Author's note : Thank you for all your reviews it makes me want to write faster (and I am
averaging a chapter per day).

Phase 8

Sunnydale (Wishverse version)

The Bronze

There were vampires everywhere. A veritable gathering of the creme of the Hellmouth's undead
population and all of them were celebrating while a few terrified human captives looked on.
They knew that they would be dinner soon enough.

Through the throng a couple slowly made their way to the back of the club. As they went they
were eagerly greeted by the other vampires. This particular pair is famous and influential. They
are the Master's trusted generals. Willow and Xander.

Two vampire guards parted the heavy velvet curtain separating their leader's lair from the rest of
the room. Willow stepped in followed closely by her mate.

The leather-clad vampiress approached the high backed chair and dropped a slight curtsy in
greeting. Xander simply nodded. The master vampire smiled at his favorites in return.

"Ahh... Xander... Willow. Any news from the streets?"

Xander licked his lips and began his report. "Had a prime kill... and old crush actually but that
wannaslay librarian showed up. A sad loss"

The Master growled slightly. The watcher was more than an annoying pest. "He'll be dealt with
soon enough" he said prophetically and motioned for Xander to go on. The younger vampire
complied.

"The weird thing was that she kept mentioning the name Buffy. She said that we had to get
Buffy here. Isn't that the name of the slayer?"

Willow giggled. "Oooh Buffy. Scary"

Her lover agreed but the Master was hardly amused.

"This girl spoke of summoning the Slayer to Sunnydale... And you let her live?"

Xander swallowed knowing that they had committed a grave error.

"They had crosses..." he stammered.

"Enough!" the ancient vampire pounded his fist into the chair's arm. Willow cringed but the
Master continued
.
"You find that girl and kill her before she contacts the Slayer. We cannot risk her presence in
the Hellmouth. If you fail, Ill see you both kissing daylight"

Xander bristled at the words. He hated feeling threatened.

"We know that the Watcher has been trying to summon the Slayer to Sunnydale for the past
several weeks. Rumor has it that she's gone missing in NY and not even her Watcher knows
where she is" he said carefully.

Willow nodded. "Yes. They think that she's met with an unfortunate end but that for some
reason no replacement has been called. For all purposes the world is Slayer-free" she volunteers
hoping to diffuse his anger.

The Master vampire considered carefully. "Even so I want this girl dead. I'll not have her
setting the Slayer on us"

Willow and Xander bowed and left to do their master's bidding. Buffy Summer's would not be
coming to Sunnydale if they could help it.

######

Bsmt apt. The Village, NY

The Slayer rolled her head and tried to relieve the growing pressure on her shoulder blades.
She's had her hands restrained behind her back for several hours and it was really doing a
number on her muscles. She can already feel a killer headache coming on.

Her vampire warder was fast asleep in the sofa with his book beside him. She thought of waking
him but her pride prevented her from asking for his assistance. And anyhow it was only a little
discomfort. She could wait.

A sharp pain assailed her senses and settled in her right shoulder. She bit her lower lip and
wriggled a little but the pain only increased until she couldn't help but release a loud gasp.

Spike awoke instantly. His anxious eyes found Buffy and he was by her side within a second.

"What's wrong? What's happening?" he questioned frantically.

"Cramp" the Slayer replied between gasps of pain.

Spike ran to his room and retrieved a set of keys. His hands shook as he set to free the Slayer
from her bonds. Her shoulders were trembling with the strain and the pain was not abating.

Spike lifted her to his arms and carried her back to her bed.

He laid the Slayer on her belly and quickly pulled her nightgown off. He set his cool hands to
ease the muscle pains. Eventually the Slayer's pain become manageable and disappeared
altogether.

The vampire breathed a sigh of relief but continued with his ministrations. He felt so guilty for
neglecting her so. Eventually he became aware that she was completely nude. Spike tried to
swallow the pressure building in his throat.

The realization hit her at the same time and a slight thrill ran through her body. It was surreal
and dreamlike. Her imagination had played so often with this moment and now it was finally
happening.

Spike's hands expanded the circles he'd been kneading into her back. As his hands gradually
covered more of her skin's surface her anticipation built. At last his fingers were stroking the
sides of her breasts and Buffy gasped again, this time of pleasure and not pain.

Ever so slowly she turned around and he was presented with the rest of her body. She was
glorious just as he'd known she would be. His hands skimmed through her breasts. She noticed
that they were trembling and this pleased her tremendously. He was as affected as she was.

His hands fell still. Spike's blue eyes bored into Buffy's green ones. There was the appeal, at
last.

A few intense moments in which neither made a sound. This was an important moment between
them. It was tentative trust, desire and something else that neither dared name.

He initiated the kiss but she deepened it. It was one of those earth- shaking affairs that left both
wanting more.

When bodies finally came together it seemed so natural. Slayer and Vampire, Predator and Prey,
Prisoner and Captor; all were just superficial roles for two beings that felt the need to connect
through it all and did so willingly. Neither knew yet just how much it that one action would
come to change their lives forever.

TBC.

Please R and R.