Chapter 16 - Afternoon

Xander awakes. For the first second or so, he is delivered from his fate by those divine moments when everything is still fuzzy and coming into focus. Soon enough it all comes crashing back including his consent to join Angelus' little family.

He realizes that he is not alone. It is Willow lying quietly on her side. Her hair is a shock of even deeper red as if to evidence her change. Her pale, even features seem the same as always. It is rare to see this beloved face when it is not animated with some thought or feeling. Just the sight of Willow, lying so still beside him is enough to solidify his bargain with the devil himself. He cannot leave this girl anymore than he could leave an arm or a leg.

He is drawn from his thoughts as she stirs beside him. He watches her intently, instinctively knowing that when she wakes she will be dangerous. He surmises that indeed this might be the plan, to give him to Willow. Well, so be it, he thinks. Better she than Angelus.

"It'll be OK, really. Just relax."

Xander looks up to see Buffy standing at the foot of the bed. She seems greatly changed since he last saw her. She is not bruised or battered not nor does she seem to be under any kind of duress. He sits up and looks around the room for Angelus but finds only Buffy.

"He's out. He's gone to Giles' apartment to pick up some things. Honestly, I've never been particularly interested in Giles' musty old books and artifacts but Angel seems to think that some of the items might be useful to us or at the very least, safer in our hands."

Wearing only a black, silk pajama top skimming the tops of her thighs, Buffy climbs on the opulent bed and crawls to him, opposite Willow. He tries to look calm but he feels like a rabbit caught by a fox. At least she is a beautiful fox he thinks. But - after all of his teenage fantasies - this particular one of death by sex- never came up once.

A movement on the other side of him draws his attention. It is Willow. She is in full game face. She looks confused. She looks to him and Buffy like she is going to speak but just as suddenly focuses in on Xander. The sight of this boy - this warm, beautiful boy beside her - draws her attention. She recognizes the boy inspite of her hunger and confusion. Her hand reaches out and caresses the warm bend of his neck.

Buffy is fearful that in her current state, Willow will tear into him. "Willow - No!" Willow looks to Buffy. Willow's demon recognizes her sire and pulls back from Xander.

Before anything further can be said, the door opens and Angel walks into the room. "Well, hello children, miss me?"

It is obvious to Buffy that Angelus has come to the fore again. The look of sensuous, mischievous delight on his face is not an "Angel" look at all. Buffy feels his anticipation and carnal delight run through her as well. She imagines that Willow must feel the same connected as they are.

Willow - still confused, still hungry - continues to look to Buffy and then to Angel for direction. Angel gives a slight nod and she quickly turns to Xander. He is staring at her with wide eyes. He doesn't seem to be able to draw his gaze away from her face. Unexpectedly, Xander sees tears falling from the green eyes that he recognizes. "Oh, Xander." she says. "I'm hungry, I'm so hungry." And with that, he pulls her into his arms, her bare back to Angelus.

Making eye contact with Angelus, he deliberately guides Willow's face to his neck. While she continues to sob in his arms, unaware or uncaring that they both are nude, Xander maintains eye contact with Angelus. He is determined to face this monster until he is dead and can face him as only another monster can.

Holding the boy's gaze, Angel walks to the side of the bed where Buffy is perched and comes to sit behind her, pulling her into his lap. He knows what the boy is thinking as only another male can. For the boy's benefit, he deliberately runs his hands possessively up Buffy's body to her breasts. The action brings back memories of their encounter earlier in the day. The boy needs to remember who is king of this castle.

The sight of Angelus handling Buffy so casually further angers Xander even as it arouses him. As Angelus leans down to kiss Buffy's throat, he reaches into Xander's mind once more and slowly rips something away.

Willow continues to cry as Xander screams, "What, what did you this time you coward. Are you afraid to face me without your little tricks?"

Angel laughs. "No, my boy, it's not a trick, it's you. I simply let something out. Something that I've glimpsed at once or twice. You see, you're not as pure and noble as you think. You just need to loosen up and live a little."

Xander struggles to resist. Whatever Angel did, makes him want to give in. He realizes that he is now running his hands up and down Willow's back and it feels so good. Buffy catches his eye as he continues to touch Willow.

The two combined - Buffy and Willow - the wild and the sweet, the warrior and the witch - the two he loves - it is too much for him to fight. His love for them is pulling him under. When he looks into Angel's eyes, he feels aggression and the struggle for dominance but when he looks in Buffy's eyes all he feels is lust and the need for possession like never before.

His heart picks up speed as he gets lost in Buffy's eyes. The sound excites Willow's demon as she seeks out his pulse. For Willow, everything coalesces at once - her hunger, her confusion over waking up so obviously changed and her love for Xander. It is too much for her to bear and she is seduced by her own desire.

The feel of Willow's fangs driving firmly into his neck is an ecstasy he has never dreamed of before. His surrender to her is complete and willing. He gives his life to her freely and perhaps that is what makes it so sweet. In his mind, she is taking nothing. He is only giving and while she seems the aggressor, in truth he feels he is the one violating her as his hands wander over her body. He feels her warming with his blood and somehow, he feels powerful. He is giving her life as if he is her sire.

