Disclaimer: They aren't mine, I just like to pretend they Spike is.

Spike looked down at the sleeping face of Drusilla, cold and white and perfect on its pillow of black silk, before shrugging on his duster and stepping silently from their room. He buried his fists into the pockets the lined pockets, shifting as he felt the comfort of its weight steeling onto his shoulders. He never left the room without it, it was his armor, and it pissed the other poofters who pranced through the court off to no end. The blonde haired vampire walked casually through the empty halls of the palace, easily avoiding, the clockwork patrols of the guards as his feet led him on a mindless path through the labyrinth of corridors. It had become his habit to wake during the day, strolling through the palace as he learned its twists and turns. Reconnaissance, knowing his surroundings, that's what he told himself he was doing. In reality it was some much needed time think, and today he definitely needed to think Drusilla had been well pleased with him last night, thrilled with getting to play the queen of the feast, she had torn off his clothes in a frenzy when they arrived back at their room, happily doing all she could to repay him with her tongue and teeth, for the various bruises he had received in her honor. But she still had not allowed him to Claim her.The refusalhad hurt, as it always hurt, but the vampire had once again shrugged it off. The longer she resisted wearing his mark the more challenges there would be for her hand, and the more prestige they would gain. Spike didn't mind the fights, it was the only bit of fun he ever got in this place, but his Sire's actions last night had left him cold. She had had the best view of the room, surely she must have noticed that he was about to be stabbed in the back. Why hadn't she warned him?

All he could tell himself was that she would have, she would have, if the Slayer hadn't yelled out first.

The Slayer.

He had almost forgotten the chit, so caught up as he had been in keeping his Princess safe he had let his awareness slip, it had surprised him to no end last night when he heard her, surprised him even more that he had forgotten she was there. Why had she warned him? It was a question he couldn't begin to fathom. And it angered him, in more ways than one, most of all that she had created the disloyal doubt he now harbored about his princess in his heart. Looking up in surprise the vampire found himself at the entryway to the grand ballroom. Deciding now was as good a time as any to punish the Slayer for her rashness he pushed the heavy door open a crack and slipped inside. The ballroom was different in the daytime, white and huge and empty without the colorful display of the court, the vampire winced as his booted feet echoed hollowly in the empty space.

I'd go mad if I had to spend all my time here. He thought, then stiffened as his eyes lit on the small figure curled in the corner. The vampire frowned as he approached the sleeping form of the Slayer. She looked terrible. Thin and wan, her clothes stained and her face grubby, her skin had grown pale enough to match the marble she lay upon, though still not as white as his own dead face. She was a far cry from the golden girl he had seen dancing at the club in Sunnyhell all of those months ago.Her breathing was soft and deep, her heartbeat slightly fast, as if even in sleep, her body felt its danger. Looking at her pathetic form the vampire felt a smile tug at his lips, it was time to have some fun. Slinking up very close to her still form he slid smoothly into his demonic countenance, leaning forward he screwed up his nose as the smell of unwashed human made his stomach churn.

Lightly he allowed one of his fangs to slice across her cheek. "Slaaaaaaaayeeeeeeeer." He singsonged, letting his voice come out in a low growl. The Slayer's eyes snapped open, when she felt the stinging sensation on her cheek, her internal warning system skyrocketing off the charts.

Vampire.

Yesterday she might have simply lain there and let her end come, but last night had shown her she was not a ghost, she still felt the bruise to prove it, and that meant that she could hit. Without thinking her fist shot out, connecting with the first solid thing it could find.

"Bloody hell!" Spike fell back hard on his tail bone, clutching his abused nose as lights exploded behind his eyes. Her stared at the wide eyes girl before him in disbelief, the bitch had almost broken his nose.

"Spike?" Buffy asked tremulously, her voice rusty and hollow in the large room. Feeling the sting that persisted on her cheek she reached up her hand to feel the warm cut, staring in fascination at the blood on her fingers. Spike rose to his feet watching her as he wiped the blood from his nose regarding the pint sized terror that sat chained to wall. He could see the dark bruise at the corner of her mouth, looking darker with the dried trickle of blood that remained on her chin. Now that she was fully conscious he saw that the fire had died out of her eyes, she was staring at the blood on her fingers like she had never seen it before, turning her hand back and forth as she regarded it from all angles. The vampire frowned, eyes narrowing as he slipped unconsciously back into human guise. Something wasn't right here. She should be on her feet, shouting insults, not sitting passively in the corner. Something wasn't right at all. When another minute ticked by and she seemed no more attuned to his presence than before he growled in frustration. He wanted a Slayer he could hit, not this pathetic heap. Maybe if he could piss her off.

"You know I never figured a Slayer to have a blood fetish before." He smirked, absently licking his own blood from his fingers.

Her head snapped up in startlement. "Spike?"

"That's me." He spread his arms wide, as if showing off his solid form. "Thought I forgot about you didn't you."

Her strange eyes gazed emptily at him. "Yes."

