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A/N hello, my faithful readers. Rose-Riddle3223 is sobbing over keyboard I cannot believe how many reviews I just got in like one day!!! And on the second day, I got even more!!! I love you people O so much….I feel so loved: ) I remain true to my word: you all reviewed, and now I am typing. Ah, what a wonderful system we have! Oooh and all my exams have just finished today, so now I can actually WRITE MY FIC! That is, unless my poor old PC dies on me again. Oh well. I try.
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Buffy gaped and put her hand on the canvas. It was very warm to touch. She swallowed and looked around for Malfoy. He was picking himself up off the ground, trying to regain his shattered dignity.
"Crap! What was that?" he asked. Buffy shook her head.
"The Master. Again."
Malfoy frowned. "Again? You mean that's what happened to the bird in purple as well?"
"Darla."
"Yeah, her. Dru said something about him wanting his princess…she must mean the Master wanted Darla back! and when she said they were going to be a family again…" Buffy faltered and faded out.
A family again? From Buffy's memory of him, the Master always considered the vampires he sired to be his family. The Scourge of Europe – Darla, Drusilla, Angelus and Spike – had been a family. Dru was forever calling Darla and Angelus her Grandmother and Daddy.
Buffy swallowed and sat down in one of the rich, embroidered velvet armchairs in the Slytherin common room. She absently played with the doily as she thought.
They couldn't be a family again! Not anymore. Well, the Master was back. That much was true. But Angel had staked Darla, so she was dead. Buffy herself had staked Drusilla and Spike, so they were out of the picture. And she had sent Angelus to hell. That only left the Master, and he couldn't be his own family unless he…
Buffy stopped and closed her eyes. She felt giddy all of a sudden. She gave a small laugh and smiled to herself.
"You really have to hand it to him," she said evenly to Malfoy. "I mean, this is pretty amazing. The Master is one clever boy. He's been eating his blood-soaked Weet-Bix."
The Platinum Prick blinked. "Kindly remember – I don't speak American," he sneered.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Resurrection! He's bringing Darla and Dru back to life. That's the only explanation for all this."
Buffy paused. Which Darla would come back? It could be the modern Darla who tried to kill her mother, or it could be the one in the purple dress at Hogwarts whom she had girlie talks with. The evil one, or the nice one?
Buffy frowned and tapped her temple with a quill that had found its way into her hand unbeknownst to her while she was fiddling. She noticed briefly that Malfoy had gone.
Maybe it was both Darlas? Two in one? For some reason, he needed the image of the vampiresses to resurrect them. So maybe, they were recreated using that mould? Buffy shrugged. Sounded plausible.
Buffy ran a tired hand through her hair. It was starting to get late. She yawned loudly and stood up slowly, holding her back, which still hurt a little after the power from the portrait threw her across the room.
She rubbed her eyes tiredly, and began to walk back up to her private room where Drusilla's portrait had been before. Now, the picture was empty. The frame was hanging off the wall slightly, so Buffy was still able to inch it open and get inside.
She glanced up at the muggle clock she had and realised that it was really quite late. She must have been in that chair thinking for hours! Eyes wide with disbelief, the blonde girl started to get ready for bed. She washed her face, cleaned her teeth, changed into her favourite blue satin nightie and brushed her hair.
She crawled under the dark green sheets all Slytherins had. Reaching over, she closed the curtains around her bed, and slowly fell asleep.
The next day, Buffy met up with Harry in the library to tell him everything.
"…and now, it looks like they're back." Buffy finished. Harry looked impressed.
"Wow. Industrious," he commented. Buffy looked at him despairingly, but with a smile.
"That's all you can say? Industrious? I would have gone with dangerous, at least. Deadly is good."
Harry smirked, looking at her amusedly. "Think you're confused, Buff. Voldemort was deadly. I should know. Can't compare him with some vampire."
Buffy smiled. "Nah. The Master's worse."
"What can be worse than almost killing you six times?"
Buffy blinked. "Didn't I tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Oops. The Master DID kill me."
Harry stopped. "How?"
"Bit and drowned me. My frie-" she stopped. "-Xander brought me back. CPR."
Harry shook his head, and a stray lock of dark hair fell over his face. Buffy smiled and it took all of her willpower not to stroke it away.
"You're an unusual girl, you know that?" he drawled with a charming grin.
Buffy felt herself smiling back. She looked at him, and was lost in a sea of emerald green that gleamed when she looked into them. She felt her heart beating faster.
"Hey, do you wear contacts?" she asked. "You just have the coolest eyes."
Harry smiled. "Yeah, but I wear clear ones. Used to have glasses until two years ago," he shuddered, running a hand through his dark hair, messing it up even more.
