Part 3
Nothing. Damn it, he had found nothing. Xander slammed his hand in frustration. He had searched Angel's apartment and everywhere he could think of that Angel might have gone. He closed his eyes and thought back to the last time he saw Willow. She had given him an idea on how to defeat the Judge.
Xander's eyes popped open. The Judge!
If Angel had turned to Angelus, he was sure he would be there to see the Judge in action. A slow smile crept over Xander's face. He could kill two birds with one stone, literally. Xander left Angel's apartment with renewed purpose. He was first going in search of Cordelia, then they would get Buffy and Giles.
~~~
Angelus hated waiting, not as much as Spike did, but he still hated it. He had convinced Spike and Druscilla to wait until Willow rose before they used the Judge. He wanted to see the look on the Slayer's face when his new childe stood by his side next to the Judge.
A slight smile twitched at his lips at the thought of her pain seeing Willow and of seeing Spike *standing* and knowing that Willow had been so close to rescue and yet she hadn't been able to save her.
The thought will torture her long after the pain of her friend's 'death' would have. He would have to think of some way to reward Druscilla. Her ability to see into the future had been the primary reason for turning her. Angelus was glad to see it pay off again.
A sound in the corner drew his gaze to his newest childe.
A loud thumping and an intoxicating aroma greeted Willow as she awoke. Memories began to assault her but curiously there were no emotions associated with them. It was like flipping through a stranger's photo album. The last memory that she had was of Angel holding his wrist up to her lips. Strangely, that memory held fondness.
Curious as to the new sounds and sensations she was experiencing she looked around at her surroundings trying to find the source of the noise. There was a tingling sensation along her spine that alerted her that she wasn't alone. She didn't feel threatened by that knowledge only drawn to the presence that was in the corner. Before she could make her way to the source of the curious sensation, she stopped. The delicious aroma was drawing her more than her curiosity about the unknown presence.
Changing directions Willow walked toward the smell. Seeing a young girl chained to the wall where her human self had been kept, Willow knelt down.
"Shh, it's alright. I'll help you."
Angel narrowed his eyes at that comment. Had something gone wrong in the transition? It had been a long time since he created a childe.
Willow softly caressed the girl's arms and listened to her whimper. She smiled as she leaned down and pulled the girl closer. Positioning her so that she was cradled in her arms, Willow slowly tilted the girl's head to the side while caressing her hair.
"What's your name?"
"S-Sandy."
"Sandy, that's a pretty name. Don't worry it'll be over soon."
With a flourish Willow's demon came to the fore and she lowered her fangs into Sandy's neck. Holding her tightly as Sandy struggled, Willow drank greedily until she felt Sandy's heartbeat slow and then finally stop.
Out of the shadows came the sound of someone slowly clapping. Angel had watched with first disgust and then pride as Willow ate her first meal. She was all he dreamed a childe would be and more. He hadn't even had to show her how to toy with her prey. That had come naturally. When she matured she would be glorious.
Willow dropped the girl and stood to face the noise. The tingling sensation was becoming more pronounced. Then she saw Angelus and knew that he was the source of the feelings. So this is what it was like to be in the presence of one's sire. She idly wondered if it was the same for everyone.
"Willow, you were brilliant."
Willow smiled in acknowledgment, "Thanks . . .sire."
Angel smiled back at her, "Come on, let's meet the family."
Angel escorted Willow through the hallways and towards the main room of the warehouse. Willow furrowed her brow at the sensations that were coursing through her body. Seeing her expression Angelus stopped and asked her, "What's wrong, little one?"
"It's strange. I've sensed a few vampires in the shadows yet the sensations were weak. I know it shouldn't be as strong as what I feel for you but shouldn't it be strong and not weak? Am I defective?"
Angelus smiled his reassurance, "No, you're correct. What you are feeling are the minions. They leave a weak trail. Their power isn't strong. Minions that are fledglings leave an even weaker trail, they are barely felt. Fledglings that are childre are stronger than minions and Master Vampires are stronger still. You will feel your sire strongest of all, even over that of any Master Vampire."
Willow quirked her lips, "Kind of like poker. Sire takes the pot."
Angelus laughed at her analogy. Life will certainly not be boring around Willow.
Willow glowed with satisfaction in knowing that she had pleased her Sire.
Druscilla leaned in close to Spike and whispered in his ear, "I have a lovely new playmate. I think Miss Edith will like her, too."
Spike smiled at Druscilla, "I'm sure she will, pet." Just then a pleasant shiver went down Spike's spine and he wondered at the sensation. Before he could ask Dru if she felt anything he heard Angelus' laughter. It had been a long time since he heard his genuine laughter and he wondered what had put him in such a good mood.
Angel held out his elbow to Willow, "Ready?"
Smiling she placed her hand on his arm, "Ready."
Druscilla jumped off Spike's lap at Angel's approach and with a broad smile went over to greet her new sister.
At Dru's approach Willow cocked her head to the side, "I know you." A memory comes to the surface of Dru tied to Angel in a church.
"That's right, you've seen her a few times. This is your sister, Druscilla."
Druscilla reaches over to caress the side of Willow's face, "Oh the power I sense in you. I knew you'd make a lovely new playmate."
Before Willow could comment Spike comes up behind Dru and slips his arms around her waist. "Auntie." Spike says with a smirk.
Willow brings her eyes off of Dru and looks over at Spike and with a smile says, "Spike. I guess we *are* family now." With a slight lift of her lips Willow turns to Angel, "so if I'm his Aunt does that mean he has to pay attention to me?"
Spike narrows his eyes at Willow, "I'm still a Master, fledgling and don't bloody well forget it."
Angelus laughed at the interaction between Willow and Spike, "Spike, now you know how I felt when Druscilla brought you back. You were just as cocky as she is."
"Piffle, I was never like that."
"Your memory seems to have gotten fuzzy with age."
"Has she fed yet?"
Angelus smiled with pride, "Yes and she was brilliant. You should have seen her, Spike." He looks over at Willow, "Ready to try your hand at hunting?"
A gleam came into Willow's eyes, "Yes, Sire and I know just where I want to begin."
"You're not ready to go after the bloody Slayer yet, pet."
Willow smiled at Spike, "I'm not that cocky . . .yet. I was thinking more along the lines of my parents that are just home from a seminar. I thought it was tradition that newly raised vamps go after their family, or is that just an Angelus thing?"
Angel lifts his hand to caress Willow's cheek, "No, most vamps want to kill all the reminders of their humanity. It's only the smarter ones that know who to pick and choose to go after. But let's see how you stalk a prey first. Kill a stranger and then we'll go after your parents."
Willow smiled as she and the others left the warehouse to hunt together as a family for the first time.