As Willow feeds, she comes back to herself. By the time she is fully alert, she instinctively knows that it is too late for Xander that she has already taken too much. Another part of her knows that her fate is his own and this part of her rejoices. She continues to feed until Buffy gently pulls her away.

Willow's face is her own now as is her mind. She looks at Buffy and begins to cry again. Buffy pulls Willow into her arms, rocking her as a mother would rock a child, humming softly to her. She whispers that everything will be fine. She is here now, they are together.

Angel surveys the two females, both huddled together in his arms, lost in giving and seeking comfort. He looks to the pale boy. It is time - a few minutes more and it will be too late. Some remnant of his soul seems to rear up in response to the sight of the two women. He does not have the heart to interrupt them at this moment. He decides to go on and give the boy his own blood rather that pull the two away from each other.

Moving to cradle the boy in his arms, Angel bites his own wrist and holds it to the boy's mouth. As soon as the powerful blood touches the boy's lips, he rouses. The boy takes hold of Angel's wrist with a sudden fiercosity that surprises him. The boy draws hard on the wound, biting into it with his still blunt teeth.

The boy's eyes are open - another shock for Angel - fledglings do not react like this in the first moments of their turning. Most are little more than dead things. But with this boy, it is as if his body, his spirit immediately recognize the dark power and seek it out. As Angel looks into the boy's eyes, they are beginning to glow yellow - another oddity.

It is only after the dark blood has time to work its magic that any of the gifts of the demon come to the fore. Even Buffy slept through the better part of the first day after her turning and still, she is exceptional. It seems that the qualities and gifts that made these children exceptional as humans are following them into their next lives. While Angelus does not like any kind of surprises, any sort of power attracts him and this boy's reactions to the dark gift point to power. Power that will be in his family and at his command. Angelus smiles at the thought.

While the boy continues to attack his wrist, making him weak, he looks over to Buffy and Willow. Red has stopped crying and the two women are looking at him and the boy with great interest. Their eyes hold a look of wishing to approach but it is clear that both are hesitant. He gives his consent and they come.

Upon the women's approach, the boy ceases his frenzied feeding and looks up with glowing, yellow eyes in the midst of his human face. Angel's blood is covering his lips and he is at once a terrifying sight. While he has had more than an ample amount of blood from Angel, he craves more. He recognizes both the women. He wants both women. Now.

Xander launches himself out of Angel's arms and towards both women. He lands with his body on top of the delicately boned females. He growls as he bites into Willow's throat with blunt teeth. Buffy rolls to her side to come to Willow's defense but is stopped by Angel's silent hand.

Angel knows that you do not come between a hungry dog and his dinner or a vampire and its mate. While he does not fully comprehend what is passing between the two pale forms on the bed beside them, he knows that it would not be prudent to interrupt on any account. He lies on the far side of Buffy and pulls her into his arms. He has always been a bit of a voyeur and he is interested in observing the goings on between Willow and Xander.

Buffy turns her attention back to her own mate and sees the damage caused by Xander's attack. She gingerly picks up Angel's wrist and licks the wound clean with her own tongue. Knowing that he needs blood, she draws his mouth to her neck, offering herself. The tender gesture almost undoes Angel.

Somehow, Angel has ceased to be the puppet master and is simply another player. While Angelus would have raged at the changing dynamic, this new Angel is content to watch things play out. Again, he reminds himself that love is the tie that binds the tightest and to love one must make oneself vulnerable, one must risk all to have all.

Willow lies yielding underneath Xander. This new Xander is lying naked on top of her. This one fact is more startling than the others combined. She can do nothing but cradle him in her arms while he feeds. He has calmed since he first bit into her. His hands are in her hair and she feels his erection pushing at her. She curves her body to accommodate him more fully.

While Xander is absorbed by the feel of her blood, he is equally aroused by the feel of her body under his own. He feels her moving to shape herself against him and moves with her. This sexual need absorbs him beyond his need for blood and he raises his head from her neck. He sees her torn skin beginning to heal before his eyes. Once he is assured that she is well, he plunges into her.

She is tight - a virgin - the thought of her virgin blood smeared on her thighs - excites him even more. He places his hands under her to tilt her to his satisfaction and drives into her again and again. He gives no thought to her willingness, it is assumed.

All Willow can do is take and take and take. She feels like her whole life and death have led to this one moment. She holds onto him with her limbs as tightly as she can, all that matters is this. If the demon is what has delivered him into her arms then she welcomes it.

As the sun sets, the four figures on the bed are entwined in pairs, one dark and light, one dark and red. Each pair is equally compelling. The males are on either side of the females in the ancient way of providing protection against any unknown attacker. The two women between the two males are holding hands.

Suddenly, the silence is broken as the fledging male bolts up in game face with a howling, otherworldly roar.

TBC