Title: The Call of Blood
Summary: A new vampire in Sunnydale. A rather unusual vampire, who will change some lives. Early season 7. Buffy/Angel crossover.
Rating: PG, maybe PG-13
Pairing: I'm a 100% Buffy/Spike shipper, although Angel will be present in my story.
Timeline: September – October 2002.
Disclaimer: Buffy, Spike and Sunnydale, etc, are property of those who own them – Joss Whedon and others, they are definitely not mine. Same goes with Angel. But Kate, Jake and other characters that appear in this story are mine. I borrowed some aspects of the concept of a 'day-walker' from "Blade". I love the movie ;-)
A/N : This story takes place in Buffyverse, Angel is the only character from "Angel, the series". In one of the reviews, I read that there's one Kate in Angelverse. Who says that there can't be characters with identical names?
A/N 2: Warning: this story is COMPLETELY result of my imagination. Any similarity to other authors' plots, characters, or events is PURELY COINCIDENTIAL AND ABSOLUTELY UNINTENTIONAL.
Chapter 2
"I'd Like My Blood Back"
Buffy's house
Same evening
When Buffy and the others entered the house, Giles met them in the hall and he looked like he had found out something important and disturbing at the same time. They went to the living room and sat wherever the managed to sit. They prepared to listen. Giles took a deep breath and began. "I've contacted the Council. They are worried by what's happening in Europe." He looked at Kate to see her reaction to his words.
"And what's happening in Europe?" asked Buffy, sitting on the couch near Dawn and Willow.
"The Blood Hunt has began", said Giles, still looking at Kate. She was sitting on another couch with Spike beside her. Both vampires seemed to have reconciled.
"The Blood what?" asked Xander from his armchair.
"Last night Lord McBryde was found dead in his mansion in Glasgow." Gilles ignored Xander's words.
Kate was toying with the ring on her right hand and said nothing; she didn't even look at Giles.
"Kate, he knew that you were in danger and that's why he sent you away, right? Kate, say something", insisted Giles.
"What's a 'Blood Hunt'? People?" asked Buffy, joining the conversation between her Watcher and Spike's sister, although that conversation looked more like Giles' monologue.
"Do you know what it is?" continued his interrogation Giles. Kate sighed sadly. Giles continued." Ok, I'll say. The Blood Hunt is the hunt for the day-walker's blood, but I don't understand what it has to do with McBryde."
"I think I know what's on those CDs that I've brought to you." Kate finally looked at Giles.
"WHAT??"
"'A day-walker for dummies'. An instruction manual", said Kate firmly, it seemed like she had just made a very important decision.
"To what?" asked Giles quietly.
"TO ME." Kate's answer was simple and short.
Everyone stared at her in disbelief.
"Are you saying you are a DAY-WALKER??!!" yelled Giles.
"Louder! They haven't heard you in Alaska!" smiled Kate. "Yep, I'm a day-walker. Feel my pulse." She stood up and approached Giles. "Don't worry, I don't bite. Well, I DO bite, but I won't, I promise", she said, seeing his mixed emotions. He took her wrist. "Oh, my God! It's warm and the pulse…" he whispered.
"Yeah, normal pulse. I'm alive like anyone present here. Oops, Spike, not including you." She sat on the couch and looked at her brother. The brother was astonished. "I knew there was something weird when I drank your blood", he said. "Warm blood and your face…"
"The day-walker's face is not like a usual vampire's one", noted Kate.
"So, you're a good day-walker, right?" asked Dawn.
"And how many day-walkers have you met?" Kate turned to Dawn, smiling.
"Well, one – including you", muttered the girl.
"Don't worry, I haven't met other day-walkers too", comforted her Kate.
"How do you obey your thirst?" asked Xander.
"I drink 'Sprite'. But seriously, I have this ring", she showed him her right hand. "As long as I have it on my hand, I don't feel blood thirst."
"So, does this Blood Hunt mean that someone's hunting for your blood?" asked Anya, thinking 'Great, the Blood Hunt is the last thing we need here, in Sunnydale.'
"I guess so", said Kate. "No one has ever hunted for my blood before. Well, Spike hunted for it, but that was when he was hungry and I wasn't who I am now." She looked at Spike, whose face expressed 'please-don't-remind-me-of-that'.
"I know why McBryde sent you to Sunydale!" Exclaimed Giles, finally realizing McBryde's reasons.
"Why?" wondered Kate.
"Sunnydale is also known as Hell Mouth, the center of mystical energy. He sent you to blend with this energy", explained Giles.
"Nice. Blend with the mystical energy. What else?" murmured Kate.
Glasgow, Scotland
Tue. Oct.1
Very early morning
( the same time when Kate was in the 'Bronze')
When James finished talking to Kate, he hung up the phone and looked at three young men, standing in front of him.
"So, what did she say?" asked one of them. His name was Chris and he was the oldest.
"When she heard about McBryde, she dropped the phone, but I could hear her telling someone that she was going back to Europe. And that someone, a man with a British accent, told her that Lord McBryde had asked him not to let her go to Europe if anything happened to him", answered the butler, shaking from impatience to get his money and get the hell out of Glasgow as soon as possible. "I did as you've asked. Give me my money; I don't want to stay here."
"She's not going back to Europe. Where is she?" asked Nick, the youngest.
