CHAPTER 6:
""
Buffy pushes open the door to Spike's Burial Chamber home. It squeaks and echoes in the chamber.
"Spike?"
She walks in slowly. Candles are lit.
"Can I help you?"
She turns around, surprised.
"There you are. I'm going to go check out that fair. Last time I was there I had the displeasure of meeting one of it's side show freaks."
"We prefer the transmondane."
"Anyway, they know I'm coming and I could sure use some backup."
He looks at her. He walks to his couch and takes his black coat off and tosses it.
"Look, I don't have much cash on me. Twenty dollars is all I can spare, so."
"You can keep your money."
"Spike, please. You are the only one other than me that's strong enough. What do you want?"
He flexes his muscles and points a finger.
"What I want." he retracts the finger and moves his head around, "agh!" he says in frustration. He climbs the couch and jumps off the headrest to the floor.
"Spike? Is this a bad time? Cause I can always come back later."
"I got information."
"Like I said, I don't have much."
"Think of this as buy a lot of information and get some free day."
"Is it about those kids?" asks Buffy.
He walks closer to her.
"Dead on as always Slayer. About three or four of those circus' folk are vampires. You killed the fifth. Two white guys, a dark one and this big Irish git. He's a real nasty one."
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah, I've been there a few days. They met every night."
"What were you doing there every night?" "What do you care? They're planning to take some more victims."
"Do you know when?"
"No, but my guess is it won't be long. They're trying to get passed you by working quickly."
"Then we are going to have to prepare."
"And what? Just head on out?"
"We are going to need everyone one this. We can't just go in alone. There might be more of them."
Outside Spike's Chamber door Frederick listens. He carefully leaves.
"Where did you get the new door?" "Let's just say it was practically a steel."
Frederick runs to the trailer and swings the door open. His hair wind blown and panting.
"O'Malley. It worked. He's leading her to us. But she's gonna bring company too."
Everyone looks at O'Malley.
"What's he going on about O'Malley?" asks Tommy.
O'Malley moves to the front and looks at Sven and Tommy. Frederick sits down.
"We're on the mouth of hell," he starts to answer.
"The Hell Mouth." Sven says under his breath.
"Well this is good, we can milk this place forever. With all the freaky stuff that goes on here, they'd never be the wiser," Tommy suggests.
"We have run into a rather troublesome problem. Colin wasn't killed by just anyone. He was taken from us by a Slayer."
"Check it out - there are many of us and only one of her. We can take her," Tommy riles them all up.
"O'Malley, we have William the Bloody on are side," Frederick comments.
"He has got that electronic mechanism in his thinker. He can't fight with us," replies O'Malley.
"We uproot. Leave this place. She won't follow. Not with the Hell Mouth here," Sven enters his own suggestion.
"You see, it's very simple. The Slayer lives here; leave here, no more Slayer. But we'll have to go a bit farther. Keep a good distance from her, so we're going to reap a few more before we go. Tomorrow night, we pack up and we leave."
"Okay, everyone got what we are doing?"
Buffy stands in her living room while everyone else sits down.
"Kill the vampires. Check," says Willow.
"I'm serious. Xander, you got them?"
"Five Super Soakers filled with holy water. Double check. Is it all right when I squirt them if I use my Shrawrtzennager voice and say, 'You've been terminated'? Cause I've always wanted to do that. Except for the appear naked in the middle of a parking lot part."
"You can say what ever you want. Just aim high. Preferably for the head," says Buffy.
Giles chimes in, "Remember, there may be more of them. Just because Spike has seen three of four of the fellow doesn't mean we should let are guard down."
"What he said. And try not to hit Spike."
"Right, cause that would be a real crying shame," comments Xander.
"Xander I mean it."
"Buffy, I don't know if I want you doing this. Carnival people are creepy enough as it is, but vampires canrnies?" Joyce worries.
"Mom, it will be all right. When Dawn gets home from school."
The telephone rings.
"It's all right, I'll get it. You continue your little meeting," Joyce offers and walks off.
Joyce walks into the kitchen.
"You guys, let's keep Dawn out of this," says Buffy.
"Buffy, it's for you," Joyce walks into the living room.
"Who is it?"
"Ben, that nice male nurse from the hospital."
"Ah, someone's got a crush on ER man," toys Xander.
Buffy blushes and goes into the kitchen. Xander turns to Willow.
"You see, it's all part of the dating etiquette thing. Go out on a date, then wait a few days and try again. Let then know you're not obsessive."
Buffy speaks in a low voice, "Ben, why are you calling here?"
"Can't a guy call you?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, it's just . it's just that it caught me by surprise is all."
"Got to keep it spontaneous. That way you never know what is coming next."
"I was kind of in the middle of something, did you want to talk or something?"
"Well, the other night I had to check out so early and I feel bad and want to try again. I wanted to see if maybe you'd like to go out tonight. My treat."
"I'd like to, but I have other plans."
"I understand. If you don't want to."
"No, I want to, but it's just that." she trails off.
"Then come on. We'll have fun. What were you going to do tonight that was so fun?"
