Authors Notes: Chapter dedication to Phoenixmoon, happy Birthday!
~~~
The battle had been chaos the minute it started. From what Buffy could make out in the darkness, a dozen or so vampires circled them when they stumbled into the Bloodlust's layer. Demonic golden eyes watched them hungrily and low growls escaped some of the more impatient ones.
It didn't look to be a pretty battle and was only made worse when five vampires broke through the ring of predators to confront the intruders. This group looked different then the rest. They retained their human facade and red sashes were strung across their chest.
She didn't need Wesley's whispered explanation to realize they were the leaders.
Just as Buffy was beginning to itch with the silence, light flooded through to show they were in a damp and stone cobbled room. One of the five vampires stepped toward Angel, a twisted smile on his face. He couldn't have been more then 16 when turned, but his eyes showed eons of experience behind his youthful gaze. Beside her Spike took in a sharp intake of unneeded breath and she glanced over to see his face contorted in anger.
"Angelus." The vampire nodded in recognition.
"Peter." Angel growled and Buffy noticed his grip tighten on his sword. "Should have known you were behind this."
Peter's wry smile turned into a large grin and he chuckled lightly. "There once was a time when you would have been the one." He said softly, and looked to continue when his attention was caught by Spike.
The peroxide vampire growled at Peter's gaze and Buffy suddenly realized that Angel wasn't the only one here who was familiar with this demon.
Peter sidestepped by Angel to come closer toward Spike, his eyes caught in rapt attention by the blue gaze of the other vampire. "Is that really you William?" He asked in a concerned tone.
Buffy kept a careful eye on the mass of vampires that ringed them but her attention was caught by Peter. His obvious past with both Angel and Spike could only spell out trouble.
"Expect me to be dust now mate?" Spike asked Peter rhetorically, a half smile on his lips.
Peter seemed amused at Spike answer. "From the rumors my sire, I half expected it."
Buffy shot an accusing look toward the vampires, but went unnoticed. She had half a mind to ask if what Peter had said was true. Never had Spike mentioned turning anyone, it had always seemed to her he had never been interested in the practice. She knew better then to say anything through and let out an unsettled sigh.
It was enough to catch Peter's attention and his eyes lit up on her. "So this is the Slayer I have heard so much about." He bowed his head in mock awe. "It'll be an honor to kill you."
Before Buffy could ready a weapon or harsh word in defense she saw Peter crumple in front of her. Spike had hit him from behind, face lit up in anger.
The Slayer looked up to his cold gaze and tried to find some understanding in them but found nothing but hatred. She glanced up to see the other four vampires motion for the rest from attacking. Already Peter had regained himself and struggled to his feet, his attention back on Spike.
"So it's true." He said anger in his voice. "My sire and the Slayer." Shaking his head in regret he glanced toward Buffy. "I take it the mutterings about a soul are truth as well."
Spike didn't answer and Peter didn't continue. There was silence.
After a few long moments stretched out Angel growled. "Enough of this." He launched at Peter and battle begun.
~ ~ ~
He was gone.
The majority of the demons had run off into the sewers and those that hadn't were dust on the ground.
Connor, Angel, Gunn, Wesley and Buffy looked at each other with ragged breath. No one had the courage to say that Spike had disappeared, they all knew. So they made climbed back out of sewers without conversation.
Back at the Hyperion Angel dabbed alcohol on a gash on Buffy's arm. She winced at the sharp pain. His face was completely placid, had been since the end of the battle.
"Who's Peter?" Buffy finally asked as Angel dressed her wound with deft hands.
He glanced up at her and then shook his head. "A vampire."
She waited until he returned his gaze back toward her. "Angel, really. I need to know what's going on." Her voice was pleading.
He checked the bandage on her arm and sighed. "He's Spikes childe."
"Is he dangerous?" Buffy asked already knowing the answer.
"Extremely." Angel told her, regret in his voice. "Spike was the one to turn him, but we both screwed with the guy."
"What do you think he's doing with Spike?" Buffy asked quietly, her eyes to the ground.