"He sent her to America", answered James. Now these three gave him creeps.
"America's big. Where's she exactly", asked Jake, the middle of three brothers whose job was to hunt down the day-walker.
"When she was in her room, packing, she called some guy named Tony", muttered James. He was shaking from fear, as there was something in those guys that told him that they wouldn't let him go so easily. "I heard her asking him to get her tickets to Indianapolis Grand Prix last Sunday."
"Hmm, she likes Formula 1…. Interesting", muttered Jake. "So, she went to Indianapolis. We'll have to check all hotels. She is McBryde, right?"
"No, she is Katherine Ryan, Kate", mumbled James. "Please, don't kill me", he pleaded.
"Relax. We didn't find any pictures of hers in the house. What does she look like?" asked Chris.
"5''6', short dark hair, brown eyes, she's 23", answered James. "Can I go now?"
"Sure", said Nick but when the butler turned his back to him, Nick grabbed his head and snapped his neck. "You can go to hell. "
Jake winced. "Was it THAT necessary?" he asked his younger brother when they were leaving the mansion.
"He betrayed his master and her. He belongs in hell", shrugged Nick.
The brothers came up to their car. They were the luckiest and the most successful Blood Trackers for the last couple of hundred years. Everyone who looked at them could tell that they were brothers. Dark blonde hair, green eyes, deadly attractive and irresistible to women, they used their charms perfectly. They had already tracked 5 day-walkers. Though those were male day-walkers, they weren't easy to track. Born once every 200 years, male day-walkers were very careful. This time their job was to track a female day-walker. Female day-walkers, born once a millennium, were almost impossible to find. The last one, born in the 3d century A.C. lived until 1857 and died at the hand of the Slayer. The girl, they were looking for was the only female day-walker on the planet and they had to find her and get her blood.
The brothers got into their car and Chris started the engine, but Jake stopped him. "Wait, I have an idea." He got out of the car and went back to the mansion. Jake went upstairs to Kate's room. Although they had already searched it, he needed something that could help him sense the girl. He noticed the perfume on the table and took it. He opened the bottle and inhaled the scent. 'Nice', he thought and looked at the label 'Davidoff. Cool Water'. "Kate, you're mine", he whispered and left the room.
In the car, he showed the bottle to his brothers. "This will help us find her."
Nick took his cell phone and dialed a number. "She went to America, Indianapolis", he said.
"Good. Go there and bring me her blood", said the man on the other side of the line.
"Where should we meet after we get the blood?" asked Nick.
"The usual place." The man disconnected the call.
The same day brothers left Glasgow. They were on board the plane heading to Indianapolis.
Sunnydale, Ca
Buffy's house
Still Monday evening
"Willow, I need your laptop to look at those CDs", said Giles to the red-haired ex-witch who chattered with Kate. She was curious to know how Kate's ring worked. "I think there's some spell on this ring." Willow pointed at it.
"Maybe. I just wear it all the time. I never thought about how it worked", replied Kate.
"Willow, the laptop", repeated Giles and Willow went to her room to get it.
"Oh, crap! My bag…" suddenly remembered Kate. "I left it in the shop.
"Kate, are you staying at the hotel?" asked Buffy.
"No, I came to the shop right from the bus station. I'll have to find a hotel to crash for a couple of days", answered Kate.
"And then what? You can't go to Europe", reminded her Giles.
"I'll go to Brazil or Australia, or I don't know, somewhere", shrugged Kate.
"No, you can't leave. Don't you understand? McBryde sent you HERE, because the energy of the Hell Mouth would hide your presence. And that 'instruction manual', as you've named it… he wanted me to know about you", insisted Giles, trying to explain to the stubborn girl why she had to stay.
"Giles, the laptop." Willow brought the computer and placed it on the table. She sat on the couch near Buffy.
"Oh, God! Willow, you know I'm not good at this computer stuff. Help me with the discs." Giles took the discs from his pocket and handed them to Willow.
"Ok", nodded Willow and inserted the first CD in the CD-Drive.
"Kitten, you can crash at my crypt", suggested Spike.
"Crypt? Spike, I love you …hmm, I haven't seen you for ages and I don't know if I still love you, but you are my brother and…Anyway , crypts are not my style. I'll get a room at the hotel." Kate declined his generous offer. "No hard feelings?"
"No hard feelings", nodded Spike. "You know, you've changed. You are so… I don't know." Spike was searching for words.
"Last time I saw you, you bit me and it was 1880. Besides, I was a typical girl of the 19th century. Times have changed and it's the 21st century already. I'm different now." Kate smiled and then addressed Giles. "Mr. Giles, you own the shop, right?"
Anya interrupted her. "No, I own the 'Magic Box' now."
"Ok, Anya, I know it's late, but I'd like to take my bag from your shop." Kate stood up.
"Kate, I could take you to the 'Magic Box' and show you the best hotel in Sunnydale." Xander offered his help.
"Of course, you know the best hotels in Sunnydale. That's where you were hiding after you had left me at the altar", said Anya sarcastically. She felt that Xander got interested in Kate. "I'll take you to the shop." Anya also stood up.
"Why don't you both take me to the shop?" suggested Kate, noticing the tension between the two. Xander and Anya nodded.
When they left, Buffy told Dawn to go to bed as it was very late and Dawn had to go to school next morning.
