Rise to the Light
By BonBon
Chapter 9
"Hello luv" Spike greeted Aura in front of Tibbys.
"Hi Spike" Aura tried to appear calm. Every time he called her love or smiled at her, she was about ready to faint.
They went in and sat in a booth in the back, Aura glanced around quickly to see if anyone she knew was there.
God no. she inwardly groaned as she spotted Sarah and her mother sitting at the counter. Sarah had a big mouth. She'd tell Davey, who'd tell Jack who would investigate and probably kick her ass for this.
"So, tell me pet, now we're such good friends and all, Why are you a newsie?" Spike leaned towards her like it was a secret or something.
"Huh? I'se a newsie cause its fun. And its just what I do" Aura was a little thrown by that.
"uh huh. Well I just figured a cute bird like you might pursue other careers. I mean, bein a newsie stinks right? Lousy pay, dirty streets, never knowing where ya gonna get you're next meal" Spike picked up her fork and fed her a bite of her chicken meal.
Aura chewed thoughtfully. When she'd swallowed she said "Well, doesn't every career have its down side? Alls I know is I'se got good friends, an interesting job, and we'se ain't nevah been widout a place ta sleep. Jack takes care of us."
"I'll take care of you" Spike smiled at her and looked deep into her eyes.
"I'se, uh, well, dats, um, gee Spike, dats-" Aura stuttered. Did he just say that She thought. Aww, He'll take care of me. How sweet. Unless he meant that in an I'll take care of ya little brat, care ya right into your grave kinda way.
"But you're a vampire!" She spat out, a little too loudly. Sarah and her mother were looking her way now. She tried to hide behind the menu. Spike was smirking at her.
"Oh, so ya know about that" He commented and took a sip of his drink.
"Yeah." Aura became defensive. "You're girlfriend made my friend Pisky a vampire. Ya gonna do the same to me?"
"Bloody hell no. That brat Pisky has already taken up all of Dru's attention. I hate minions. "
"If you're not gonna kill me, why did you ask me out?" Aura was almost afraid to know.
"Because I like you. Whole damn towns gone vampire nuts. Everyone wants to be a slayer. Except you. Correct me if I'm wrong, last night when I visited you, you knew I was a vampire?"
"Yes" Aura admitted
"See? You didn't do a thing. No staking, screaming, fainting, begging, crying, running, none of it. You knew I was a monster, and you treated me like a man"
"Oh" Aura felt bad. Part of her was saying she was coming down too hard on him, he didn't lie and didn't plan to hurt her. And part of her screamed Hello. Vampire. Liar.
"So ya gonna stake me or not?" Spike stared at her.
"No" Aura said slowly. "I'm not. I guess, maybe, all vampire aren't bad"
"Damn right. My sire even has a soul. Lets just get on with out little date"
"ok"
"So, what do you do for fun?" Spike questioned.
In Brooklyn, things were not going well.
"All I'se sayin Jackyboy is dat when we'se got lil kids toinen up dead and Pisky bein brainwashed or whatevah, we'se got problems. Ya want me to jist sit back and let me whole damn town fall around me. I'se ain't stupid. I seen dap apes. People dissapeahing left and right. Lets take some action!"
"Yeah" The Brooklyn newsies and most of the Manhattan newsies rallyied around him.
Jack looked to Davey for support but even Davey seemed to be wanting to do something. Glancing behind him, he noticed how sunndenly BonBon, Stress and Spin were avoiding his gaze.
Damn, he thought. They don't know what to do, I don't know what to do. Whole damn cities goin crazy.
"Well whatcha wanna do Spot? Go chargin in? We don't even know whose doin this" Jack lied.
"I'se been hearin tings. Tings I thought was crazy but it makes sense now. Vampires, Jack. Like in da nickel novels. It makes sense. All da bodies eidder are drained of blood from two little neck holes or dere ain't no body. But I'se see dem at nigt sometimes. Da dead people. Peoples whose names I call out in dap apes. Dese dead but dese walkin around at night. Explain that"
Jack was surprised at Spots conclusions. But looking around, he saw many of the newsies nodding in agreement.
"Jist hang on a sec. Stress, BonBon, Spin and I need a second"
"What you guys tink? We tell em da truth?" Jack leaned in and whispered.
"Randy told us not to." BonBon said
"Seems like dey already know. Wouldn't it be better to tell them? Let em prepare?" Stress asked.
"Yes. No matter what Randy said. They desoive to know. Spot, come ere. " Spin called him over.
"Yeah?"
"You'se right Spot. Its vampires." Jack said. Then raising his voice to the rest of the newsies he said,
"Listen up. Spots right. It looks like we got vampires. Now we keep dis wid da Newsies. No telling anyone else. Dey'll tink you're nuts. And Pisky, she ain't be brainwashed. She been, been made a vampire" They all seemed to have their reactions to this.
