A/N: I know I said I probably wouldn't post for a while...but this idea just hit me and I had to write... This time, don't expect anymore updates until after the New Year.

Chapter Four

Got to learn how to pray

Love won't be enough

Admit it now

Your information sucks

~"Everybody Out of the Water" by The Wallflowers

Nosferatu ginned as it dropped the body of Annabelle to the ground. Buffy and the remaining girls stood shell-shocked as it stalked towards them.

Buffy was the first to snap out of it and she turned to the Slayers-in-Training, "Get out of here! Now! Tell Giles what's going on!"

The girls hesitated, worried about leaving the Slayer alone.

"Go! Now!" Buffy reiterated.

This time, they did as she told them.

Buffy turned back to Nosferatu and forced her eyes to remain off of Annabelle. When it was close enough, Buffy swung around, kicking her leg out, connecting with its jaw. It stumbled but was otherwise unaffected. It lashed out with a fist which was expertly blocked. However, Nosferatu took that opportunity to bring its other fist in and connect with Buffy's stomach. She gasped and keeled over slightly, trying to keep the nausea at bay. Nosferatu grabbed her shoulders and threw her back.

She connected with a Christmas tree which broke her fall as both slammed into the ground. She grimaced as the pine needles pricked her. As Nosferatu approached her, she jumped to her feet. She waited until it swung its fist at her and she blocked it. She dropped low and swept her leg around, trying to trip it. Nosferatu jumped to avoid it. As it landed, it brought down its fist on Buffy. She stumbled from the impact and fell back to the ground. It took that moment to slam its foot into her stomach. She gasped and tried to block as it did it again three more times before she was finally able to trip it with her leg. The Slayer returned to her feet agonizingly slow. She found it difficult to breathe. The vampire had cracked some of her ribs. Her return to her feet was short-lived as Nosferatu tripped in her in a similar manner as it had been topped. The instant she was on the ground, Buffy found herself pinned underneath the vampire. It leered at her as it lowered its fangs toward her throat. She struggled against it, attempting to push it away.

Spike watched in silence as the Scoobies poured over all and anything they could find that could provide a clue about this 'real vampire.'

"Are you sure The First referred to it as a 'real vampire?'" Willow asked.

"Positive. Asked me if I wanted to see-" he paused, a sudden foreboding feeling washing over him.

"What is it?" Dawn asked.

"Something's wrong," he said simply.

The front door swung open and Kennedy, Molly, Tatiana, and Tracey rushed in.

"We've got trouble. Buffy needs help," Kennedy said, breathing hard.

"She's at-" Molly began.

"-The Christmas tree lot," Spike finished.

"How did you know?" Tatiana asked.

He ignored her, "Everybody grab a weapon."

Xander approached Spike, "Who died and made you boss?"

"Buffy will if you don't shut up and do as I say," Spike said.

That statement ended any coming arguments from the carpenter. He quickly went to Buffy's weapon chest and grabbed two axes. He handed one to Spike and everyone was out the door, Spike in the lead.

Suddenly, Buffy realized she had a stake in her jacket pocket, and for an instant chided herself for not remembering sooner. Since Nosferatu seemed to be taking its precious time to bite her, it gave her ample opportunity to take the stake out of her pocket and slam it into the vampire's chest. It snarled and sat up. It reached up and took the stake out, throwing it away.

Spike stumbled to his knees, grasping his chest.

"Oh, God," he mumbled, breathlessly.

Giles knelt beside him, "Spike, are you alright?"

Spike shook his head, "God, it feels like someone's staking me."

And, suddenly, it was gone.

He returned to his feet, "But, whatever it was, it's gone now."

Buffy felt fear as she realized that this vampire wasn't going to be killed by normal means. It grinned at her and punched her, returning her mind to the fight instead of her fear. Buffy blocked another punch and delivered one of her own. She managed finally to buck Nosferatu off. She jumped to her feet, ignoring the nearly blinding pain from her ribs.

Nosferatu grabbed her throat and lifted her up. She grasped his arm and kicked, trying to loosen its grip. It squeezed tighter, choking her.

The only thought that ran through her head was, 'Oh, God, I'm gonna die.' But it never happened.

Instead, Nosferatu feel forward onto the ground, letting go of her. She dropped as well. Suddenly, Spike was at her side.

"You alright, luv?"

She nodded shakily.

Nosferatu was already back on its feet. Reaching behind itself, the vampire grabbed the axe that was in its back. With the bloodied weapon, it approached the two blonds. It raised the axe, preparing to strike.