"But, Buf, I want to know what Giles and Willow find out about Kate", pleaded the girl, but Buffy was relentless. "Dawn, go to bed." Dawn had to do as she'd been told.
Giles and Willow were busy with the computer and Buffy asked Spike to follow her. They went outside. Buffy sat down on the porch and Spike, lighting a cigarette, sat beside her.
"Spike, tell me honestly. Where were you and how the hell did you get your soul back? I didn't understand much what Giles was talking about some Cave Demon." She looked at him, but he avoided looking in her eyes.
"Look, about what happened that night in your bathroom…" he started, but she stopped him. "Spike, don't."
"Let me finish. I don't know what came over me. It was like a temporary insanity. When I returned to the crypt, I knew that some things had to be changed. I couldn't stay in Sunnydale anymore. I wanted to be myself again, William the Bloody, not some sodding harmless-chipped Spike, that couldn't hurt a fly. I went to Africa to the Cave Demon who could make me the man I used to be. The tests were very hard, and I endured them. He gave me what I had asked, but that was not what I had expected to get. I wanted the bloody chip out of my head instead I got my soul back." Spike forgot about the cigarette in his hand, but the cigarette reminded him of itself by burning down and threatening to set him on fire. He tossed it away.
"Spike, I'm … well, partially I'm responsible for what had happened. I've pushed you away so many times not really meaning it that you stopped taking my rejections seriously. I'm sorry", said Buffy quietly.
Spike raised his eyebrow. "Are you apologizing, Slayer? For giving me 'wrong messages'? Wow, that's something new."
"Spike, don't push it." Buffy stood up and went to the house. Spike didn't follow her.
Buffy entered the living room, where Willow and Giles stared
at the computer screen
"So, what did you find?" asked Buffy, coming up to them.
"Well, we looked for the Blood Hunt and here's what we've found. There's been several Blood Hunts for the last – Buffy, listen – 3 years! Can you believe this? 5 dead day-walkers for the last 3 years! Not many people can say they even met them, but killing…" Giles was really worried.
"So, someone's killed 5 day-walkers for the last 3 years and is looking for Kate's blood? Does this mean she'll die too?" That was Buffy's reaction to Giles' words. "Who got so lucky?"
"The Blood Trackers. McBryde wrote they were humans, but something made them extremely dangerous to day-walkers."
"If there are Blood Trackers, which means they can track the day-walker, then there has to be someone who wants this blood. Right?" Buffy looked at concerned Giles.
"Yes? But who?"
Indianapolis, Ind
Tue. Oct. 1
Morning
The Blood Trackers checked every hotel in Indianapolis and finally found the one where Kate had stayed during the racing weekend.
"Good evening", said Chris when he came up to the receptionist's desk and smiled. The receptionist, a young brunette, saw his smile and melted.
"What can I do for you?" She was ready to do anything for the gorgeous young man who stood in front of her.
"I'm looking for Katherine Ryan, she's staying at this hotel", said Chris, leaning closer to the girl.
"Let me check the computer. No, I'm sorry, she checked out on Sunday", told him the receptionist, but when Chris frowned, she added hastily. "When she was checking out, she was in a big hurry. Miss Ryan was afraid that she might miss her flight to Los Angeles."
"Los Angeles? Thank you." Chris came up to his brothers who stood near the window. "She went to LA."
In the airport, they bought tickets on the nearest flight to Los Angeles.
"If she's in LA, how are we gonna find her? LA is big", asked Nick when the plane was in the air.
"The way we usually find day-walkers", answered Chris dryly. Jake winced.
LAX, Los Angeles
Same day
When the brothers arrived at Los Angeles, they discussed their further actions. Chris rent a car and Jake bought a map of California and another map of Los Angeles.
The Blood Trackers were sitting in their car when Jake, who was sitting in the backseat, spread the map of California. "First California."
"Let's do it", said Chris and took a tiny funny-looking knife and a small bowl from his bag. Each brother pierced his finger and squeezed a drop of blood into the bowl. Jake took the bowl and let the blood drop on the map. The drop fell on LA.
"Blood of the Light, join Blood of the Dark", said Jake and his brothers repeated these words after him. The drop moved, leaving the trail. It led to Sunnydale.
"Sunnydale", read Jake.
Chris started the engine.
* * * *
Several hours later Chris parked the car near the hotel. It was "Sunnydale Inn". They checked in.
"Do you sense her?" Chris asked Jake when they went to their rooms.
"Not yet. Let's wait for the evening. She's the creature of darkness. If she's here, we'll find her." Jake opened the door to his room.
"Guys, wait!" Nick came up to his brothers. "I just talked to the receptionist. She said that the coolest place in Sunnydale is the nightclub called 'Bronze'. There's gonna be a huge party in the 'Bronze'. I think she'll be there and I doubt she would want to miss this big 'late night snack'."
"Great. Guys, get ready." Chris entered his room.
'Magic Box'
Evening
Kate entered the shop. Giles gave her a phone call an hour before and asked to come. She saw Anya at the counter. The vengeance demon was talking to the customer. Willow and Giles sat at the table, busy with research work.
"Hi, guys", said Kate, coming up to them.
"Hey, Kate, how are you feeling? I mean", Willow lowered her voice "after you've lost so much blood last night."