Buffy smiled. He really was just too damn hot. Tall, dark and drop-dead gorgeous. She batted her eyelashes at him flirtatiously. He shrugged and stood up.
"What the hell. Want to go make out in a broom closet?" He asked, standing abruptly and surveying her with a sexy grin.
"Ew! No." then she pouted seductively, stretching her limbs. "What about the astronomy tower? I love a good view."
Harry shrugged. "Works for me, Buff."
Buffy grinned and flicked her blonde hair, standing. She grabbed his arm.
"Lead the way."
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The Master prowled around the City Hall. Everything was going so perfectly. He walked past a dark vampire and nodded to him.
"You're doing a wonderful job, Mr Trick," he said in a calculating voice. "Well done. You shall be rewarded."
The dark vampire nodded. "Thank you, Mr Big Kahuna. Always a pleasure, as you know."
The Master smiled, baring his fangs. That one was young, but he had style. He got the job done, and was very efficient. Still, he wasn't part of the family. Trick was more interested in being paid and looking good than inflicting pain. He just wasn't ambitious.
The Master moved on. "Dick!" he called out heartily. A tall man in a suit approached, holding a handkerchief to his mouth.
"Joe!" he called out, and chuckled at his own joke. "Just joking, Mr Master," he giggled like a child. The Master smiled and waved an imperious hand that bade him to walk alongside the ancient vampire.
"I am very pleased that I could use this facility for my purposes."
The man shrugged. "Advantage of being the Mayor of Sunnydale," he said lightly. "I'm just proud to have such an entrepreneurial man like yourself in my town. Although, I have to say, I'm not all that pleased with the hygiene situation. I mean, the things you put in this potion! Rats' eyes, spleen of toads…" he shuddered.
The Master's black eyes gleamed. "Still afraid of germs, are you, Wilkins? Just like I remember you back in the 1860's."
The Mayor laughed again, offering the vampire a small lolly that he just stared at. "Mint? Gosh, time does fly. We really do need to catch up some more, don't we? Fancy a round of golf once this is done? Well, this and my Ascension, that is. But that could take quite a while."
The Ancient vampire grinned, baring his fangs in anticipation. "After I get my girls back…then the rest of my family."
The Mayor was going to respond when he was interrupted by a shout. Both the vampire and the Mayor turned around quickly to see purple smoke billowing out of two twin cauldrons that were sitting up on the stage of the City Hall. The potions were bubbling ominously, and were emitting a low, rumbling sound.
The Master surged forward to the cauldrons and waited. All the candles which were lighting the Hall suddenly extinguished.
After a few seconds, there was a sudden scream - piercing scream that was ripped from a throat in agony. It was a female voice that was as shrill as it was loud and long. The next second, some mad shrieking and laughing joined the voice.
In an explosion of purple light, the cauldrons were ripped apart. Shrapnel went flying everywhere. Floating above the stage were two figures. Female figures.
They dropped to the ground and ran to the Master. He threw back his head and laughed evilly, flinging his arms wide. The two figures jumped into his embrace.
"Master!" both voices sounded joyfully.
The Vampire laughed. "My girls," he rasped. "How good it is to see you again."
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Everyone else cleared out of the Hall, leaving the three vampires alone. Darla and Drusilla were wearing what they had been in the portraits. Darla was still wearing her purple velvet and black pearls, with her hair in the strawberry blonde French style it had been. Very much like Marie Antoinette, but with less powder and much darker clothes. Drusilla was looking like Lillith in her blood red silk dress and bonnet, which was a bit more modern. The Master quizzed Darla on what she remembered, while Drusilla had gone off looking for a "dolly" to play with.
Darla bit her lip in thought. "I remember the Harvest, and the last time I was alive and everything," she said haltingly. "I remember being staked. But I also remember being in my picture at Hogwarts, and the conversations I had with Buffy."
There was a pause. "The Slayer?"
Darla blinked. "You didn't know about her?" The Master shook his head. Darla smiled.
"I have a lot to tell you. A while after you and I died, it was the slayer's birthday. She spent the night with Angel and…"
She broke off, looking pissed. The Master looked a bit miffed by this too, but leant forward. "…and?" he prodded.
"And- " Darla smiled and leaned in conspiratorially, a smile creeping across her pale face. "- he lost his soul."
The Master blinked. His lips curled upwards again into a sick, twisted grin. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"Oh, I wish I had been there," he sighed. "That boy was always filled with so much hate and anger. He was cruel. He was vicious."
Darla bit her lip in exhilaration. "He was a killing machine. A monster," She moaned, glowing.
The Master opened his eyes. "He was the only vampire I knew who took such pains when he killed. Other vampires just kill for food, while he killed for pleasure. He made murder and mutilation and torture an art form. I miss him."
