CHAPTER TWO

"There was another murdered child last night," Giles informed Buffy as she walked in the library after class. Xander and Willow were on her heels. Cordelia was thankfully at cheerleading practice. Buffy didn't get why Cordelia had taken to hanging out with them, arguing more with Xander all the time.

Buffy paused, not over the announcement, but because she saw Angel in the shadows of the library stacks. He must have come up through the basement since it was still daylight out and she wondered why he was here. It wasn't to meet her, as much as she might like that. She never expected him before dark, especially on a school day. "I know. Mom told me. Dawn came home from school early today. All the kids had to meet with crisis counselors then they were sent home." Buffy sat at the table, casting an inquisitive look at Angel but he offered no explanations.

"Two in three days." Willow's eyes screamed her horror.

Giles' lips pursed. "Oh, do you need to return home immediately then, Buffy? There is nothing here that can't wait."

"No. Mom has to work late at the gallery and she didn't want me missing school so Dawn's at a friend's house, Ginny Blake's. Ginny's older sister is babysitting them both." Buffy shrugged. "I don't have to run home."

"Did Dawnie know the girl who died last night, too?" Willow's voice echoed with worry, her face more pale than usual.

Buffy nodded grimly. "She knew her. She didn't like her but she knew her. Will, I know it's really terrible but did you manage to read the coroner's report on Ashley?"

"It was still pending. I can look again," Willow said then sat down with her computer.

"I gotta ask," Xander said, stabbed a finger Angel's direction. "Why is he here? Aren't you supposed to be sleeping in your native soil right about now."

Angel smiled in a decidedly unfriendly manner. "We don't do that."

"I asked Angel here," Giles said, patting a large book with a cover in need of repair. Its leather was cracked and flaking. "I just got this in and it's in a dialect of Chinese I'm not particularly fluent in."

"You read Chinese?" Buffy asked and both men nodded. "Huh. Didn't know that."

"I can name a few things he can't do," Xander muttered, wandering off into the stacks, looking rather sulky.

Buffy noticed Xander didn't move out of ear shot. "How'd you learn Chinese, Angel? I figure Giles learned it at school. I mean, he's so old, he's studied everything." She expertly ignored Giles' annoyed look.

"Spent some time in China," Angel replied with an enigmatic look.

Buffy wanted to question him further but Willow made a sound between triumphant and horror. "Find something, Will?"

She bobbed her head, her long red hair waving. "Trying not to look at the pictures." She went a tad green-grey as she scrolled down. "Here we go. Okay, this is a little weird, they're not sure about the cause of death."

"How can that be? She had a cut throat. I saw it," Buffy said, quivering at the memory of Ashley lying in the bushes.

"There wasn't much clotting at the incision so she was already dead when that happened. There wasn't enough blood at the scene to account for all her missing blood. The death is consistent with hypovolemic shock." Willow met Buffy's eye. "That's when there's not enough blood to keep the heart and brain going. They think maybe Ashley's throat was cut after she died and she was hung and drained. Oh, gross."

"There's an image I didn't need with darkness falling," Xander said, coming back to the table. He seemed more intent now on the business at hand, instead of on antagonizing Angel.

"They can't prove she was hung up to drain because the skin doesn't really bruise and leave marks once you're dead," Willow said.

"But that makes little sense," Giles said. "If she was drained post-mortem, she couldn't have possibly died of hypovolemic shock."

"Were there bite marks, Willow?" Buffy said, casting a glance at Angel hearing him shifting around on his chair uncomfortably. He wouldn't look at her.

"No, but I don't think it was vampires,' Willow said. "I mean, she was raped, too." Pain aged Willow right in front of Buffy's eyes. She wanted to take the computer away and not let her friend be exposed to the horror any more.

"Vampires can rape, Willow," Angel said softly.

Willow wrapped her arms around herself then leaned in close to her monitor screen. Buffy tensed at that announcement even though she had already known it. Xander made a disgusted noise. "They found something strange with the semen sample."

"Those aren't words that should be coming out of your mouth, Willow," Xander said, a faint blush on his cheeks.

Buffy and Willow ignored him. "What do you mean, Willow?"

"They found that the rapist had oligospermia and teratospermia." Willow's brow creased and she opened a new window putting in the word 'teratospermia,' into a search engine. "He didn't have a lot of sperm and terato....oh, okay, that makes sense. What was there was all misshapen and weird. The report said the sperm was dead, too, so either he raped her and kept her alive for a while or he was doing something I don't even want to think about to put dead sperm in her."