"Ah, I'll live. So, did you find anything interesting?" asked Kate, sitting down on the chair.
"Katherine, where's the original?" wondered Giles, looking at the vampire intently.
"Vic has, HAD, a bank safe in Zurich. Very reliable. He said the original was too valuable to keep it at home, besides it was quite big and heavy." Kate looked around. "What happened her? I sense dark magic.
Willow frowned. "Long story."
"Sorry, if I touched a sore subject. Mr. Giles, did Vic write anything about those who might hunt me?" she addressed the man.
"Nobody calls me 'Mr. Giles'. Besides, you're much older than me, just call me Giles." He smiled.
"Giles, it's not polite to remind a woman about her age", noted Willow.
Kate laughed. "I'm not offended. I'm really very old as for a human. Back to business. What did you find?"
"Not much. He wrote about that in his recent entries." Giles moved the laptop to Kate and she read.
'These three are dangerous. They started in 1999, killing one of the fiercest day-walkers, Ian Hayes. He was a horrible bloodsucking son of a bitch, but I still don't understand how they managed to track him. He was 897 years old, incredibly cautious, and trusted nobody. Since 1999, they've had 4 successful Blood Hunts. I'm beginning to worry about Kate's safety. I hope the Blood Trackers will never find out about her. One thing I can't understand – being humans, they have something that allows them to track day-walkers."
"The Blood Trackers. Huh?" Kate didn't like what she had read.
"I contacted the Watchers' Council. They also know about them. They are like contract killers. Someone hired them to get the blood of those 5 day-walkers, but they killed them. Good news is that they were vampires that chose dark side. Kate, you don't have to worry, you play for the good guys. Besides, you're with us, you're safe here", assured her Giles.
"Safe? Somehow I don't feel safe", murmured Kate.
"Hey, here we are." Buffy and Dawn entered the shop. Dawn carried a bag in her hand.
"What's up?" asked Buffy, seeing Kate's confused face.
"I need a break." Kate stood up and went to the door.
"Kate, wait. There's a 'blondes' party tonight at the 'Bronze'. You should come. It's gonna be fun. I have the blonde wigs for non-blondes." Dawn showed the bag.
"Ok, Dawn, later", smiled Kate. "Where does Spike live?" Kate asked Giles.
"I'll show you. I have to patrol tonight anyway." Buffy approached Kate.
"Giles, do you mind if we go to the 'Bronze'? I need a break from this 'day-walkers' stuff", asked Willow.
"Sure. Go." Giles himself needed a break, but he wasn't going to the club.
"We'll be waiting for you in the club, girls", said Dawn, putting on the blonde wig. "So, how do I look?"
Buffy and Kate left the shop.
*
The girls went to the cemetery.
"Kate, how old are you?" asked Buffy.
"I was 23, when Spike sired me in 1880. Do the math", answered Kate, reading the names on the tombstones. "Oh, look, this one was buried today." She pointed at the fresh grave.
"145. Cool. Are you still mad at Spike for making you who you are?" Buffy sat on the tombstone, waiting for the fresh vampire to rise, - or not, if it wasn't a vampire.
"First 10 years I was mad at him like hell. But then Charles, the grandfather of Victor McBryde, explained me the concept of the 'day-walkers' and I forgave Spike. He actually did me a favor in some kind of way." Kate sat near Buffy.
"What do you mean?" asked the Slayer.
"Well, if he hadn't sired me then, I would have died at 50 or 67 anyway, I don't know. Either way I would have become a day-walker, but an old day-walker. Ew!" shuddered Kate. "See, I was born a vampire, but the vampire in me was asleep and Spike's demonic blood awakened my vampire. Luckily, Charles found me right after I drank Spike's blood. If he hadn't, I would have become a bad day-walker with blood-thirst and the stuff. But Charlie gave me the ring and I didn't get addicted to blood as all vampires are. Are you waiting for him?" Kate pointed at the hand that appeared from the grave.
"Yep, the fresh one." Buffy waited for the new vampire to rise and without letting him understand what was going on, dusted him.
"Cool", said Kate, seeing the Slayer at work. "Buffy, what's between you and Spike? I sense some connection between you two." Kate looked at Buffy, who tried to clean her pants from the dusted vampire.
"Oh, God, you'll find out about it anyway. Spike and I were lovers. Spike convinced himself that he was in love with me and I was just using him to get rid of my problems. Then I realized how wrong I was and broke up with him. Then he had 'sex-on-the-table' with Anya. Xander and I saw it live and uncut; a little later he tried to rape me." Buffy sighed.
"Are you still mad at him?" asked Kate, standing up.
"Yes", said Buffy silently, but Kate heard her.
"For having sex with Anya or for attempting to rape you?" Kate's question hit the bull's eye.
Buffy winced. "Kate, If you ask so many questions, I'll stake you", she threatened.
Kate laughed. "You'll stake me? I'm trembling with fear. C'mon, show me where Spike lives."
*
Buffy led her to the crypt. Kate opened the door.
"When are you gonna learn how to knock, Slayer?" The girls heard Spike's voice from the darkness. "Oh, Kate, it's you."
"Nice digs, but a little dark" said Kate, entering the crypt. "Wait, how did you know it was me?"
"I like darkness. And I recognized your perfume." Spike came up to his sister and hugged her.
