Chapter Three

Her hands were bound tightly behind her back locking her shoulders in an uncomfortable position, the ropes chafed at the wound on her wrist and she could feel the raw skin burning painfully. She kept her eyes firmly closed, if she opened them she knew she would only crumble and fall into despair. Laughter echoed through the cavernous chambers but beside her the monster slept on. Willow's legs twitched uncomfortably, she had been bound sitting upright and her hips and legs were numb from not being able to move about. Her hands were frozen and she was sure her blood circulation had been cut off.

"It has been decades since I woke to the warmth of a mortal woman beside me," Willow recoiled and squeezed her eyes even tighter shut. The sound of leather creaking broke through the laughter as the monster rose and Willow's hands were freed from their bonds. "I hope you can understand the need for security. These are more for your protection, it would do you no good to go wandering off in hopes of finding a way out."

"Come with me," Darla wrapped an arm around Willow's shoulders. "It's been a long time since I was mortal, but I remember they have needs." Humiliated, Willow had no choice but to follow Darla into the depths of the tunnels. Without the woman guiding her she was sure she'd have gotten lost after the first turn. She relieved herself quickly, even with Darla's promise that she would be left alone. There was a small pool of water that looked surprisingly clean where she could quickly wash. The water was warm and there was an unnatural feel to it. How can water be unnatural? She asked herself, she was just being silly.

"Ah Darla, taking care of our guest?"

"Yes Master," Darla smiled and dipped a small curtsey. At his gesture she sat on a smaller chair on his right hand side. The room was empty, save for the Ox. Luke, Willow thought, they called him Luke. But the name didn't make him seem any less terrifying.

"W - Why does everyone call you Master?" It was the first question which popped into her mind. Strong hands pushed down on her shoulders, forcing her onto her knees and Willow let out a cry as the rough ground tore into her tights and scraped her knees.

"You will kneel when you address the Master," Luke commanded.

"Luke, come now - she is our guest." The wrinkled monster's voice was kind, but his face was taunting as he turned ruby eyes onto Willow. "They refer to me as Master for that is what I am. It may seem strange to you now, but in a few days this will seem perfectly normal to you. Now...I am feeling generous. I will give you two more questions."

"He does not answer questions lightly," Darla advised. "It is not our place to question, this is a great honour for you."

"Why am I here?" Willow just about managed to stop herself from adding 'and when can I go home?' If she only had two questions it was probably best to save the next depending on his answer. She was pretty sure that she wouldn't be going home. The Master rose to his feet, his leather creaking with each step. Leaning down he grasped Willow's upper arms and pulled her up lightly. With his right hand he touched his long fingers against her cheek, trailing them down to the pulse in her neck.

"I need sustainment. Truth be told, little mortal you should not be breathing, but Darla has recommended a gift for you. Should you please me, I would gladly bestow this gift upon you." Willow swallowed a lump of fear in her throat and fixed her eyes on a flickering candle just above the Master's right shoulder.

"W - What gift?" She forced herself to whisper.

"You surprised me, I thought you would wish to know how to please me." Willow felt the room grow warm and she met his gaze. "Yes, you're right - I had told you I had no interest in you carnally. To answer your question, I am a vampire. One of the oldest, few have reached my age. This is why they address me as Master."

"L - Like Dracula?" Willow frowned and shook her head. "Vampires don't exist – they're just monsters from horror films and books…" But even as she spoke she could hardly deny the monster's existence. Why would he lie? A voice in the back of her mind reasoned with her. "Oh god…" She whispered, shaking her arm free as the monster grasped it lightly. "No…" It suddenly became painfully clear how he would judge whether she was pleasing or not.

"Just a taste, you must sustain me until the Harvest is over after all." Holding her chin firmly the Master moved Willow's head from side to side until she was forced to meet his gaze. Her mind screamed at her to look away, to close her eyes, but each time she pointed her eyes away he would simply turn her head until she was forced to look at him. She was too frightened to close her eyes, she knew he would force her eyes open and that it would not be a pleasant experience. The longer he held her gaze, Willow felt her mind beginning to empty. She felt detached from herself, as if she no longer had control over her body. "Turn around."