"Alright. That's quite enough."

Nosferatu immediately lowered its weapon and turned to face The First, who was once again taking the form of William.

He smiled at the Scoobies and Slayers-in-Training, and if they didn't know who, or rather what, he truly was, they might have found themselves smiling back.

"Forgive me. I wasn't expecting this confrontation to take place so soon." 'William' looked at Giles, "Ah, I see Mr. Giles has arrived as scheduled. And with the ladies as well." He looked at Annabelle's dead body, "And the count continues to grow. This is good. So, please, enlighten me, is that dreadful Mr. Travers here, as well? Of course, he is."

"What do you want?" Giles asked.

'William' ignored him, just continued to pace, hands linked behind him. "I know you'll perhaps find this hard to believe, but I had an entire plan devised. Of course, someone had to interrupt that plan, isn't that right, Spike?" he asked, looking pointedly at the vampire. "But it's not too terrible a change. In fact, it might liven things up a bit, don't you agree?"

No one said anything.

"And what a lively bunch you all are," The First quipped. "Well, my friend and I really must be going. It was nice meeting you all. We really must do this more often." He took two steps before turning back around, "Oh, I almost forgot. Spike, did you discover the link yet?"

Spike at The First questioningly but it was gone before explaining. He returned his attention to Buffy. He helped her up. She breathed in sharply as the movement aggravated her ribs.

"You alright?" Spike asked.

"I will be."

Giles came up to her, "Are you hurt?"

Buffy barely contained an eye roll, "I'll heal. Right now, we need to concentrate on finding out how to kill that thing."

"You're right," Giles said. He turned to the Scoobies, "Alright, we've done everything we can here. Let's head back to the house."

"But, what about-" Kennedy looked down at Annabelle's body.

Giles sighed. How could he have forgotten? "I'll-I'll take care of it. The rest of you, go on."

Buffy nodded, "Okay. We'll see you later."

"Very well."

Everyone left, leaving Giles alone.

Back at the Summers residence, Spike finally managed to convince Buffy to let him see to her injuries. He finished wrapping the bandage around her torso to support her ribs before looking at her, "Should be good as new in a few days."

"What about you?"

"Peachy."

She nodded. He stood and helped her to her feet. Wordlessly, the two left her room and went downstairs and into the living room, where everyone was waiting patiently.

Buffy took a seat in the overstuffed chair. Spike opted to remain standing.

"So, what happened?" Anya asked.

"Well, stakes won't kill this thing," Buffy stated.

Spike looked at her, "You staked it?"

"Yep. No effect."

He nodded, thinking for a moment.

"And it was wickedly strong," she continued. "I was lucky to make it out of that fight alive."

Dawn entered from the dining room, an old book in her hands, "Guys, I think I've found something on this vampire thing."

"What?" Spike asked.

"It's a Turok-Han. Like Spike said, it was thought to be a myth. They're the vampire equivalent to our Neanderthal. An ancient and entirely different race from today's vampires. It says here that they are the vampires that vampires fear. They are ferociously strong, single-minded, and animalistic."

"Does the book mention how to kill it?" Willow asked.

Dawn looked down at the book then shook her head, "Now."

"Damnit," Buffy whispered.

Dawn looked down at the book again, "It says here that they were believed to be extinct." She fell quiet as she continued to read. "Oh, this even describes a ritual thought to bring one into existence. It requires the Seal of Danzalthar. And blood...of a vampire...It feeds off the demon, becoming stronger and, in turn, the demon becomes weaker. It says that if the sacrifice survives the ritual, a link will be created...That's all it says."

"A link? What could that mean?" Tracey asked, looking at Spike.

Spike shrugged, "Hell if I know...If you'll excuse me, I'm tired. Gonna turn in now."

He went down to the basement before anyone could say another word.

Alone, he eased his shirt off. He examined his chest. Damn, just as he thought. He brushed a hand across the new wound over his chest. Right above his heart. And just the right size for it to be caused by a stake.

For once he cursed his inability to reflect in a mirror, but he was pretty sure he knew what he'd find if he could.

An angry gash where, if he had been the Turok-Han, an axe had been thrown.

The rush of adrenaline he was feeling at the time allowed him to not feel the pain. Not until after.

Now he understood what The First was talking about. And Dawn.

He and the Turok-Han were linked. As, as if grew stronger, he would grow weaker.

End Chapter Four