"By the way, Kate, nice perfume. What is it?" asked Buffy, standing near the door.
"It's Davidoff Cool Water. Do you like it?"
"Yeah. But I don't wear perfume very often. I don't want all vamps around to know that the Slayer is near", smiled Buffy.
"Good point. Spike, let's go to the 'Bronze'. There's 'only blondes' party tonight. You'll fit in." Kate was still in his arms.
"Sure, kitten." Spike looked at the Slayer, as if saying 'I'll go no matter whether you like it or not.'
Buffy nodded. "Let's go."
'Bronze'
Buffy, Spike and Kate came up to the club. The bouncer tried to stop Kate for being non-blonde.
"Oh, come on. I look bad with blonde hair." Kate tilted her head and pouted. "Let us in."
The bouncer saw something dangerous in the girls' friend with bleached hair and decided not to mess up with him.
They entered the bar that was full of blonde people. Golden, platinum, sandy – all shades of blonde. After all, that was a 'blondes' night. Buffy looked around and saw Willow and Dawn in blonde wigs. "You just look at them!" She laughed.
Kate nodded. "Yeah, they look funny."
"You haven't seen Harris with blonde hair." Spike choked with laughter and pointed at Xander who stood at the bar, ordering drinks.
Kate suddenly got pale. "Kate, what is it?" Spike noticed his sister's change of mood.
"I don't know", whispered Kate, leaning against the wall. "I felt something …weird."
"What the hell is she doing?" Buffy noticed that Dawn was already in the middle of a heavy make-out session with a very cute blonde guy. She went to her.
"Weird", said Spike, seeing Willow and Anya practically hanging on another blonde guy who had a strange resemblance to the guy Dawn was busy with. "Kid, I'll be right back." He went to Xander. "Harris, what's wrong with the Red? I thought she liked girls", he pointed at Willow.
"I don't know. These three guys showed up recently and the girls sort of gone mad." Xander felt a little jealous when he saw Anya with that guy. "Why are you here?" he looked at Spike.
"Buffy and Kate invited me", said Spike, ordering scotch.
"Your sister is hot", noted Xander, looking over his shoulder at Kate, who went in their direction.
"Don't even think about it. Got it?" growled Spike, seeing Xander's interest in Kate.
Kate went past them. She was heading to Buffy, who stood near Dawn and was telling her something. Suddenly she bumped into a cute green-eyed guy with dark blonde hair. He looked at her and his eyes widened. "Davidoff", he whispered.
"Excuse me?" Kate looked at him inquiringly.
"I mean nice perfume. Would you like to dance?" he said and smiled. Even though Kate was a supernatural creature, his charm worked on her. She couldn't resist him. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. Kate didn't understand what was happening to her, she was like under some spell.
He put his hand on her waist and took her right hand in his. He noticed the ring and frowned for a second.
"I'm Jake", he said, looking into her warm brown eyes.
"Kate", she whispered.
"Nice ring you have", he noted, maintaining the eye contact.
"It's a gift from my … grandfather", murmured Kate.
Jake pulled her close to him and whispered in her ear. "It's very noisy here. Let's go outside."
Kate nodded. "Ok." Actually, she was ready to follow him anywhere he would go.
Jake led her to the exit, nodding his brothers to follow him. Nick, holding Dawn, who paid absolutely no attention to what Buffy was saying to her, noticed him. So did Chris, who freed himself of Anya and Willow and followed his brother.
Willow and Anya came to their senses and, confused, went to Xander and Spike. "What has just happened?" asked bewildered Willow, who realized that she'd flirted with the man.
"You just flirted with that blonde guy." Spike pointed at Chris, who followed Nick and Jake, who was holding Kate's hand. "Where the hell is he taking her?"
"Is it me or these guys really look alike?" noted Xander.
"Oh, my God", gasped Willow. "It can't be…"
"Wil, what can't be?" Spike grabbed Willow and shook her.
Buffy and Dawn came up to them. "What's going on? Why are you shaking Willow?"
"I think they've found her. The Blood Trackers", whispered Willow.
Buffy and Spike exchanged glances. "Xander, take care of the girls. Spike, follow me."
They left the club but the street was empty.
Jake led Kate to the dark alley behind the club. He suddenly grabbed her shoulders and pressed her against the wall.
"Jake, what are you doing?" asked Kate, trying to free herself of Jake's firm grip.
Chris and Jake looked at the girl. "Is this her?" asked Chris viewing Kate from head to toe.
"Yes, I'm positive it's her", replied Jake and he noticed that Kate realized who they were. "Nick, your turn."
Nick took a syringe from his pocket, rolled the sleeve of her jacket, and stuck the needle in her vein.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" said Buffy, coming up to the busy company. "Let her go."
Chris approached Buffy and Spike. "Go away; this is none of your business."
Nick ignored Buffy's words and drew Kate's blood into the syringe. When it was filled with blood, he took the needle out of her hand and put the syringe in his pocket. The pain wasn't unbearable, but it allowed Kate to snap out of the trance. "I know who you are. You're making a big, very big mistake", she hissed.
Spike vamped out, seeing what Nick has done to Kate.
"Vampire", said Nick, coming close to his older brother. "Go away. We don't need you."