Angel bit his lower lip. "Can't say, but we'll find out soon enough."
~~~
The battle had been chaos the minute it started. From what Buffy could make out in the darkness, a dozen or so vampires circled them when they stumbled into the Bloodlust's layer. Demonic golden eyes watched them hungrily and low growls escaped some of the more impatient ones.
It didn't look to be a pretty battle and was only made worse when five vampires broke through the ring of predators to confront the intruders. This group looked different then the rest. They retained their human facade and red sashes were strung across their chest.
She didn't need Wesley's whispered explanation to realize they were the leaders.
Just as Buffy was beginning to itch with the silence, light flooded through to show they were in a damp and stone cobbled room. One of the five vampires stepped toward Angel, a twisted smile on his face. He couldn't have been more then 16 when turned, but his eyes showed eons of experience behind his youthful gaze. Beside her Spike took in a sharp intake of unneeded breath and she glanced over to see his face contorted in anger.
"Angelus." The vampire nodded in recognition.
"Peter." Angel growled and Buffy noticed his grip tighten on his sword. "Should have known you were behind this."
Peter's wry smile turned into a large grin and he chuckled lightly. "There once was a time when you would have been the one." He said softly, and looked to continue when his attention was caught by Spike.
The peroxide vampire growled at Peter's gaze and Buffy suddenly realized that Angel wasn't the only one here who was familiar with this demon.
Peter sidestepped by Angel to come closer toward Spike, his eyes caught in rapt attention by the blue gaze of the other vampire. "Is that really you William?" He asked in a concerned tone.
Buffy kept a careful eye on the mass of vampires that ringed them but her attention was caught by Peter. His obvious past with both Angel and Spike could only spell out trouble.
"Expect me to be dust now mate?" Spike asked Peter rhetorically, a half smile on his lips.
Peter seemed amused at Spike answer. "From the rumors my sire, I half expected it."
Buffy shot an accusing look toward the vampires, but went unnoticed. She had half a mind to ask if what Peter had said was true. Never had Spike mentioned turning anyone, it had always seemed to her he had never been interested in the practice. She knew better then to say anything through and let out an unsettled sigh.
It was enough to catch Peter's attention and his eyes lit up on her. "So this is the Slayer I have heard so much about." He bowed his head in mock awe. "It'll be an honor to kill you."
Before Buffy could ready a weapon or harsh word in defense she saw Peter crumple in front of her. Spike had hit him from behind, face lit up in anger.
The Slayer looked up to his cold gaze and tried to find some understanding in them but found nothing but hatred. She glanced up to see the other four vampires motion for the rest from attacking. Already Peter had regained himself and struggled to his feet, his attention back on Spike.
"So it's true." He said anger in his voice. "My sire and the Slayer." Shaking his head in regret he glanced toward Buffy. "I take it the mutterings about a soul are truth as well."
Spike didn't answer and Peter didn't continue. There was silence.
After a few long moments stretched out Angel growled. "Enough of this." He launched at Peter and battle begun.
~ ~ ~
He was gone.
The majority of the demons had run off into the sewers and those that hadn't were dust on the ground.
Connor, Angel, Gunn, Wesley and Buffy looked at each other with ragged breath. No one had the courage to say that Spike had disappeared, they all knew. So they made climbed back out of sewers without conversation.
Back at the Hyperion Angel dabbed alcohol on a gash on Buffy's arm. She winced at the sharp pain. His face was completely placid, had been since the end of the battle.
"Who's Peter?" Buffy finally asked as Angel dressed her wound with deft hands.
He glanced up at her and then shook his head. "A vampire."
She waited until he returned his gaze back toward her. "Angel, really. I need to know what's going on." Her voice was pleading.
He checked the bandage on her arm and sighed. "He's Spikes childe."
"Is he dangerous?" Buffy asked already knowing the answer.
"Extremely." Angel told her, regret in his voice. "Spike was the one to turn him, but we both screwed with the guy."
"What do you think he's doing with Spike?" Buffy asked quietly, her eyes to the ground.
Angel bit his lower lip. "Can't say, but we'll find out soon enough."