Spike's eyes narrowed. What was she playing at? "Well you should kno better Slayer," he advanced upon her with a predatory stride, feeling another flicker of annoyance as she continued to stare dumbly at him. With a growl offrustration he strode the next few feet to her, grabbing her roughly by the arms he yanked her up to her feet, pinning her against the wall. "Why did you save me? Hmm." He shook her roughly. "Dissension in the ranks? Turning the others against me? Is that your plan? Revenge?"

The Slayer almost gasped, tremors shaking her body. She was being touched, touched. When she didn't respond Spike shook her again.

" I hadn't thought that you where the manipulative type Slayer, thought your were more rough and tumble." His eyes dragged provocatively over her grimy form, "Course you're not in much shape for that now are you?"

Heat lanced through the young woman's system, a familiar yet almost forgotten emotion. "Fuck you Spike." The Slayer spat suddenly horribly conscious of the her greasy hair and the way her clothes were stained with sweat.

"How very original Slayer." The vampire mocked, internally rejoicing as the rough curse fell like music on his ears. How long had it been since he'd heard anyone curse. Weeks? Months? However long it was that they had been in this poncy place. There was fire in the Slayers eyes, and he felt an odd tickle of glee to see it directed at him. He was bored, so entirely bored. There was nothing to do here, no challenge anymore. Yeah Dru was happy, but it was like she didn't have time for him, entirely caught up in court games and some star designated schemes of her own. He had never felt comfortable in high society, even when he was alive. Alive, Spike shuddered at the thought of William. As a vampire he had been freed from all that, the tedious games of society, or so he had thought. Now he was once again subjected to being looked down upon, and left in the cold. The vampire frowned again. What was happening to him? With a snort of disgust he released her, stepping back to look down his nose at her thin form. "Who am kidding. It doesn't matter why you did it. Whatever scheme you're cooking up. It won't work. There's no way out of here. And if you were banking on my gratitude, well then you can just forget it. I would've won anyway. Dru would've warned me."

Now there was a reaction, a tiny spark of interest in her eyes as they glanced up into his. "Do you really think so."

With a roar he pinned her to wall again, his body mashing harshly into hers. "I bloody know so bitch. And if you think you can drive a wedge between us then you've got another thing coming." As she only continued to stare at him a strange softness in her hazel eyes the vampire's patience snapped. "What the bloody hell's wrong with you?!" He yelled, his face just inches from her own.

"You're touching me."

He stepped back in surprise, he certainly hadn't been expecting that answer. "Yeah....?"

"I haven't been touched, in, such a long time."

The vampire stepped back in horror as one small hand reached out for his face. He immediately jumped back as if it were a cross, then laughed as her eyes narrowed and she grabbed for him again.

"Oh ho, that's your game is it? Get me close, get those hands around my neck.You want to take me down, you're gonna have to work a little harder. Come on then." He stepped into a fighter's crouch a smile growing as he danced on the balls of his feet. "Come on, give it to me good Buffy." He knew she couldn't reach him, and had hoped her helplessness would send her into further rage, get that spark into her eyes.He was unpleasantly surprised when she froze, her eyes going slightly glassy as she stared at him in wonder.

"What did you call me?"

"What?" The vampire was utterly confused, "Come on, put em up then Slayer."

He almost growled in frustration when she remained in whatever fuge state his words seemed to have put her in.

"Buffy," she said in wonder, "you called me Buffy."

He frowned again dropping his stance, that's what the bint was going on about? "Well, yeah." He said skeptically. "It's your name innit it?"

The Slayer shook her head, looking slightly confused. "Buffy, lived in a sunny place. In the sun. And there was an Angel and he loved her. He loved her. She was loved."

Spike felt like she had slapped im in the face, no that would have felt good, this however, was sickening. "Look here Slayer, have you gone barmy?"

"And there was Willow, and Giles, and Xander. And Mommy." She said the names with utter concentration, as if struggling to get them just right.

"Buffy...." He began, unconsciously taking a tentative step toward her.

She scrambled back with a clink of chains, the smell of fear coming off her almost overpowering.

"She's not here. She's not here. She's safe, you can't touch her. No one can touch her!"

Fuck. Spike stared at the trembling Slayer in horror. She was bug shaggering crazy. How long had she they been here? At least six months, almost half a year. An unpleasant feeling settled into his vitals. Had it really been that long? He didn't like the way that time seemed to be flowing away from him here, he no longer felt in control and that wasn't something he liked. And this, the Slayer, for some reason it disturbed him most of all. Something about seeing his enemy so beaten, so helpless, didn't sit well with him. He wanted the fire in her eyes back, he wanted something he could fight, not this wreck. Turning in disgust he strode from the room, his hand was on the door knob when her voice surprised him, high and young in the still air.

"You'll come back?"

He turned to look at her, she was standing against the wall, hands flat against the marble, an inquisitive tilt to her head. The vampire suddenly smiled. He would see if he could bring her back, make her the sassy Slayer helo–enjoyed fighting. Then when she was at her strength again. He'd make his move, crush her. Then he'd be the one to take her out, not those wankers who surrounded him. It would be the perfect revenge, and it would give him something to do. Smiling thinly he stepped form the room. "If you're lucky Slayer. If you're very very lucky."

Wow, this is turning out to be pretty weird isn't it. Anyone still with me?