"Did you just call me a Soul Stealing Succubi?"

"If the shoe fits."

"What shoe?"

"Angelus."

"Angelus? Oh, Angel. Angel's a shoe?"

"He's my father."

"Your what!?" Buffy was dealing with a grade-A psycho. Or was she? "Oh. You mean he's your sire."

An enraged Connor punches Buffy in the mouth with his right fist, causing her body to snap back before being caught by the ropes. Blood trickles down the left side of her lower lip. "I am not a vampire!" He sure hit like one.

"That's too bad. For your sake. Because, if you're a vampire, this is pretty normal behavior. But, if you're not, then you're just some disturbed sicko with a bad haircut."

"You don't like my hair?"

"It's a little long on the sides. And the bangs could use some trimming. Why the hell are we talking about this?"

"Tell me about my father."

"You mean your sire." Connor looks angry. "Sorry. Father. You're the one with unlimited us of all four limbs. If you think you have a father, then you must think you have a mother. What's her name?"

"Darla."

"Darla . . . Darla." Buffy pauses. "Now where have I heard that name before?" She thinks for about ten seconds. "I know! She's Angel's sire. And she tried to kill me. Horrible aim. Darla's your mother'. Now I know where you get the bad hair from." Connor smashes her nose with a left jab. Buffy's body whips back-and-forth as the ropes hold her in place. "You don't hit like a man. I mean that as a compliment. Sort of."

"You're a very hateful person."

Buffy starts laughing. "Am I the one tying people up?"

"Did I say anything mean about your mother?"

"My mother wasn't a mass murderer."

"Wasn't. She's dead?"

"Yes. So if you're thinking of killing her too, you're out of luck."

"I'm sorry." He actually looks sincere.

"I've dealt with some real wack jobs in my time, but you, you - ," Buffy chuckles and shakes her head. "What's your name? You've told me your parents' names, I've told you my name - "

"Connor."

"Okay. Connor. Do you have a last name?"

"You live with your father?"

"Excuse me. I don't mean to sound childish, but I asked first. And where the hell do you get off quizzing me about my life? Usually I don't get so personal with people trying to kill me."

"Your mom's dead. Is your father still alive?"

"Yes. But he's far, far away, in case you're also thinking of cracking his skull."

"You're alone."

"No - I - that's none of your business." She doesn't even want to think about what this freak would do to Dawn. "Do you have a last name, Connor?"

"No. Not really." Holtz gave him a last name and a middle name, but since he's dropped Steven, it only makes sense to drop the others as well.

"Interesting. Because people have last names. Vampires and demons usually don't. Just something I thought I'd point out."

"Buffy Anne Summers," Connor says for no reason as he thinks over how precisely to handle the situation.

"You've done your research. How stalker-like."

"Stalk?," Connor asks with a disturbing laugh. "You came to me. I didn't even have to track you."

"Tracking. Another thing people don't usually engage in. Look, Connor, I think you should know, you're not the first man to tie me up. Far from it. Oh. Wait. That might have come out wrong. You're not the first man to take me captive. Although you are the first to secure my arms AND legs." She pulls on the ropes. "And you seem to have done a good job."

"Careful. Pull it free, those supports break off, and the roof might cave in."

"I'm guessing I'm not the first person you've done this with, either."

"Holtz used to tie me up. He started when I was five. I had to get free and find him. When I got bigger, he made me promise to wait a whole day before I started. Sometimes I cheated and left before sunup."

"Wow. Wow. This is starting to make all sorts of sense I wish it didn't. You've clearly had some very bad breaks, none of which I could have possibly been involved with in any way. So I'll do you a favor and give you a little warning. You can't win. I will escape. Or my friends will find me. Whichever happens first. And then, you'll be a dead man. I always win. So you can do the smart thing, untie me, and I'll let you go, provided you never, ever set foot in this town again. Or, you keep having your crazy little fun, knowing that your hours are numbered."

"You're a fighter. You don't give up. I like that."

"Thanks. And by the way, you're really good at being crafty and deceitful. Not to mention unhinged. You should be very proud of your efforts. Most men have to resort to drugs and cattle prods to get me in this position. You did it with old-fashioned trickery and muscle. I respect that in an enemy. By the way, why am I your enemy?"

"Do you love Angel?"

"Just so I'm straight on this, are you going to quiz me about all my relationships? Because I went through that just last night."

"Does Angel love you?"

"That's a trick question, isn't it? I get the sense that whatever I say, you'll hit me. Does Angel love me? Why don't you ask him? Come to think of it, why aren't you taking out all of this rage on your father'? Clearly he's the one you have a problem with."

"I sent him to the bottom of the ocean."

Buffy just stares at Connor for ten seconds. "Are we speaking metaphorically?"

"For three months. He's back now."

"Of course he is," Buffy replies condescendingly. The boy really appears to live in his own little fantasy world.

Connor turns to his left, staring at the bare wall to Buffy's right. "Mom?"

Buffy rolls her eyes. "Just what I need in my life. Another vampire who talks to invisible people."