After a pause, Darla continued. "Dru and Spike were in town at the time, and the three of them made Buffy's life a living hell. Then, Angelus tried to summon Acathla. Long story short, he succeeded. The slayer staked Spike and Dru and then sent Angelus to hell. That's where he is now."
There was silence. The Master tilted his head to the side, and stroked his chin with his mutilated hands, his talons clicking against his fangs.
He smiled. "Yes. After I get Liam and William back, we'll be a full family again," he murmured softly. Then, he turned his attention back to his favourite daughter. "So, how did the slayer get to Hogwarts?"
Darla licked her lips. "Well, you know how you killed her all those months ago?" the Master nodded. "Well, you activated the next slayer. A Jamaican girl called Kendra. Before Buffy staked her, Dru killed the second slayer and - "
" – Drusilla killed a slayer? Good girl," the Master nodded proudly.
" – and everyone thought it was Buffy. So she was sent to Hogwarts on the Council's orders for rehabilitation. They didn't know she was a witch as well until she got there. But now, she seems somewhat…angry. Mutinous. She's messed up and confused. She also had a dream about your resurrection, but it didn't affect her the way I would have guessed, given your history. She seemed rather hardened, emotionally."
The Master looked pleased. "So she didn't really seem…upset that I was back?" he asked delightedly.
"No, not really. Just shocked. And she didn't seem too eager in fighting you again," Darla said, recounting their conversation. "Her words were, 'what has the side of good done for me lately?' I think…" Darla stopped, and leaned forward.
"Well, you know she's a witch/slayer, don't you?"
The Master began to smile. "Yes. This is a wonderful discovery about our Buffy, isn't it?" he mused.
"Well…she might be…following our footsteps. Becoming rebellious."
The Master sucked in an unneeded breath. "I find it hard to believe," he said after a while. "But either way, I think you and Drusilla should go back and…visit her. God knows she needs friends."
Darla smiled, and her eyes began to gleam. "Really? I can go back to Hogwarts?"
The Master smiled. "You could enrol again, princess. Go to classes. Have fun with Drusilla and Buffy. Do girl things."
Darla giggled. "Back to school."
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Outside the hall, the brunette girl was fighting vamps. One, two, three she staked. Four, five, six got away. Feeling frustrated, she readjusted her tight, black leather pants and pulled the strap of her shiny maroon top back onto her shoulder. She let out a curse when she saw the deep cut on her upper arm that had slashed her new jacket to pieces.
I'll have to see the G-man, she thought to herself. Could need stitches. Giles'll fix me up.
Faith reached into her pocket and fished around for a while. The dark lipstick and new eyeliner she had stolen at the Sunnydale Mall were still there, but the tiny bottle of perfume was smashed and was leaking through her jacket.
She began to slink back to the Sunnydale High library where Giles was, but paused and turned down a different street.
I reek like a hooker, she thought humourlessly. Guys at the Fishtank would like it. With that, she changed her plan. Quick trip to the pub, then back so she could get patched up. She'd be right in the morning.
Swaggering along, Faith was looking forward to some hot and greasy fries with chilli from the pub when she heard some footsteps behind her. Faith didn't react, but kept on walking, her senses alert, pretending she hadn't noticed anything.
Faith's mind clicked into slayer-mode. Must be those three vamps I missed, she thought. Just as well. Wouldn't be good to let them go free.
She slowed her pace and looked around herself. Then she stopped altogether and waited for the vampires to approach her. She turned to face them.
"Hey boys," she said in a husky voice. "Looking for a party? Cuz you just found one."
With that, she whipped around in a roundhouse kick, her leather combat boots catching the first vamp under the chin. He was muscly, and with a Sunnydale University football jersey on. The vamp grunted and was kicked aside.
Faith jumped two feet backwards to avoid the swipe that the second had for her. The blow missed her, but Faith reached out quickly and grabbed the offending hand. She twisted it savagely, and elicited a howl from the owner of said hand, a swarthy man in a basketball singlet. She pulled the arm towards her, and bashed her skull against the basketballer's. Slightly dizzy, she took a step back and pulled her arm back to punch. She started to rain blows down on the vampire's face and torso, and so missed the figure coming behind her.
Faith cried out as a thin but strong plank of wood caught her square in the face. She stumbled back a few feet, and tripped over a rubbish bin that was lying in the street. She fell to her knees, and cast about for a weapon, her hands connected with a stake, and she quickly grabbed it up. A second later, Faith received another blow to the face from the plank of wood. Eyes blurring, the dark haired slayer blinked to clear her vision and stabbed downwards viciously at the prone body of the second vampire, the one in the basketball singlet, which was still recovering on the ground after her last onslaught. She was a bit relieved to hear the splinter, and the rush of the vampire turning to dust.