Buffy made a face, shuddering. "Okay, enough. That's all I can take. Giles, you still think this isn't a demon? That it's police business, not mine?"

He plucked off his glasses for a cleaning. "I think that is most likely the case. As terrible as these deaths are, they don't appear to be demonic in nature."

"So what you're saying is in addition to all the demons, invisible girls, hyena-possessions and vampires," Xander hit that last loud and clear like a church bell, glaring at Angel, "we have a good old-fashioned serial killer?"

"Potentially. Florida and California both seem to attract them. Perhaps it's the never ending sunshine that sets them off," Giles said, reseettling his glasses on his nose.

"Were there any witnesses? Any leads at all?" Angel asked. "I...don't really watch the news."

"None, I'm afraid. There's nothing I could even tell you and Buffy to be on the look out for on patrol." Giles glanced out the window seeing the sun would set soon. "Perhaps, given the circumstances you all should head home soon."

"Giles, you worry too much. We'll be fine. I'd rather stay here and study in Dawn-less silence. If I don't pass my next history exam, I'll be grounded for life and then where would you be?" Buffy said. "You and Angel go back to translating the big pile of mildew. I mean, really? Maybe you should try spraying it with Lysol or something before a student wanders in here and has a massive allergic reaction."

Giles eyed her sourly. "I'll take it under advisement."

Buffy tried to pay attention to Willow's tutoring but memorizing dates was something that could put Buffy to sleep in a manner of minutes if she wasn't careful. Xander was doodling in his notebook more so than listening to Willow. The red-head was so wrapped up in tutoring she didn't notice her tutees were drifting. Buffy was somehow disappointed that Angel actually went back to translating. She doubted he or Giles would miss her if she slipped out now. Feeling wounded took precedence over what happened when some Spanish explorer stumbled over California, as if he could possibly miss it.

The sun was down before Willow realized her study group wasn't studying. Xander was doing the 'my head's too big for my rubber neck' chicken-bob thing, his eyes shut and Buffy was just openly staring at Angel who was so involved with what he and Giles were doing he didn't even notice; how unfair was that?

"Okay, I give up." Willow snapped her book shut and Xander's eyes flew open as he fell into the well-practiced, 'I wasn't asleep' cover up. "But don't blame me if you two get a bunch of zero's on your history test."

"Sorry, Will, it's just not griping me," Buffy confessed.

"I was listening," Xander lied and Willow rolled her eyes. "We'd better get home. Even parents like ours might be wondering why we aren't home for dinner. I'll walk you home, Willow."

"Thanks. See you, guys," Willow said, following Xander out.

"Yes, I suppose it is getting late," Giles said, looking shocked another large chunk of time had slipped through his fingers. "Buffy, are you needed at home or can you go out on an early patrol?"

"Mom's not due home until nine. Dawnie's supposed to stay at Ginny's until Mom picks her up so I could get in a few hours before then," Buffy said, stretching as she got up. She shoveled her books into her backpack. They were heavy enough to stun a vampire good.

"I'll go with you," Angel said.

"Thanks. See you tomorrow, Giles."

Buffy breezed outside. The night was warmer than she was expecting. She glanced back at Angel with a little smile other lips. "I'm surprised you're coming along."

"Oh?"

"You and Giles looked all cozy. I hated to interrupt your date." Her smile went wicked.

"Well, he does have that cheeky little grin that's hard to resist." Angel smirked at her and Buffy swatted him.

"Angel!"

He cocked his eyebrows up. "Hey, you're the one who's always telling me I need to get a sense of humor."

"So now you finally listen to me."

Angel paused and captured her face in his large hands. He drew her up to him, kissing her softly. "Still think I'm dating Giles?"

"I might need more proof."

A few minutes of proof later, Buffy led him further from school grounds. The last thing she needed was a cop ticketing her for loitering at the school. That was the sort of crime Sunnydale cops felt comfortable with.

"You seem quiet tonight," he said, taking her book bag. "Thinking about those little girls?"

"I can't help it. I can understand demons. I can't understand how one human being can do this to another human being." Buffy grimaced.

"They're amazingly good at it, Buffy. I know that doesn't make it any easier."

