Chapter 16

Dru tried to separate them. Usually she did not mind the rivalry between her child and sire, especially when it involved her as the object of contention but this wasn't the case now. She hissed at both of them and after a burst of strength pried them apart.

"STOP!" she yelled.

The vampires glared at one another. Spike had a gash on his forehead and was panting profusely. Angelus' nose was bleeding and he would have a nasty bruise on his right jawbone.

"I said to stop. We fight them not each other" the vampiress added for emphasis.

The two males paid her no heed as the circled each other. Their individual growls punctuated their challenge.

Spike lunged first and Angelus met him halfway. Drusilla was forced to step aside or be crushed by the violence of their attack. The intensity scared her and she soon was lost in her own little world of tea parties and singing moons.

In the meantime Angelus and Spike continued their dispute. Spike's vision was pure red and he didn't know if it was because of his cut or because of his anger. All he knew was that he wanted to tear his grandsire's tongue out for the things he had said about Buffy.

Because they could never be true. Could they?

For his part, Angelus relished the younger vampire's reaction. William was all passion and no finesse. It was clear that his revelation had wounded him at the primitive core. Spike cared for the Slayer.

As he fought, Angelus' went over the ways he could use the knowledge to his advantage. He was one to exploit an opponent's weaknesses and the most accessible were those of the heart. But what really made his day was that the Slayer might very well reciprocate the feelings of her undead lover.

All but the silver platter.

Eventually they wore themselves out. Spike's rage had given him the extra burst of strength he needed to match Angelus' superior fighting skills. And yet it wasn't enough to defeat the vampire. He had to concede but not without getting to the bottom of Angelus' revelation.

"You never had her" Spike said simply and with all the conviction that he could muster.

Angelus licked his lips and faced him with a mocking glare. "I did and let me tell you it was quite a letdown. You should know. Don't you?"
Spike was stunned into silence by the double blow. Angel knew about him and Buffy and what was a thousand times worse she had slept with him. It rang of finality. The Slayer had staked him and he did not know why.

Whereas Buffy reacted to betrayal with hatred, Spike did so with sorrow. He was more emotionally vulnerable than she was. He may have been one of the most feared and cruel vampires in history but he'd never managed to shield himself properly from his own emotions. He loved her to his very core and she'd betrayed his love for reasons unknown.

Angel walked away knowing that he'd neutralized his victim with the truth. Spike, for his part, remained rooted in his spot. His eyes were closed as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

But he didn't cry.

***

She would never cry again.

After sealing that vow Buffy opened her front door and faced the world outside. As her eyes took in the customary signs of her neighborhood she could not help but think that they'd lost some of their glow. The three-lined streets looked plain even in the bright sunshine. It was all very ordinary.

The Slayer quickly went to her car and pulled away from the picturesque Revello Drive. She had no direction or purpose beyond getting out of that house that had so many memories.

Buffy drove around Sunnydale not really seeing where she was going so it was really a surprised when she found herself at the abandoned factory that was home to Drusilla and Spike. She parked the car in the same spot she had before but made no motions to get out.

She sat there looking at the ugly gray structure. It was odd but she felt so far removed from it all. A mere spectator to her own life.

When she finally left her car she had her favorite stake clutched in her hand.

***

Tara and Willow's eyes were glued to the television screen as the television reported recounted the grisly remains of last night's slaughter.

The vampire or vampires had left eight victims in an all night killing spree. The reporter assured the public that the Initiative would double their patrols and start a citywide manhunt for the perpetrator(s). There was apparently no comment from the Slayer as of yet.

Willow was on the phone immediately dialing Buffy's number. Her answering machine picked up and Willow left a message urging his friend to call as soon as possible.

"I have a very bad feeling about this" Tara said.

Willow agreed. "There hasn't been a killing of this magnitude since before the Master was dusted. I think its best if we Scoobies regroup and see how we can help Buffy take on what's coming"

Tara nodded. They were used to working as a unit to ease the Slayer's burden somewhat. Still, she had a nagging feeling that this might be more than they could handle.

TBC.