With her vision clearing up, Faith lashed out at the third vampire, and growled in frustration when the first one came back up for more. She wrenched the plank out of Number Three's hand and whacked him soundly in the face, and he dropped to the ground.
Faith quickly turned to Number One and, after kicking him in the stomach and exchanging a few more blows, she elbowed him under the chin and pushed him flush against a wall in the alley, where she rammed the stake home into his unbeating heart.
With a satisfying crunch, the stake penetrated the heart and the vamp disintegrated, leaving dust on the air. Faith whipped around for vamp Number Three, and swore loudly, stamping her foot angrily.
The plank-wielding vamp was gone. She swore some more and began to stalk around the area. Then, she saw a figure running down a perpendicular alley.
She glared hard at the retreating back and ran after him. She raced past the bins and the junk littering the alleyway, avoiding tripping over. As she reached the alley where she had seen him, she found she couldn't see too well. Light was not very plentiful, and the whole place as one big shadow.
Senses alert, Faith looked around. She saw some movement out of the corner of her eye. With a victorious yell, Faith caught the figure, slammed him up against the wall and drove the stake home into his unbeating heart.
Or so she thought.
Faith knelt by the figure. Something was wrong. She knew that from the moment the stake had entered his chest cavity. It didn't just thud like normally, it…it was firmer than usual.
And his chest didn't turn to dust and disappear. It began to ooze thick, dark red blood.
Faith froze. Her heart stopped.
The vampire looked at her, shocked. His body was shaking slightly, and blood was beginning to trickle out of the corners of his mouth.
Faith's eyes grew wide. She wrenched the stake out, and jumped away, shaking her head violently. "No," she whispered. "I…I…d-d-didn't kn-know," she stammered, and swallowed.
The man was not a vampire. He was human. A dying human. The hole in his white business shirt was ragged, and covered with blood. The man's eyes were wide and shocked, and he seemed frozen - apart from the twitches as he died. His wide eyes began to cloud over. The head slumped onto his shoulder. He grew still.
Faith began to hyperventilate. "I…I…" she stammered. She put her hands to her temples, shaking her head.
"I didn't know," she pleaded with the body, panicking. "I'm…I - "
But she was cut short by some sirens sounding in the distance. She just stood there, shaking her head in fierce denial.
Screaming. Crying. Shrieking, pleading. None of it helped. He was dead. He wouldn't come back. Faith fell to her knees.
No. I didn't do it. But she did. She was looking at the body she had killed. She swallowed, her gaze fixed on the body.
She had killed him. She broke down completely at that realisation. It was all her handiwork.
Shrieking and screaming and crying, Faith was physically dragged away from the corpse by the police officers, talking gibberish the whole way. She wouldn't go quietly. The whole neighbourhood heard her and rushed to see. Passing through was Giles, Xander, Willow, Oz and Cordelia. They had heard about the ruckus on their usual patrol and had come to have a look.
Faith laughed in their faces, crying at the same time. She looked crazed, like she had totally lost it. The Watcher looked shocked and appalled and…sad. He picked up a mobile he had acquired from Cordelia, and called the private number of the Council.
Beyond the screaming and the confusion, one figure watched quietly. Her feline eyes raked the whole scene, taking in everything.
She slipped behind a wall so that she was hidden from view. She wrapped her arms around herself with rapture and sighed contentedly.
"Dolly," she whispered. She smoothed her red dress.
"Mummy likes her new dolly, doesn't she, Miss Edith?"
Drusilla looked around at the porcelain doll she had dropped. The vampiress locked her gaze onto the doll and her eyes seemed to almost glow. Almost like magic.
Her eyes turned golden and she looked more intently at the doll on the cold, damp ground of the alley. Miss Edith suddenly sat up. As if controlled by invisible strings, the doll seemed to stand and walk over to Drusilla, with open arms.
Dru smiled indulgently. The doll floated off the ground and into Drusilla's hand.
The vampiress grinned wickedly. "See?" she scolded the doll.
"Mummy said that she would do magic if you were good."
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A/N
ominous music heeheehee who said witches need wands? Haven't you learnt anything from Willow? That's all I'm saying, and it's a HUGE insight into further chappies. People, thank you so VERY much for the reviews once again. Special thanks to that Raptor person, who is very cool and ultra supportive. Aaaaw, Luv ya! Everyone please tell me what you think about this, and if you have any questions, I will try to answer them without telling you the whole plot. Hey, to answer questions about the pairings, I think enough is said already. Who else loves the mayor? Huh. This was my first fight sequence. Yikes. How'd it flow?
Now, please, I am aiming for as many reviews as I can. Keep them coming, and I'll continue with the updates so ReViEw~~~~~~