Despite being right in front of her, the Master's voice sounded far away. As if he spoke from the opposite end of one of his tunnels. heavily she felt her body responding so that she stood with her back to the Master. She found herself facing Luke, who was blocking the tunnel entrance several feet away. Sharp fingernails scraped against her neck as her hair was brushed aside. One arm circled her waist, another embraced her shoulders and pulled her close so that she stood with her back pressed to the Master's front. She let out a small whimper as she realised was about to happen, mercifully she found she could now close her eyes although she couldn't move anything else. A tongue probed her neck, testing the tenderness of the skin. When he had found the right spot the tongue was replaced with a sharp pair of canine teeth. The pain was sharp and sudden, it was like having an injection. Before Willow could relax though the pain in her neck was replaced by something far more excruciating. As the Master sucked at the wound Willow felt what it was to have blood drawn involuntarily. Tiny daggers shot through her veins, ripping through her with each suck. Tears flooded her cheeks and she let out a weak cry. She wanted to fight, to struggle and run, but her body was frozen in place and she could do nothing while she was used as a source of food. She found it more humiliating than terrifying. It was a strange thought, one that stayed with her as the Master released her. He could only have taken a few mouthfuls, but she felt physically drained.

"Exquisite," The Master's voice was husky and he patted Willow's head as if she were a child who had performed well on their homework. "Darla, Luke, please...take a bite. But just a small one. I want to savour her."

"Please, no." Willow tried to move and stand up as Darla approached her.

"Just a mouthful sweetie," Darla cooed, kneeling beside her. "I won't even need to bite."

"Let them taste you, and I will let you see your friend. He is awake, with surprising determination...Darla, you will supervise?"

"Of course Master," but Darla's eyes were focused on the bleeding wound in Willow's neck. she realised with each beat of her heart, fresh blood oozed from it. She closed her eyes as first Darla took a mouthful, quickly followed by Luke. Not content with kneeling, Luke picked her up as if she was a doll. Rather than sucking at the wound he licked the blood from her neck, a guttural groan escaping from him.

"The blood of the pure, it never ceases to excite me."

"And they are so hard to find nowadays." The Master sighed, "how many do you think you will encounter at the Harvest?"

"Not as many as we once would have. It is a shame. For them. I will have to drink more to make you stronger." The three laughed as if sharing a private joke.

"Be careful Darla, with an open wound he will be more excitable. A flavour such as hers, a taste must be earnt." Willow shuddered but weakly followed Darla through a maze of tunnels. every so often the tunnel would break into a dead end where they would see a cluster of sleeping figures.

"Wait here," Darla left Willow propped against a wall before disappearing down a winding tunnel. Willow hugged herself nervously, frightened that one of the monsters would find her alone. Vampires, she reminded herself. She wished she could convince herself this was a nightmare, but she would have woken up by now.

"Will!" A shout brought her attention back to reality and she cried out when she saw Xander.

"I thought you were dead!" She sobbed, flinging her arms around him. She didn't notice the way he buried his face into her hair and sniffed.

"Hey, don't cry. Why would you think that?" Xander's embrace tightened and he kissed gently at her tears. "Will, I'm fine. see?" He pushed her back so she could observe him. She didn't see his eyes fixated on the wound in her neck, nor the way he licked his lips and looked over her shoulder towards Darla. "Can we have some privacy?"

"I'm afraid not," Darla said gently. "I've already explained to you Alexander, you're young. Your urges are stronger than your control, I can see what would happen if I left you with her."

"W - What?" Willow looked up at Xander and saw something pass over his face, for a second she was sure his eyes had turned an almost lampshade yellow. "Xander?"

"She's mine," Xander repeated, holding Willow close.

"She was brought here for the Master, she belongs to him." The blonde woman's voice was firm but gentle, as if she was talking to a small child who didn't understand the rules. "I've already explained this to you. She's an offering."

"Please don't say that," Willow protested as she tried to slip free from Xander's grip. "Xander, please we have to get out of here -"

"Ssh Will," his hand moved to clamp over her mouth gently. "Darla please, he'll kill her."

"You are young; you cannot even begin to comprehend the way the Master thinks." Darla's voice was gentle and she held out her hand, a warm smile on her demonic face. "Bring her back to him Xander. He allowed her to see you as a reward, she was worried about you. But see Willow, he's perfectly safe." Xander's hand still covered her mouth, his other arm held her close in what she hoped was supposed to be a protective gesture but she had the feeling it was more possessive. Now he notices me, she thought, almost rolling her eyes. In the back of her mind she knew something was horribly wrong. Pressed against him like this, she should have been able to feel his heart beating or at least his chest rising and falling as he drew breath. But there was nothing, he was as motionless as a statue. And just as cold.

"Soon we will go above ground. We will teach you to hunt, to feed and tomorrow you will help bring the Master to his rightful place. Do your job well and the Master will reward you, as he will reward your friend should she please him." Willow's eyes widened pleadingly as she looked up at Xander, she was frighteningly aware of the sounds of her panicked breathing and pounding heart. She didn't want to be fed from again, to be in close proximity to the Master.