"Just . stuff."
"Stuff? I've blown off stuff before. Join me," he tries his best to persuade her.
"I can't."
"Why?"
Buffy goes silent and closes her eyes.
"Well," Ben then speaks back up, "you just go at your own pace. When ever you're ready. I'll talk to you later."
She hangs up and walks slowly back into the living room. Her eyes are slightly teared up. She looks up at everyone. Xander has the TV remote and everyone is looking at the screen. She turns to look.
"Buffy." says Xander.
".Sunnydale Police have declined to comment."
The news broadcasts images of stretcher carts with body bags. Then crying family members.
"It appears they've taken three more victims. If it really is those circus vampires, this explains why they don't sire others. They want to keep a low profile and."
Xander finishes Giles thoughts in his own words, "And you don't do that by traveling around with milk carton look alikes. Just a little something I picked up in my Halloween training."
"He's right, ride and interrupting, but right, "says Giles.
"Stealings a hard habit to kick, even when you are dead," Buffy walks further into the room.
"Yes, I'm sure Sunnydale merchants are just low on their klepto- patches," Xander comments.
So they kill them? Doesn't that add up? Where do they find room for al the bodies?" everyone looks at Anya. "What? I'd really like to know."
"That's my little vengeance pumpkin," says Xander lovingly.
"Awww," replies Anya.
Xander puts his puts his arm around her and gives her a squeeze.
"You kids have fun, I got to go pick Dawn up. Don't want to be late. I have to catch her while all of her friends are out front so I can embarrass her," Joyce smiles.
They all say good-bye.
"Good, meet you guys here at 10:00, "Buffy informs them all.
"Now that that's all settled, Tara and I have to go do a little shopping," says Willow.
"Me and Anya are going to go study for the history test."
"We're gonna have sex," says Anya.
Everyone goes silent.
"Anya, I thought we discussed the inner voice thing sweetie," Xander grins.
"I thought that's what you said two people do when they get together to study? At least that's what those people on that video did."
Tara laughs and Xander turns red.
"Come on honey."
"And another thing, that picture quality was terrible."
They leave the house.
"Well, will see you later Buffy. We got to go," Willow and Tara get up and leave.
Buffy turns with her arms folded and looks at Giles. He pauses.
"Well, I must be going. I got to . look like I'm doing something important . yes. Well, I'm off."
Buffy closes the door behind Giles. She stares at it a minutes and presses her forehead against it. She puts her hands up, palm pressed against it. Tears roll down her soft innocent cheeks.
"Death is my gift . death is my gift."
""
Buffy pushes open the door to Spike's Burial Chamber home. It squeaks and echoes in the chamber.
"Spike?"
She walks in slowly. Candles are lit.
"Can I help you?"
She turns around, surprised.
"There you are. I'm going to go check out that fair. Last time I was there I had the displeasure of meeting one of it's side show freaks."
"We prefer the transmondane."
"Anyway, they know I'm coming and I could sure use some backup."
He looks at her. He walks to his couch and takes his black coat off and tosses it.
"Look, I don't have much cash on me. Twenty dollars is all I can spare, so."
"You can keep your money."
"Spike, please. You are the only one other than me that's strong enough. What do you want?"
He flexes his muscles and points a finger.
"What I want." he retracts the finger and moves his head around, "agh!" he says in frustration. He climbs the couch and jumps off the headrest to the floor.
"Spike? Is this a bad time? Cause I can always come back later."
"I got information."
"Like I said, I don't have much."
"Think of this as buy a lot of information and get some free day."
"Is it about those kids?" asks Buffy.
He walks closer to her.
"Dead on as always Slayer. About three or four of those circus' folk are vampires. You killed the fifth. Two white guys, a dark one and this big Irish git. He's a real nasty one."
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah, I've been there a few days. They met every night."
"What were you doing there every night?" "What do you care? They're planning to take some more victims."
"Do you know when?"
"No, but my guess is it won't be long. They're trying to get passed you by working quickly."
"Then we are going to have to prepare."
"And what? Just head on out?"
"We are going to need everyone one this. We can't just go in alone. There might be more of them."
Outside Spike's Chamber door Frederick listens. He carefully leaves.
"Where did you get the new door?" "Let's just say it was practically a steel."
Frederick runs to the trailer and swings the door open. His hair wind blown and panting.
"O'Malley. It worked. He's leading her to us. But she's gonna bring company too."
Everyone looks at O'Malley.
"What's he going on about O'Malley?" asks Tommy.
O'Malley moves to the front and looks at Sven and Tommy. Frederick sits down.
"We're on the mouth of hell," he starts to answer.
"The Hell Mouth." Sven says under his breath.
"Well this is good, we can milk this place forever. With all the freaky stuff that goes on here, they'd never be the wiser," Tommy suggests.
"We have run into a rather troublesome problem. Colin wasn't killed by just anyone. He was taken from us by a Slayer."
"Check it out - there are many of us and only one of her. We can take her," Tommy riles them all up.
"O'Malley, we have William the Bloody on are side," Frederick comments.
