Beta by  Sigma

 Chapter 8

Buffy turned to face the familiar voice...the voice of the Master. "No…you're dead"

"Really?" He laughed, approaching her warily. "So how is it that I'm standing right here, little Slayer?"

She yanked a sharp stake from some invisible hiding spot. "Let's just cut the chit-chat. I'll just slay you now. You see, I'm in a hurry, and, well, you're in my way." Her voice was confident, but her skin crawled as she remembered their earlier encounter.

However, she knew better than to dwell on that. Slay first, think later. As she raised her stake, surprised that the Master didn't even flinch, she heard him say, "Stop"

"What?" She looked slightly stunned that a vampire, any vampire, would actually dare to ask her that.

He cleared his throat. "I didn't come here to fight. I have a proposition for you."

Buffy paused, curious. Something was very wrong here. She folded her arms, waiting impatiently. When he didn't say anything for a few moments, she lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh, right. Sorry." He apologized, smiling disarmingly. "I am looking for two boys who went to high school with you. They are very dangerous, and, if you'll help me find them, I'll spare your life."

"What?" She almost shouted. "What...ok, who are you?"

Buffy pointed her stake at him threatening, but Xander suddenly slammed into her, knocking her to ground.

"Xander! What are you doing?"

He got up, muttering apologies. "Xander, what..." She pushed herself off the ground to get a better look at him, but trailed off when he grabbed the Master. She froze for a second, terrified.

However, she soon became even more confused when she realized that the Master looked terrified...of Xander!?

While she tried to figure this out, the Master began to change forms until he became...Jonathan Levenson, a boy from their highschool.

Buffy was furious now. "What the hell just happened here?"

His mouth opened and shut nervously, and he kept glancing at Xander.

"Hey, don't look at me, Jonathan. The Slayer looks pretty upset. I would answer her if I were you."

Jonathan tried to make a break for it, but Buffy quickly grabbed him by his ear.

"Ouch, ouch! Buffy, that hurts!"

"Well, it will hurt much more if you won't explain right now! I have a psychotic Master vampire on the loose, my friends found out I'm dating a vampire, and you nerds keep making everything worse. Now, tell me!"

"Ow! Ok, Buffy, please don't kill me, please! I will not do anything again...I declare you my friend. Really, you aren't my enemy anymore!"

She looked ready to burst out laughing. "Enemies? You stupid little dwarf! I don't have time for this. Xander, since you obviously have already figured out what's going on, how about you fill me in?"

"Sure, Buff, but let's go back to the Magic Box. I'll explain on the way there."

*****

From his hiding place, Angelus watched with disgust the whole charade. He knew from the start that wasn't his Master--you can't trick the blood--but the end made him relax. He left silently, glad that he hadn't lost his temper. After all, that would have ruined all his plans...

****

Dawn fidgeted at the counter, watching as the Scoobies tried to figure out what was going on.

Willow was nodding, an intent expression on her face. "So, what you are saying is that Jonathan and his friends have the ability to change shape, but Jonathan..." She turned to the cowering boy, who was unused to getting this much attention. "I assume you changed form to confuse Buffy, but how did the process..." The Scoobies began to tune Willow out as she started full-scale babbling.

"Man, she talks a lot!" sighed Buffy.

"You're telling me! She's my best friend!" Xander grinned in agreement.

Dawn had grown sick and tired of sitting there with nothing to do. "Buffy, can I please go home?"

"I don't know, Dawnie. It's dark out there, and Ange..." Seeing her disappointed face, the Slayer relented. "Ok, Dawn, you can go. I'll ask..."

"Buffy!" Spike interrupted, pulling her off to one side.

"Look, pet, I think we should stay together. Maybe she can wait another hour, and then we can leave in a group?"

"I know, you're right. But she'll be in the house. Someone can take her there, and she won't open the door for anyone. She's just a kid, Spike...I don't want to frighten her. I don't know if I'll have the chance to be with her, if I'll survive this..." She trailed off, lips trembling. Spike gave her a quick kiss to brighten her spirits.

"You're right, too, luv. Look, I'll walk her home, give her the big warning, and we'll be there in an hour."

"Thanks."

******

Dawn dumped popcorn into a big bowl. Even though everyone's doom could be right over the horizon, she was in a good mood. The guy she liked, Darren, had asked if he could come over and look at her notes. That gave her a major opportunity to talk to him, and to watch a movie on TV that Buffy hadn't let her see. All her friends had seen Cruel Intentions, so why couldn't she?

As she waited for the movie to start, she chatted on the phone with a good friend of hers, Dennis. "So do you think I should change to something cool?" She asked, before hearing a knock at the front door. "Oh God, Dennis! He's here! Come in!" She shouted. "I gotta go. See you later."

She hung up and raced to the living room, expecting to find Darren there. "Hello, Dawnie." Angelus smirked as his cold eyes met her terrified ones.

She turned to run, but he grabbed her by her long hair and threw her into a wall. He signaled his minions to come in and get her. "Let's go, boys. I still have a mate to claim!"