"Furdermore, if ya's encounter a vampire. Don't try ta fight it. Deys supah strong and can kill ya like dat. Dats Spin's job"
"What?" Spot asked. "no sistah of mine is gonna be endangering herself to fight vampires"
"Stuff it Spot. I didn't choose this. It chose me. I'm a Slayer. One girl in the world chosen to fight evil. Kinda nifty huh? Well I tink dat you guys should at least know how ta protect yerself. Crosses, holy water, sunlight, all do da job. Wood through the heart will kill em too"
"wait, wait. How'se we gonna kill em wid sun if they only come out at night?" Specs asked.
"alright, dat won't work as much. But stay outta dark alleys during the day. Dats how dose two kids was killed."
Nervous chatter filled the room and Jack wondered if this was the right thing to do. He glanced to Stress and BonBon for support.
"Strength in numbers, Jack. We have a better chance if they know. And they have a better chance of surviving" Stress told him.
Just then, Sage, a Brooklyn newsie, burst in.
"Hey, Spot. A couple of da guys jist found Boots bown by the docks. He's hoit purty bad. 2 lil holes in his neck. Jist like the Manhattan kids."
"shit" Jack cursed. He looked at Spin. "Whadya think?"
"Pisky" Spin said. "Had to be. She's callin us out."
"wait. Dere's more. Snipes told dat last night he saw Race go off wid some girl who looked exactly like Bookie. Dey took a boat and went off down the Hudson."
"Bookie got Race?" BonBon cried in disbelief. "wait, isn't Bookie dead?"
"Give ya one guess what she is now. Starts with a V." Spin took all the new info in and breathed out. "ok. Uh, Stress, Dutchy and Specs go find out what ya can from Boots. Jack, Spot, BonBon and I will go after Race"
"me? Why me? Not me! I tink you'se want, uh Litl Bit ovah hear. Yeah, shes a much bettah Race finder den me." BonBon grabbed Litl Bit and hid behind her.
"Den bring her wit. But you'se comin. We'se need da magics and you;es fight pretty good."
"Lets go Litl Bit, You'se my bodyguard"
Before she had a chance to protest. BonBon grabbed her arm and hauled her out with them.
By BonBon
Chapter 9
"Hello luv" Spike greeted Aura in front of Tibbys.
"Hi Spike" Aura tried to appear calm. Every time he called her love or smiled at her, she was about ready to faint.
They went in and sat in a booth in the back, Aura glanced around quickly to see if anyone she knew was there.
God no. she inwardly groaned as she spotted Sarah and her mother sitting at the counter. Sarah had a big mouth. She'd tell Davey, who'd tell Jack who would investigate and probably kick her ass for this.
"So, tell me pet, now we're such good friends and all, Why are you a newsie?" Spike leaned towards her like it was a secret or something.
"Huh? I'se a newsie cause its fun. And its just what I do" Aura was a little thrown by that.
"uh huh. Well I just figured a cute bird like you might pursue other careers. I mean, bein a newsie stinks right? Lousy pay, dirty streets, never knowing where ya gonna get you're next meal" Spike picked up her fork and fed her a bite of her chicken meal.
Aura chewed thoughtfully. When she'd swallowed she said "Well, doesn't every career have its down side? Alls I know is I'se got good friends, an interesting job, and we'se ain't nevah been widout a place ta sleep. Jack takes care of us."
"I'll take care of you" Spike smiled at her and looked deep into her eyes.
"I'se, uh, well, dats, um, gee Spike, dats-" Aura stuttered. Did he just say that She thought. Aww, He'll take care of me. How sweet. Unless he meant that in an I'll take care of ya little brat, care ya right into your grave kinda way.
"But you're a vampire!" She spat out, a little too loudly. Sarah and her mother were looking her way now. She tried to hide behind the menu. Spike was smirking at her.
"Oh, so ya know about that" He commented and took a sip of his drink.
"Yeah." Aura became defensive. "You're girlfriend made my friend Pisky a vampire. Ya gonna do the same to me?"
"Bloody hell no. That brat Pisky has already taken up all of Dru's attention. I hate minions. "
"If you're not gonna kill me, why did you ask me out?" Aura was almost afraid to know.
"Because I like you. Whole damn towns gone vampire nuts. Everyone wants to be a slayer. Except you. Correct me if I'm wrong, last night when I visited you, you knew I was a vampire?"