"He has got that electronic mechanism in his thinker. He can't fight with us," replies O'Malley.
"We uproot. Leave this place. She won't follow. Not with the Hell Mouth here," Sven enters his own suggestion.
"You see, it's very simple. The Slayer lives here; leave here, no more Slayer. But we'll have to go a bit farther. Keep a good distance from her, so we're going to reap a few more before we go. Tomorrow night, we pack up and we leave."
"Okay, everyone got what we are doing?"
Buffy stands in her living room while everyone else sits down.
"Kill the vampires. Check," says Willow.
"I'm serious. Xander, you got them?"
"Five Super Soakers filled with holy water. Double check. Is it all right when I squirt them if I use my Shrawrtzennager voice and say, 'You've been terminated'? Cause I've always wanted to do that. Except for the appear naked in the middle of a parking lot part."
"You can say what ever you want. Just aim high. Preferably for the head," says Buffy.
Giles chimes in, "Remember, there may be more of them. Just because Spike has seen three of four of the fellow doesn't mean we should let are guard down."
"What he said. And try not to hit Spike."
"Right, cause that would be a real crying shame," comments Xander.
"Xander I mean it."
"Buffy, I don't know if I want you doing this. Carnival people are creepy enough as it is, but vampires canrnies?" Joyce worries.
"Mom, it will be all right. When Dawn gets home from school."
The telephone rings.
"It's all right, I'll get it. You continue your little meeting," Joyce offers and walks off.
Joyce walks into the kitchen.
"You guys, let's keep Dawn out of this," says Buffy.
"Buffy, it's for you," Joyce walks into the living room.
"Who is it?"
"Ben, that nice male nurse from the hospital."
"Ah, someone's got a crush on ER man," toys Xander.
Buffy blushes and goes into the kitchen. Xander turns to Willow.
"You see, it's all part of the dating etiquette thing. Go out on a date, then wait a few days and try again. Let then know you're not obsessive."
Buffy speaks in a low voice, "Ben, why are you calling here?"
"Can't a guy call you?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, it's just . it's just that it caught me by surprise is all."
"Got to keep it spontaneous. That way you never know what is coming next."
"I was kind of in the middle of something, did you want to talk or something?"
"Well, the other night I had to check out so early and I feel bad and want to try again. I wanted to see if maybe you'd like to go out tonight. My treat."
"I'd like to, but I have other plans."
"I understand. If you don't want to."
"No, I want to, but it's just that." she trails off.
"Then come on. We'll have fun. What were you going to do tonight that was so fun?"
"Just . stuff."
"Stuff? I've blown off stuff before. Join me," he tries his best to persuade her.
"I can't."
"Why?"
Buffy goes silent and closes her eyes.
"Well," Ben then speaks back up, "you just go at your own pace. When ever you're ready. I'll talk to you later."
She hangs up and walks slowly back into the living room. Her eyes are slightly teared up. She looks up at everyone. Xander has the TV remote and everyone is looking at the screen. She turns to look.
"Buffy." says Xander.
".Sunnydale Police have declined to comment."
The news broadcasts images of stretcher carts with body bags. Then crying family members.
"It appears they've taken three more victims. If it really is those circus vampires, this explains why they don't sire others. They want to keep a low profile and."
Xander finishes Giles thoughts in his own words, "And you don't do that by traveling around with milk carton look alikes. Just a little something I picked up in my Halloween training."
"He's right, ride and interrupting, but right, "says Giles.
"Stealings a hard habit to kick, even when you are dead," Buffy walks further into the room.
"Yes, I'm sure Sunnydale merchants are just low on their klepto- patches," Xander comments.
So they kill them? Doesn't that add up? Where do they find room for al the bodies?" everyone looks at Anya. "What? I'd really like to know."
"That's my little vengeance pumpkin," says Xander lovingly.
"Awww," replies Anya.
Xander puts his puts his arm around her and gives her a squeeze.
"You kids have fun, I got to go pick Dawn up. Don't want to be late. I have to catch her while all of her friends are out front so I can embarrass her," Joyce smiles.
They all say good-bye.
"Good, meet you guys here at 10:00, "Buffy informs them all.
"Now that that's all settled, Tara and I have to go do a little shopping," says Willow.
"Me and Anya are going to go study for the history test."
"We're gonna have sex," says Anya.
Everyone goes silent.
"Anya, I thought we discussed the inner voice thing sweetie," Xander grins.
"I thought that's what you said two people do when they get together to study? At least that's what those people on that video did."
Tara laughs and Xander turns red.
"Come on honey."
"And another thing, that picture quality was terrible."
They leave the house.
"Well, will see you later Buffy. We got to go," Willow and Tara get up and leave.
Buffy turns with her arms folded and looks at Giles. He pauses.
"Well, I must be going. I got to . look like I'm doing something important . yes. Well, I'm off."
Buffy closes the door behind Giles. She stares at it a minutes and presses her forehead against it. She puts her hands up, palm pressed against it. Tears roll down her soft innocent cheeks.
"Death is my gift . death is my gift."