Buffy took her fighting stance. "Tell you buddy to let the girl go, or you'll be sorry for messing up with me!" She said distinctively.
Chris smirked. "Oh, you scared the shit out of me."
"Why isn't anyone afraid of me tonight?!" exclaimed Buffy and attacked Chris. Spike, even knowing that hurting a human would trigger his chip, attacked Nick. And the fight began.
While her 'defenders' were fighting with the Blood Trackers, Kate managed to free herself of Jake's grip and slapped him. A trail of blood appeared in the corner of his mouth. He grinned. "Day-walker, give up. You and your friends won't win this fight."
Kate grabbed his neck and slammed him against the wall. "Hey, you two, give me my blood back and your whoever he is to you won't get hurt", she said loudly, addressing the fighters, but they were too busy to pay attention to her words.
Kate vamped out, leaned close to Jake, and licked the blood from his mouth. "Your blood is tasty. I could drink it all, y'know."
"What's going on here?" they heard people's voices from behind. She turned her head and Jake used the moment. He threw her against the wall. By a strange coincidence, at the very same moment, Chris did the same to Buffy and Spike had to stop his fight with Nick. He ran to the girls to see if they were alive. The Blood Trackers ran away, carrying Kate's blood with them.
Spike helped Buffy and Kate get up. "Are you ok?"
"They have my blood", said Kate.
* * * *
Buffy's house
A little later after the above mentioned events
"How could you let them take her blood?" yelled angry Giles, when he heard Kate's version of the events. "What if someone wanted to raise some demon or something else with the help of her blood? Have you ever thought about that?"
"They were too strong…" started Buffy, but Kate interrupted her. "Giles, I can trace my blood."
"What?" he looked at her.
"Yes, besides, I tasted the blood of one of them", nodded Kate. "If we trace my blood, we can find out who wants my blood. But this has to be done quickly."
"How the hell did they find you?" Giles was still angry.
"I think I know", said Willow, descending the stairs and entering the living room. "They used the 'Blood spell'."
"What's a 'Blood spell'?" asked Buffy, Spike, and Kate simultaneously.
"I read about this spell in McBryde's Chronicles. He assumed that those Trackers could use magic in their search for evil day-walkers", explained Willow.
"When I was in 'Bronze', I sensed very faint traces of magic, like someone had practiced magic not long before. But I couldn't figure out what that could mean", said Kate.
"Wil, how does this spell work?" asked Buffy.
"The spell sounds like 'Blood of the Light, join Blood of the Dark.' These guys used their blood to find the geographical location of the subject in search. Probably their blood was 'Blood of the Light", said Willow.
"And my blood was 'Blood of the Dark'", whispered Kate and bit her lip.
"It can't be. You're on the good side", protested Giles.
"She drank my blood, the blood of the demon", said grimly Spike.
"Guys, this spell has a limited range", smiled Willow. "I think they used it when they were in LA." She blushed and added. "Chris said that he had come from LA."
"I'm calling Angel." Buffy stood up, took the phone, and left the room.
"Angel?" Kate raised her eyebrow. "Look, we know that one of them is Chris, the guy I danced with is Jake and ... What's the name of the guy who took my blood, the third?" asked Kate.
"Dawn said his name was Nick", remembered Willow.
"Willow, we need to find out from where they came to Los Angeles." Giles was thinking what to do and how to find Kate's blood. "Kate, when did you leave Glasgow?"
"On September, 27th", answered the girl.
"Did you go straight to Sunnydale?" asked Giles. "You arrived at Sunnydale on Monday."
"Well, I kinda spent two days in Indianapolis", murmured Kate, realizing that she had left a trail.
"Kinda spent two days in Idianapolis? What the hell did you do there?" exclaimed Giles.
"I watched the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, but I left on Sunday. Next day I arrived at LA and then took the bus to get to Sunnydale", said Kate.
"Giles, what's the big deal? So, she made a stop at Indianapolis. What's of it? She came to Sunnydale anyway." Spike didn't understand Giles' concern.
"Spike, they tracked her somehow, they knew where she would go", said Willow. "Kate, who could know where you were going?"
"Vic and James, his butler. He drove me to the airport. Wil, you don't think that Vic could have told them, do you?" asked Kate, frowning. "Wait, I called Tony, he got me tickets to the Grand Prix, but Tony knows that I'm just a girl who loves Formula 1. Besides, Tony lives in Indianapolis and Victor said that Europe was not safe for me."
"Maybe the butler told them?" supposed Willow.
Kate got pale. "He knows who I really am." Then she sighed. "More than anything in the world he loves money."
Buffy returned to the living room. "I talked to Angel. He told that Cordelia had a vision about three young men hunting for the blood of the innocent."
"Who's innocent? Me?" Kate laughed. "Buffy, c'mon. I'm a vampire after all, I can't be innocent. I drank blood last night and today also. Although I didn't bite him, but his blood was incredibly tasty."
"Kate, you said you could trace your blood or the blood of one of the Trackers. How?" asked Giles.
"Well, a vampire can have a telepathic connection between him and his victim", answered Spike instead of Kate. "But this happens in rear cases."
Kate closed her yes and concentrated on her blood. She wanted to feel it, she called it, and then she saw a room, familiar faces, and …herself. It was as if she was looking at herself through someone else's eyes. 'Damn it!'