She shrugged, pressing against his arm as they walked. "I just don't understand why Sunnydale is still here, Angel. It's been a Hellmouth for like forever, right? How doesn't it just self destruct? How do people live here? Why don't they just move away?"

"It's not always that simple, Buffy." Angel pulled her closer, not slowing his pace. "This town just doesn't survive. It thrives. It has malls, and art galleries and theaters. I can't explain it. You'd think people would sense something is wrong. I think some of them do. But it's not always easy to find a new job, afford a new home."

"I guess. So, you were in China," Buffy said, desperate for a subject change.

Angel nodded. "During the Boxer Rebellion."

"Pretend for a minute I don't know when that was or what it was," she said, ruefully.

Angel squeezed her hand. "Turn of this century and it was a big war."

"Were you still..."She trailed off, looking pained.

"No, I wasn't Angelus then but I had only just gotten back my soul not long before that. I still...I wasn't ready to give up being Angelus. I wanted back with my family, Darla, Dru and Spike."

Buffy heard the remorse in his voice. "I didn't know you felt that way."

"Sometimes a vampire's family group is important. Ours was and even though I couldn't kill innocents any more, I wasn't ready to be on my own. It was...scary." His eyes met hers as he said that and Buffy felt guilty because she didn't know how to comfort him. She wasn't sure she was supposed to.

"Why China?"

"Darla always loved the Orient. I think that's why they were there. Or maybe Dru was lured there by the war. She always did like a good conflict. Could be Spike just couldn't wait to see a Slayer for real. Ever since I tried to scare him into behaving with tales of the Slayers all he wanted to do was meet one." Angel wagged his head ruefully.

"Wait a minute, you used me as the bogey man?" Buffy sounded miffed.

Angel smiled. "Not you, not yet. But yes, there are surely vampires out there telling their new vampire children to beware of the big bad bogey man named Buffy."

"That isn't funny." Buffy stopped. "Do you hear that?"

"Sounds like young girls."

Buffy picked up her pace, pondering that one would think kids would know to stay inside but realized that people her age and younger didn't really think much about death, at least not the kind that came from outside. Suicide yes, being murdered in the street, no. She stopped and Angel nearly plowed her down. Buffy had been totally unprepared to see Ginny and Dawn walking down the street.

"Dawn!"

Dawn's head snapped over, her eyes deer-in-the-headlights huge. "Buffy, what are you doing here?"

"Me? What are you doing here? You two are supposed to be at Ginny's!" Buffy felt Angel holding her back gently which was probably a good thing because she was ready to strangle her sister.

"My sister and her boyfriend were making out all over the house. It was gross." Ginny shuddered. "So we were going to your home."

"Without telling anyone? Did you two somehow miss two girls from your class were raped and murdered!" Buffy regretted the shrill tone to her voice but she couldn't help it. A cold pit had opened up inside her. What if she hadn't come across them? Dawn could be the next girl in the bushes dying, reaching out to her home and the safety there in.

"Those girls were alone," Dawn said, seeming suddenly dubious of her own logic. "We aren't."

"Besides, it's not that far," Ginny said.

"I don't care. What makes you think you two can escape from someone so terrible he can cut a girl's throat and leave her in the bushes?" Buffy snapped and both eleven year olds just seemed to get more defiant, instead of showing the proper fear.

"We can handle ourselves." Ginny drew herself up to her tallest.

"Besides, you're always out all night," Dawn put in, with a sharp lift of her chin.

Buffy's mouth worked soundlessly as she tried to find words to express her rage and fear. A rusty old Ford Escort swooped close to where they were on the sidewalk and screeched to a halt. Amanda, Ginny's older sister whom Buffy had only met once leaned out the window. Buffy assumed it was her boyfriend driving.

"Ginny! Where do you think you're going? Mom is gonna kill us both. Get in this car." Amanda demanded.

"No. You two are gross and I don't wanna see it," Ginny said.

"You're going in that car," Buffy said, deciding she had enough. She pushed Dawn into Angel's grip and snatched Ginny's arm. She dragged the girl to the car and Amanda helped her stuff the kid into the back seat kicking and screaming.

"Thanks," Amanda said, looking as frazzled as Buffy felt.

"No problem."

As they pulled away, Buffy stalked back over to Dawn.

"You're such a freak," Dawn shrilled.

