ended with him leaving town. He had been a vampire junkie, craving the feeling of being bitten. She still didn't understand that. The years passed by to quickly for her. She was starting to feel as though she were attached to a live fuse, and was just waiting for the end now. Breaking down, she started to sob in the shower. Her back slid against the cool wall, until she was sitting on the floor of the tub, the water hitting her to mix with her tears.
Finally, she stopped, and turned the water off. She pulled herself from the tub, and wrapped a towel around her body. Buffy dried off quickly, and crawled to her futon. Since she only had enough money for a loft, she hadn't wasted money on both a couch and a bed. Instead, she bought a futon, and had both, in one. She quickly fell asleep, her empty mind to weary for even a dream.
****************************
Her birthday was quickly approaching, and the council had plans for her. She was getting on in years, and they needed to know she could still do her job properly. It wasn't her strengths they were worried about, but rather her mind. They feared the time for her to self-destruction was growing near. A single plan, much like that on her 18th birthday, but more then just that. For Buffy's 25th birthday, she would be locked into a house with one of her enemies, and no strength, no help, nothing. There would be no lights, and the doors wouldn't open for 72 hours. They knew she would not come out happy, but it had to be done, to test her mental awareness. 1 beast would enter the house, both being locked into a cell. It would be released once Buffy was there. The clock was ticking, and it was almost time. The council had done their homework, and came up with the one thing she had never been able to defeat when it was in Sunnydale. It had been years since she had gone against, or even seen it.
****************************
Opening her eyes, Buffy frowned. It was still dark. She felt like she had slept for hours, but that couldn't be, because it wasn't light out. She sat up, and looked over towards her clock, but it wasn't there. Frowning again, she went to stand up, only to realize she was on a mattress on the floor. She quickly stooped into a defensive crouch, and looked around, but could make nothing out. Her mind felt so fuzzy, so unclear. Nothing was making sense, and as she stood there, she grew dizzy. Before she knew what was happening, Buffy slumped over, passed back out.
****************************
Groaning, Spike held his head as he sat up. He looked around, and growled loudly, seeing that he was locked up in a dark cage. Just like a bleedin animal, he thought. He stood and started to pace back and forth, growling to himself in a low guttural way. Stopping, Spike turned his eyes up, sticking his nose slightly in the air. He sniffed quickly, and then took a longer drawn out breath. That smell. He knew that smell. Slayer blood. He cursed softly, fearing that his time was nearing an end. He continued to prowl, and started calling out taunts in the darkened room. He could make out a smaller room attached to this one, and had a feeling that's where the slayer waited for him.
****************************
Whimpering softly, Buffy placed a hand on her aching head. She sat up, slowly this time. Looking around her, she could make out nothing in this dark room. As she tried to get oriented to the room, she heard it. A voice she hadn't heard in years, but still knew from the first sound uttered. Spike. She should have known he was behind this.
"What's the matter slayer, to scared to come and get me? Just lie there, doing nothing. That's fine. Makes it more fun for me anyway when the girls just lay there." She stood, and her hand quickly shot out to find a wall. Luckily, she found it just as her body started to give out. Leaning heavily against the wall, she inched forward, slowly and cautiously.
"Come on, then, Slayer. Let's have at it. I feel the need to mess with your doilies." That voice, how it grated on her last nerves. She had sent him away after that whole mess with Angelus, and until now, she hadn't heard from him again. She couldn't say she was upset at having never heard from him again. Finally, she found a doorway, and crept through it. She was looking blindly from side to side.
Spike knew the instant she entered the room. The hairs covering his arms and neck stood on end, and he turned in the cage just in time to see her enter the room. His lips curving into a sardonic smile, he started rattling at the cage walls. He smiled gleefully when he saw her jump and turn towards his direction. Just as he was about to start calling out more taunts, the cage lifted, and his eyes narrowed. He had been watching her, and knew she hadn't opened it for him. Just what was she up to?
As soon as the cage cleared his body, he sprung forward, pouncing on her. She fell quickly to the floor, and then went into defensive mode. Jabbing upward, she tried to unbalance him, and succeeded only in tossing his upper body far enough to the side that she could pull away from him. Crouching on the floor, she stopped breathing for a moment, and concentrated on just the sound of the room. Her senses were attuned only so far, however, and in this situation, she sensed nothing of him.
Spike got up, and started prowling around her like a lion on the hunt. He knew she was lost without her vision, and that it would be fun to make her suffer before killing her. He stepped back finally, and watched her turn in circles. She was scared, he thought.
Looking around, Buffy shivered. She had felt it once before. She knew what was happening. Her powers were gone. Her extra sensitive senses, her strength, everything. Growling, she looked in one direction, and focused all her energy there.
Spike watched as the scared slayer quickly became a brassed off slayer. He knew that look. Preferred it really, to that mousy scared look she had on before. He liked to talk big, but deep down, he would prefer the fight to the girl just giving up to him. It was like foreplay, really, this dance of theirs. Spike's eyes narrowed when he noticed that she was looking directly at him. He knew she couldn't see him, but he figured her senses had kicked in.
"What's the matter, slayer, confused?"
"The only thing that confuses me right now, is why you came back, and why the little ho didn't." She quickly started towards the voice. She stumbled once, then righted herself, and walked until she was right in front of where she had figured him to be. Looking at him, or hoping she was, she smirked. "What's the matter, she giving it out to everyone but you?"
Spike's hand shot out, and backhanded her. Buffy had been expecting it, to some degree, but still wasn't prepared for it. She went sprawling, and felt the world spin. Shaking herself for a moment, she sat up again, and looked up at him. He stilled when the scent of blood filled the air. Growling low, he looked down at her, and saw blood dripping from her nose.
She went to stand, but the dizziness assailed her senses again for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she stood, and faced the dark spot.
Spike silently circled the slayer, watching her reactions to the hit. He had fought her before, and she seemed off. Something wasn't right. Finally, he stopped, this time behind her. He leaned in, and gently whispered by her ear.
"What am I doing here, slayer?" She jumped and spun around, fist flying out and connecting with his jaw. It staggered him a bit, but nothing like what it should have. His laugh sounded loudly in the room, breaking the tentative silence.
More to follow soon!
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