Kate opened her eyes. "I found my blood. In fact, half of it is sitting beside me." She looked at Spike. "Yes, brother, half of my blood is in you. No wonder I can't reach that part of my blood that travels who knows where."
"So, try to trace the Blood Tracker whose blood you drank", suggested Spike.
"I just licked a drop of his blood. I don't think I can find him if he already left the States", sighed Kate.
"What about the 'Blood spell'? You could use it. Only in a reversed way, something like 'Blood of the Dark, join Blood of the Light", suggested Willow.
"It could work", agreed Kate. "But if they did as you've said it should be three on three. Three drops of 'dark' blood looking for three sources of 'light' blood and I don't know anyone else present here who has 'dark' blood, except me and Spike." Kate shook her head.
"Angel has 'dark' blood", supposed Giles. "Spike, you and Kate should go to LA, find Angel, and try to trace her blood with this spell. Spike, do you know how to find him?"
"Yeah, I found him once", said Spike reluctantly. "Kate, you saved my life and I'll do whatever it takes to get your blood." He kissed Kate on the top of her head. They both stood up.
"I'll tell Angel that you would come", said Buffy, taking the phone and wondering how Spike and Angel would come along after what Spike had done to him once.
"Be careful", warned Giles the vampires who came up to the door. "We'll keep looking for information."
The vampires said goodbye and left the house.
When they were outside Kate asked. "Spike, how are we gonna get to LA? By bus?"
"No, kitten, I have a car", replied Spike, lighting a cigarette.
They went to the garage where Spike had stashed his car and when Kate saw it, she laughed. "What is THAT?"
"My car, get in", said Spike dryly. Kate's words offended him.
"No offence, but the car looks like shit. And what do you see through these smoked windows?" asked Kate, sitting in the passenger seat.
"I see everything." Spike started the engine.
When they were on the road Kate asked him about his life and how he ended up in Sunnydale.
"5 years ago Dru and I came to Hell Mouth to restore our strength after the little showdown in Prague during which Dru got hurt. Guess who was already in town. Buffy, the Slayer. I decided to kill her. I was good at killing Slayers but she turned out to be a hard nut to crack", explained Spike.
"Dru…" said Kate, trying to recollect who that was. "Is that the bulgy-eyed girl who was with you and that other guy with dark hair when you… well, y'know."
"Yes, Kate, when I sired you and yes, that was Drusilla. She dumped me the first time for the Chaos Demon and the second time for the Fungus Demon. She thought I wasn't evil enough for her. Anyway, I returned to Sunnydale with only one goal – to kill the bloody Slayer, but I got caught by the bastards from the "Initiative" and they implanted a chip in my brains. That chip activated itself when I tried to hurt a human. To cut the story short, instead of killing the Slayer I fell in love with her." Spike was looking at the empty road and thinking that hating the Slayer was much easier that loving her.
"I know that you and Buffy were lovers, she told me", noted Kate, switching on the radio and trying to find some station.
"Yes, we were. She is the reason why I got my bloody soul back and went through this hell", laughed bitterly Spike. "The Slayer has a soft spot for vampires."
"What?" Kate raised her eyebrow in surprise.
"Angel was her lover and, how ironic! After the first night with her he lost his soul and became Angelus, soulless, ruthless monster", answered Spike, looking at Kate.
"Spike, eyes on the road, please. Angelus… this name seems familiar. Isn't he 'the Scourge of Europe'?" asked Kate.
"Yes, he is my sire."
"Wow, from this moment – details, please. If he's your sire that he's my sire too?"
"Ok, listen. We belong to the Master's line. The Master was an old and mighty vampire, but Buffy killed him. The Master sired Darla, a couple of centuries later she sired Angelus. Angelus sired Drusilla, but before that, he drove her nuts. Then Drusilla sired me and I sired you. I'm sorry about that." These last words Spike said quietly and sadly.
'I'm not mad at you anymore. In fact, I should thank you." Kate smiled. "So, technically, your Sire is Drusilla and Angelus is what? Sort of your grandfather? That means he's sort of my great grandfather, right?" asked Kate.
"Well, yeah. But Angelus is Angel now. He has his soul back. Look, kid, I don't think we should tell Angel or anybody else that you're a day-walker", told her Spike.
"Really? And how are we gonna explain him the 'Blood spell' and that I want my blood back?" asked Kate, yawning.
"I don't know. Kate, if we do trace these guys and if it turns out that they go to Europe, do we have to follow them? To Europe?"
"Relax, I have my passport with me and money is not the problem. Damn, I'm falling asleep. Spike, when we get to LA, wake me up." Kate closed her eyes and fell asleep.
* * * *
Spike pulled over near Angel's office. It was long after midnight, but Angel, warned by Buffy, expected them. He heard the car stop near the office and came out to see who that was.
Spike gently touched Kate's face. Asleep, she seemed so peaceful, young, and innocent. "Kitten, we're in LA. Wake up."
"What? Where?" Kate opened her eyes and first didn't understand where she was. "Ah, Ok." She got out of the car and saw a tall dark-haired man who stood in the doorway and looked at the newly arrived.
"Spike, I can't say I'm glad to see you, but Buffy said it was really important", said Angel to the blonde vampire who locked the car, then came up to Kate and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Likewise, but she", he pointed at Kate who was shivering from the night cold air, "needs help".
