Author's note: I don't know who the baby is. It may be Buffy or not. It hasn't come to me yet. Thank you for reviewing. I really enjoy writing this fic as my other one has gotten quite dark and depressing all of sudden. This one is lighter although you couldn't tell from this chapter.

Part III

I was having one really good night.

My demon friend had not only agreed to take the bit on for the night but he also seemed genuinely pleased at the prospect. My bit was an expert at taming the wild beast (or in this case demon).

As soon at the sun had set I delivered the baby and her gear to my friend's house (er lair). She didn't even cry as I left. My demon friend had piqued her interest. Her Slayer instincts were already developing.

I walked out into the dark city streets savoring my temporary freedom. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind caring for the bit but sometimes I just need to break lose and forget about my self-imposed responsibility. I wanted to howl at the moon and show who is really the Big Bad around here.

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Two hours later I had accomplished half my goal. It was incredibly easy to get money from people who were too terrified to even push cash-register alarm buttons. My fangs and ridges were a lot more efficient than loaded guns.

I figured that I deserved a treat and the bar in front of me looked so inviting. I'd just be a few minutes and the brew would help wash away the sour taste left from the 7/11 guy. What do those people eat anyway?

The bar was one of those seedy, dark affairs that populate every city from sea to shiny sea. The air thick was with cigarette smoke and spilled beer. I sat down at the bar counter and ordered a Guinness. The ensuing brew was cold and delicious.

I glanced around the room as I drank. This was usually a crowded demon bar but only a few loitered about. I wondered what was up.

The bartender was wiping the counter top. I nodded towards him.

"So mate, is there a party in town that I am not aware of?"

He continued to run the rag around a few more times before he mumbled an answer.

"Sacrifice"

"Really, I haven't checked my calendar lately. Who's the birthday boy?"
"Grolagrh"

"So what does Grolagrh like? Fawns? Virgins?
"Babies"

I shot out of that bar like lightening. My DeSoto was parked about a block away. I pushed that car to its speed limit as I raced through the darkened streets to the demon/sitter's lair.

The subterranean quarters were dark and empty. I looked around for signs of where he could have gone but found nothing.

A few decades ago I had made a point of studying as much as I could about the various demons and entities that populate this dimension. I'd guessed that it could be useful if I ever got around to ruling the world. Now I scoured my memory trying to remember anything about Grolagrh.

Grolagrh – Demon – Ugly- Big- likes babies.

Okay.

…likes babies and has a tail that he uses to…? He uses his tail to get around because he has no legs. He uses his tail to swim around. Perfect.

There was only one body of water around here. It was a small lake about ten minutes from here. I drove as fast as I could while picturing what I was going to do to those wankers that wanted my bit for a sacrifice.

The dense forest surrounding the lake was dark. Not even the moonlight could penetrate the thick canopy of trees. I had to use all my vampire abilities not to slam against a tree as I ran towards the lake.

There were about seven demons chanting around a circle made of white luminous stones. Inside the circle was my very vocal bit. She was crying out her annoyance at finding herself away from her warm bed and her rather dim vampire guardian.

I felt my fangs and ridges explode in my face. How dare those pathetic lowlifes threaten my Slayer, my key to the future, my ace of spades. I was going to rip their bloody throats out.

The demons were so into their chanting that I was able to use the element of surprise and take two out. The remaining four circled around me. I tensed my muscles for the attack that I knew was coming. They all pounced at the same time. Through the assault I heard my bit's cries get louder and I knew that Grolagrh had made his appearance.

I dispatched another demon and the remaining three amplified their attack. I was really getting hurt now but it didn't matter. I'd had worse from a mob in Prague.

Another down, two to go. The bit screamed as I crushed a green skull. Pushing the remaining demon out of the way I went for Grolagrh who was now taking a struggling baby into the dark waters. I attacked the huge master demon. He swatted me with his scaly tail while still holding on to the bit. He got me in the chest but I stood my ground and grasped the slippery appendage. Grolagrh roared as I sunk my fangs into this highly sensitive spot. The taste was horrible but at least I got him to return to the surface.

The demon dropped the baby in the damp grass and charged at me. He was less agile on land and I got the upper hand quickly. Within seconds I had rid the earth of Grolagrh. His severed head rolled back into the water from whence he came.

I turned to the baby who was now screeching like a scalded cat. I picked her up and tried to access any injuries in the dark. She seemed fine but extremely pissed.

The demon that I pushed was just now coming to. I put the baby back in the ground and walked towards the prone form. It was my intended babysitter.

"I don't have to tell you that you're fired. Don't expect any severance either, not that you'll have much use for it seeing that you'll be dead momentarily"
He looked up at me pleadingly.

"Well, what did you expect if you mess with William the Bloody. The lot of you think that I've gone soft, Right? Wrong and you'll get to experience just how much"

His tortured cries drowned out those of the bit. I picked the baby out and made my way back to the car with her in my arms. She was crying softly and I held her close. Sorry bit.

We got back to the car and I sat her in her seat. I turned the engine and noticed that my hands were shaking on the steering wheel. It had been so close. Too close.

And for the first time I questioned my decision.

TBC. As long as you keep up the reviews.