Buffy grabbed her arm, pulled her free of Angel. She shook her. "So I'm a freak. Big deal. At least now you aren't walking the streets alone. We're going home right this minute, now march."

Dawn stomped down the sidewalk ahead of them. "Great, now I have to see you two kissing."

"If you see anything, Dawn it's because you want to. I don't want you spying on me every second," Buffy said, then leaned over to Angel and whispered. "Thanks for keeping out of this."

He just shrugged and followed them along, looking more than a little uncomfortable.

"I should just tell Mom on you," Dawn whined.

"Go ahead. I'm getting tired of the threats. Better yet, I'll tell her myself," Buffy said, hoping Dawn wouldn't call her bluff. She so didn't want to have to explain to Mom she was dating an 'older' man.

Dawn looked over her shoulder, obviously fuming. Buffy could swear she felt flames shooting off her sister. Dawn turned the corner and crashed right in to someone. "Oh, sorry. I didn't see..." Dawn swallowed her words then shrieked.

Buffy looked to the bushes for some threat she had somehow failed to see. Angel was already moving past her towards Dawn and the girl she had ran into. Buffy's eyes widened, her fingers feeling dead with fear, seeing muddy, blood-streaked hands on Dawn's throat just before Angel knocked her away. Dawn hit the ground hard but it was better than having her in the hands of Ashley. Buffy felt mired in cement, her eyes captured by the gash in the dead girl's throat. It wasn't as deep as the night she and Angel had found the girl's body. It seemed to be healing even. She looked innocent in her little white dress, now stained with dirt, grass and blood oozing from the wound. Buffy had seen vampires claw their way out of the earth but she wasn't prepared for a little girl vampire. She should be. She had seen the Anointed One, heard rumors Spike had killed the child vampire but he had been cleaned up, looking alive and normal. Ashley's little face was ripped with bumps and her fangs were too long for her mouth and she was still focused on Dawn.

Buffy cocked back her arm, ready to throw her stake like a dagger. She knew she could hit Ashley but she didn't have to. Ashley didn't recognize Angel for the threat he was. With amazing calm, he simply reached out, his fingers diving into the slit on her throat and he pulled. The gruesomeness of him tearing off her head was some how softened a bit, in Buffy's eyes, by the girl turning to dust. Dawn screamed even louder. Buffy fell to her knees at her sister's side, capturing Dawn in her arms. "Shhh, Dawnie, it's all right. It's over. It's all right." She repeated it again and again. Dawn knew Buffy was the Slayer. She had overheard Xander and Willow talking to Buffy about it. She had snuck away from Joyce during Parent-Teacher night and had seen some vampires get dusted but this was the first time for her up close. This time it was a friend. Dawn couldn't talk. She just held onto Buffy, weeping loudly. Buffy smoothed her hair, rocking her.

Buffy looked up when Angel touched her hair. His eyes were incredible sad and at the same time a secret lurked in them. "I have to go," he said. "I have to check something out."

"You know what's going on, don't you? There's no normal serial killer. Willow's report...she said Ashley's throat was cut after she was dead. A vampire did that, to hide the bite marks. He knew that a cut like that wouldn't stop a vampire, wouldn't get in the way of her rising."

Angel nodded. "I think I know where I can find some answers." He turned, took a few steps then stopped. "Want me to walk you two back to your house?"

"I want you to tell me what you know," she said, flatly.

His gaze went furtive. "I don't know anything for sure yet."

Buffy gritted her teeth. "Then please, help me with Dawn first."

When Buffy couldn't get her hysterical sister to stand up, Angel scooped the girl up. Dawn flung her arms around his neck, holding on tight. He carried her all the way home and deposited her on her bed. He gave Buffy a regretful kiss and an 'I'm sorry' but she wasn't exactly sure for what and then he was gone.

Dawn's weeping had slowed to a sniffle. Buffy made her hot chocolate and promised not to tell Mom that Dawn had been out on the streets with Ginny. Dawn made Buffy sit with her until she fell asleep. By then Mom had come home and Buffy eat a very late dinner with her. It was after ten before she called Giles to tell him that the young girls were actually victims of a vampire and that she would have to deal with Emily Newmark, the second victim. She was rather surprised Giles was actually home instead of at the library.

Buffy filled the tub with water almost too hot to stand. Ashley in her grave dirt stained dress had been even more chilling than seeing Ashley half-naked and tossed in the bushes. Buffy felt a serious need to get warm.