"I'm freezing", said Kate. Spike took off his duster and gave it to Kate.
"Come in." Angel invited them in. "I'm listening", he said when they were in and Kate drank hot coffee, trying to get warm and trying at the same time not to fall asleep again.
"This is Kate, my sister. Remember her?" started Spike.
"Spike, don't be ridiculous. She can't be your sister. You're an old vampire and she's human, a young human. Look how she's shivering. She's cold. Vampires don't feel cold", snapped Angel, but then looked at Kate more intently and recognized her. "Oh, God!" He recollected the girl whom he told Spike to eat in1880. She hadn't changed, only her hair was shorter and darker now. "What the hell is going on?"
Spike opened his mouth to say something, but Kate interrupted him. "I'm really his sister and I remember you standing near him and telling 'Do, it, William, she's so fresh, young and tasty'. Pervert", she grumbled but then continued. "I'm a vampire, a day-walker to be exact. If you tell anyone else I'll kill you with my own hands", threatened Kate. "We came here, because we need your help. Tonight three Blood Trackers managed to get my blood. I don't know who wants it but I'd like my blood back. I want to use a 'Blood spell' to locate those guys and need a drop of your demonic blood", finished Kate and looked at Angel.
"Unbelievable", whispered astonished Angel.
"We don't have much time. These guys might be on their way to Europe and with every passing moment they might be getting farther and farther away from LA", insisted Kate.
"What do you need for this spell?" asked Angel.
'Well, as far as I understood, I need a map to locate them. Let's start with LA", suggested Kate. "If they are still in LA, I'll try to find them telepathically."
Angel stood up and went to another room to find the map.
"Kate, are you crazy? Why the hell did you tell him that you're a day-walker?" hissed Spike.
"I have a feeling I can trust him. Don't know why but still", whispered Kate to her brother.
Angel returned, carrying the map of Los Angeles. He spread it on the table. "What's now?"
"Now I need something sharp and something for the blood", replied Kate, coming up to the map. Angel took a knife and a saucer from the table drawer. "Will that do?"
"Yep. Give me your hand." Kate took Angel's hand, pierced the thumb, and squeezed some blood on the saucer. She did the same to Spike and herself. "Angel, where are we on this map?" she asked.
Angel found the location of his office. "Here."
Kate dripped the blood on the place and said. "Blood of the Dark, join Blood of the Light'. Repeat after me". Spike and Angel did as she said and a moment later, the drop moved, leaving the trail.
"What is that?" Kate pointed at the place where the drop had stopped.
"LAX", said Angel.
Kate sat on the couch and closed her eyes. She concentrated her thoughts on that green-eyed son of a bitch whose blood she had tasted, whose blood she craved despite the ring. 'Contact!' she felt as if she was in his head and saw two young men standing near him. She heard one of them, the guy who fought with Buffy, say:"Jake, what's wrong?"
LAX
"Jake, what's wrong?" asked Chris, looking at his pale brother.
"Nothing, I just feel weird and… dizzy", said Jake, suddenly remembering the brown-eyed girl whose blood he was now carrying in his pocket.
The blood Trackers heard the announcement about the boarding on Flight 75 to Paris. "That's our flight, let's go", said Nick.
'Thank you' heard Jake in his head and the feeling of dizziness disappeared.
* * * *
"They go to Paris, flight 75, leaving now", said Kate, when she snapped out of her telepathic contact and opened her eyes.
"How did you do that?" asked Angel. "This kind of contact needs a very strong emotional connection."
"Oh, I have the connection. I hate the bastard who has my blood", said Kate and thought 'and I like his blood'. "Ok, guys. Thanks for your help. I'm going to Paris." She rose to her feet.
"Hold on, kitten. You're not going alone there", said Spike, standing in her way.
"Oh, yeah? And how are you gonna get to the plane? And the sunlight?" Kate wondered.
"I'm going with you. Three is better than two. Besides, I can get us a plane", said Angel, taking the phone receiver and dialing a number.
"Hi, Peter, it's Angel. Sorry to call you so late, but I need your help."
"You know I don't sleep much. What's up?"
"I need a plane. My friend has to go to Paris immediately. Can you help?"
"I'll see what I can do", said Peter and hung up the phone. Ten minutes later, the phone rang. "The plane will be ready in an hour. I'll warn the pilot. How many passengers?"
"One and two vampires", answered Angel.
"Ok, I'll ask my friend to meet you at the airport with the car. Angel, you'll owe me a big one", said Peter.
"Sure. Bye." Angel disconnected the call. "Kate, you'll go through the customs as usual. Do you have the passport?"
Kate nodded and Angel continued. "Spike and I will work something out." Angel wrote a note to Cordelia.
* * * *
An hour later Peter's private plane was airborne. Everything went smoothly and three vampires sat in the comfortable seats and discussed their further actions.
"If their final destination is Paris, I think I'll be able to keep tracking them", said Kate.
"They have a head start but we'll arrive at Paris earlier. We'll need a place to stay", said Angel.
"Don't worry. We have a house in Paris and since Vic's dead, I'm the owner now", assured him Kate and then she smiled.
"Why are you smiling?" asked Spike.
"I know how to get you from France to America", she answered.
ÒBC
A/N Reviews, please.