"Xander please," her voice was muffled but it caught Xander's attention. Gently he removed his hand but clasped her arm instead. "Let me go home please. I – I don't want to die!"

"And you will not as long as you do as the Master says. He is already pleased with you, your future is almost assured - immortality will be your reward." Darla's voice was gentle and comforting but did little to ease Willow's fear. She put up no resistance as Xander led her back through the winding tunnels, she felt faint but somehow managed to keep upright. She knew now that Xandr was not alright, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it. The Master was sitting on his throne-like chair looking bored, cradling his chin in his long-fingered hands. At his right stood Luke who glowered as Willow was pushed into the main chamber. She stumbled and fell against a wall, her throat suddenly dry. Don't faint, she ordered herself trying to push herself up straight. She wasn't sure if it was from the fear or the blood loss. She knew they hadn't taken much, but she had donated blood once and remembered the feeling of sickness. And that had been when she'd willingly donated blood.

"Will –" Xander reached out to try and help her to her feet but Willow slapped his hand away and glared at him.

"Don't touch me. You're not Xander, I don't know what you are but you're not him!" She screamed as Luke reached down and effortlessly hauled her to her feet.

"Leave her alone!" Xander tried to pull Willow free but he was no match for Luke who swatted him backwards as if he was no more than a fly. Xander's face instantly transformed, his forehead coming together in deep creases, his jaw becoming animalistic and his teeth...Willow let out a scream as she saw her friend was no longer human.

"Enough!" The Master roared rising to his feet, "take the boy above ground. Teach him to hunt and prepare him for tomorrow."

"What of the girl Master?" Darla caught Xander before he crashed onto the floor and helped him to stand upright. Her hands moved up and down on his arms until he visibly relaxed, his demonic face disappearing. He looked at Willow, a mixture of hunger and pity in his dark eyes. Willow turned away from him and found herself standing close to the Master.

"What of her?"

"She is weakening; if you want her to survive tomorrow then perhaps we should feed her?" The Master clasped Willow's face with his long-fingered hands, studying her intently.

"It has been such a long time since I was mortal, or since I have had one close by for more than a few hours.. I have forgotten this dependency they have on food…very well. Take him up, but make sure you bring something for the girl upon your return."

"No –" Willow protested but cut herself off quickly, no what? She did not want to be left alone with whatever this demon was. But Xander was one of them now. Tears blurred her eyes and she fought to keep her fear at bay.

"You should not fear for your friend."

"He is not my friend…" Willow whispered as she stared at Xander's retreating back. What was he? A vampire yes; his face matched those of the others. but what did it mean? Was he dead?

"Mortals, you're so pitiful with your gloom and doom attitude. Come, do you know how to play chess?" Slowly Willow nodded, confused by the sudden turn in conversation. "Good. Perhaps we can wager on how long you'll live with a few games." Following him into a side chamber Willow felt sick, but she obediently sat at a small table with a chessboard and began setting the pieces up.

"I'm feeling generous," the Master said and spun the board around so she was faced with the white pieces. "For each game you win, you have another night to live."

"H - how long do we play for?" She asked, her fingers hovering over a pawn.

"Until I grow weary, but it has been a long time since I had a fresh opponent." The Master folded his fingers beneath his chin and watched her, visibly savouring her. I'm not sure if I want to win any games, Willow thought but she was wise enough to keep it to herself. Helplessly she moved the pawn on F2 forward one space, it was a terrible move and she knew it straight away. But she found herself not drawn into the game. "Tsk, tsk."

"I - I'm not very good," she said weakly.

"I will give you this warning once, little mortal." The Master warned, "I do not tolerate lies. If you were not at least adequate, you would have said you do not know how to play from the start."

"I'm sorry," Willow blushed and moved her knight to counter his move of a pawn taking hers. The Master drew her into conversation, probing at what the world above was like. She answered his questions, finding herself being drawn into a relaxed state so she began moving the pieces on the board without as much hesitation. She forgot the stakes of the game and began countering his move, taking his pieces as ruthlessly as he took hers.

"Well, well…" The Master leant back in his chair after their sixth game, "three games each...I must admit I am impressed." Willow stared at the board glumly, now the game was over and the reality hitting her...she should have lost more. "Another game perhaps, all or nothing? If I win, you lose your three extra nights. If I lose, you get six."

"N - No thank you," Willow looked up to see a wicked grin on the Master's face. Something told her he had thrown at least one of the games. Even if she tried to lose, she doubted she would. She picked up a pawn which had fallen onto the floor, never before had she felt pity for a chess piece. But was she not a pawn to this monster? Even Xander...they could use her as the willed. She could fight against them, but in the end what good would it do?