"Yes" Aura admitted
"See? You didn't do a thing. No staking, screaming, fainting, begging, crying, running, none of it. You knew I was a monster, and you treated me like a man"
"Oh" Aura felt bad. Part of her was saying she was coming down too hard on him, he didn't lie and didn't plan to hurt her. And part of her screamed Hello. Vampire. Liar.
"So ya gonna stake me or not?" Spike stared at her.
"No" Aura said slowly. "I'm not. I guess, maybe, all vampire aren't bad"
"Damn right. My sire even has a soul. Lets just get on with out little date"
"ok"
"So, what do you do for fun?" Spike questioned.
In Brooklyn, things were not going well.
"All I'se sayin Jackyboy is dat when we'se got lil kids toinen up dead and Pisky bein brainwashed or whatevah, we'se got problems. Ya want me to jist sit back and let me whole damn town fall around me. I'se ain't stupid. I seen dap apes. People dissapeahing left and right. Lets take some action!"
"Yeah" The Brooklyn newsies and most of the Manhattan newsies rallyied around him.
Jack looked to Davey for support but even Davey seemed to be wanting to do something. Glancing behind him, he noticed how sunndenly BonBon, Stress and Spin were avoiding his gaze.
Damn, he thought. They don't know what to do, I don't know what to do. Whole damn cities goin crazy.
"Well whatcha wanna do Spot? Go chargin in? We don't even know whose doin this" Jack lied.
"I'se been hearin tings. Tings I thought was crazy but it makes sense now. Vampires, Jack. Like in da nickel novels. It makes sense. All da bodies eidder are drained of blood from two little neck holes or dere ain't no body. But I'se see dem at nigt sometimes. Da dead people. Peoples whose names I call out in dap apes. Dese dead but dese walkin around at night. Explain that"
Jack was surprised at Spots conclusions. But looking around, he saw many of the newsies nodding in agreement.
"Jist hang on a sec. Stress, BonBon, Spin and I need a second"
"What you guys tink? We tell em da truth?" Jack leaned in and whispered.
"Randy told us not to." BonBon said
"Seems like dey already know. Wouldn't it be better to tell them? Let em prepare?" Stress asked.
"Yes. No matter what Randy said. They desoive to know. Spot, come ere. " Spin called him over.
"Yeah?"
"You'se right Spot. Its vampires." Jack said. Then raising his voice to the rest of the newsies he said,
"Listen up. Spots right. It looks like we got vampires. Now we keep dis wid da Newsies. No telling anyone else. Dey'll tink you're nuts. And Pisky, she ain't be brainwashed. She been, been made a vampire" They all seemed to have their reactions to this.
"Furdermore, if ya's encounter a vampire. Don't try ta fight it. Deys supah strong and can kill ya like dat. Dats Spin's job"
"What?" Spot asked. "no sistah of mine is gonna be endangering herself to fight vampires"
"Stuff it Spot. I didn't choose this. It chose me. I'm a Slayer. One girl in the world chosen to fight evil. Kinda nifty huh? Well I tink dat you guys should at least know how ta protect yerself. Crosses, holy water, sunlight, all do da job. Wood through the heart will kill em too"
"wait, wait. How'se we gonna kill em wid sun if they only come out at night?" Specs asked.
"alright, dat won't work as much. But stay outta dark alleys during the day. Dats how dose two kids was killed."
Nervous chatter filled the room and Jack wondered if this was the right thing to do. He glanced to Stress and BonBon for support.
"Strength in numbers, Jack. We have a better chance if they know. And they have a better chance of surviving" Stress told him.
Just then, Sage, a Brooklyn newsie, burst in.
"Hey, Spot. A couple of da guys jist found Boots bown by the docks. He's hoit purty bad. 2 lil holes in his neck. Jist like the Manhattan kids."
"shit" Jack cursed. He looked at Spin. "Whadya think?"
"Pisky" Spin said. "Had to be. She's callin us out."
"wait. Dere's more. Snipes told dat last night he saw Race go off wid some girl who looked exactly like Bookie. Dey took a boat and went off down the Hudson."
"Bookie got Race?" BonBon cried in disbelief. "wait, isn't Bookie dead?"
"Give ya one guess what she is now. Starts with a V." Spin took all the new info in and breathed out. "ok. Uh, Stress, Dutchy and Specs go find out what ya can from Boots. Jack, Spot, BonBon and I will go after Race"
"me? Why me? Not me! I tink you'se want, uh Litl Bit ovah hear. Yeah, shes a much bettah Race finder den me." BonBon grabbed Litl Bit and hid behind her.
"Den bring her wit. But you'se comin. We'se need da magics and you;es fight pretty good."
"Lets go Litl Bit, You'se my bodyguard"
Before she had a chance to protest. BonBon grabbed her arm and hauled her out with them.