That evening she was crossing the cemetery near Doublemeat Palace when pain flashed in her thigh. Looking down she saw a large syringe, sporting a jaunty red tail, stuck in her leg. In the distance she saw a figure with a rifle just watching. She ran toward it only to stumble as her legs started to loose feeling. She hit the ground hard as her vision began to dim. Her struggles to stand faded rapidly as blackness rolled over her at last.

"Pet, what have you gotten into now?" Spike sat next to her at a high table, under a white spot light, with a flowering onion in front of him. Her hand shook as she reached for a slice. Nerveless fingers struggled to pull a bit loose. Exhausted she dropped her hand back to her side as Spike tore off a large bit and fed it to her.

The First One stalked out of the shadows to the table and grabbed a section of Spike's food. She pulled Buffy's hand on the table and sliced it with her fingernail. Amber liquid oozed out of the cut. Buffy looked on in confusion that slowly clarified as a yellow pool formed under her hand. "Oh gods, council poison again. So weak..."

Spike grabbed the fork from the onion plate and stabbed it into his wrist. With a hiss of pain he pulled it back out and shoved the bloody wound under Buffy's mouth. "Here luv, borrow my strength."

Horrified she backed away, "That's blood. I don't want this. Don't turn me."

"Luv, please, this'll give you my strength." She still shook her head no. The First One rolled her eyes, grabbed Spike's wrist, and shoved it hard against Buffy's mouth. Her other hand pinched Buffy's nose closed. Buffy clawed weakly at the First One's arms until she was forced to open her mouth to breath. Blood dropped on her tongue and the energy from it coursed into her. Fire burned along her veins as pleasure exploded through her.

Spike grinned at her. "Now you see, don't you Slayer." Her mouth latched onto his wrist as she gently sucked more. His eyes half closed in pleasure as well. Her eyes snapped open and focused on the face of Drusilla, staring back at her.

"Nasty bad slayer. You took my Spike away. Now these will take you away. They tried to kill my Spike. He's so broken now. You fed him bright slayer blood. None for me. Silly watchers want you." She reached out and stroked Buffy's face. For a moment there was clarity in her eyes. "So much in you. And you want him as well." She leaned close and kissed Buffy's lips softly. Then leaned close to her ear. "Tasty Slayer. Love him, love my Spike. Miss Edith says you are the way, so I must go. When Spike comes, that's your time. Lucky Slayer he loves you so." Drusilla stepped back and the madness returned to her speech, but not to her eyes. "Where is my Spike Slayer? My Spike won't come for me. To the watchers you go. I love my Spike. Why did you have to take him?"

"Drusilla, that's enough now. Must not torment the slayer." George's voice cut through her ramblings. "So you've joined us at last have you, Miss Summers? Go ahead and scream if you want. I know the drugs don't react well together." She pulled against the manacles feeling strength begin to return to her. "I wouldn't fight those if I were you. You should remember this drug from your test. The one your watcher failed?" he smiled at her, "What, no questions?"

"I figured you'd ramble on about it anyway, so why bother?"

He slapped her hard as his eyes went cold. "Well then I'll cut to the chase as you Americans say. You are a disgrace as a slayer." Deep inside the First stirred. "Any slayer that would willingly allow vampires access to the purity of their blood is worthless to us. However we have found a way for you to redeem yourself. On the summer solstice we will use you to permanently seal the gates of hell. Once you are gone we will remove Faith and another slayer will be called."

Buffy smiled a large cold smile. "Liar. That's not what you are doing here. You know nothing of slayers. I've been threatened by better than you. You won't even be a challenge." He slapped her again and she laughed. "Ooooh, look at the pathetic normal boy." Her eyes scanned the room. Drusilla's look told her to say no more.

George's voice rose to a shout. "I'll show you vampire whore. We used to kill your type." It took him several moments to rein in his anger before he could continue, "There's so much to do. You, Slayer, I will leave to the tender mercies of Drusilla. I know you two have so much to catch up on."

"Pretty Slayer and I. We will have tea, we will have fun together."

"Sure Drusilla. Just remember we need her alive and with most of her blood inside for this to work. And don't unchain her. The drugs should keep her safe but we can't be too careful."

Buffy flinched as Drusilla closed with her again. "No slayer." Her eyes closed and she went far away. When her eyes opened again all Buffy could see in them was pain. "Pretty Slayer. No play for me today. My Spike will come for you. Miss Edith told me. I will be dust in the wind and then you will stop them." Drusilla unhooked the chains and led Buffy to a table in the corner with three dolls seated in chairs. Fumbling in a pouch nearby she pulled out several energy bars and distributed them around the table. Next she poured tea from a pot and giggled. "Keep your strength up. It will be soon. Keep Miss Edith safe. I won't be here for her anymore. Now pretty Slayer, tell me about my Spike."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Drusilla, I told you not to unchain her." George motioned to a man with him. A tazer shot sent Drusilla twitching to the floor. "Well Slayer, we have a little problem. It seems your pet vampire has hidden the Key somewhere and he won't tell us where. So, we can either torture him until you tell us, or torture you until he tells us. One way or another we will have the Key." George motioned and two men dragged Spike into the room. At another motion from George they released him and let him roll down the stairs. He moaned softly as he hit the floor. "Go get the special room ready. One of them will talk."

Drusilla slowly rose, looked over at Spike, and slowly moved across the room. She spoke softly as she passed Spike, "Goodbye my Spike." With a last look at Buffy she suddenly hurled herself at George. Startled, he fell back into the hall.

After a long moment of surprise Buffy threw herself against the chains holding her. She heard Drusilla scream, "Now Slayer!" Summoning up everything she had she planted her feet against the wall and pulled. Slowly a link of chain bent and separated. She landed with a thud that brought Spike's head up in time to see Drusilla explode into dust.

"Princess, NO!" Spike yelled as he drove himself to his feet and hurled himself up the stairs. Buffy heard a shriek of pain as he dropped back down the stairs under George's dead weight. His hands clutched his head as he vomited on the floor.

Buffy threw herself at the other two men running down the stairs. Using the chains on her wrists as whips she drove them back up and into a hallway. A shot rang out and she screamed as pain blossomed in her shoulder. The First One drove her forward into her attacker. She lost consciousness as a second shot boomed in the hallway.