Chapter 4
Bernhardt lay on the floor of the cave, not daring to move from where the man, no, the demon had thrown him. For despite his fascination with the lady, Drusilla as he had learned her name was, he was now convinced that they were demons sent to torture him.
"I ask you to do one simple thing and you mess it up." The man, Spike, was shouting at him, angry that the plan had failed. "If you can't manage to bring us a little kid then I think we might have to get rid of you."
Bernhardt was confused, knowing nothing except that they were angry with him.
"Bitte Entschuldigen Sie!" he apologised, over and over again, in the hope that the shouting would stop.
Eventually Spike calmed down, and stopped in his ranting, helped in part by Drusilla's coming over and kissing him long and hard on the lips. That over, he sighed and turned to Franz.
"Find out what happened, will you. Bernie here seems so devoted to Dru that I doubt he let the girl go without a fight."
Franz crouched down beside Bernhardt, and they spoke, although it was necessary for Franz to soothe Bernhardt's feelings before they could speak of what had happened. The conversation over, Franz rose and walked over to where Spike and Drusilla were sat.
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"He is blaming himself." The vampire explained. "He managed to get the girl away without any problems. Only he felt tired and so stopped to rest before coming down into the caves. They were discovered there by two girls and a dog. They put the girl onto the dog and sent him away. He gave chase but was unable to catch them."
Spike's eyes narrowed. "Two girls?" Franz nodded. "I wonder, do we know where the Slayer is based now?"
Drusilla rose from the mound of earth that resembled a throne, twirling and flitting about the cave like the fairy Bernhardt had initially thought she was. "Ooooh, the stars are singing to me. They say the Slayer is here, but that he's not met her yet!"
Spike turned, a glint in his eye as he looked towards Drusilla. "She's here, you say my love?"
Drusilla smiled, a mad light entering her eyes. "Her blood's singing to me. It's been singing for a time now. But I didn't hear it until you said about her now."
"Well," Spike grinned, "we might have to be a bit more careful if we've got a Slayer on our trail."
Franz looked puzzled. "But I do not understand. Who is this Slayer that you speak of?"
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Spike sighed, slapping his head with his hand. "Bugger! I forgot all you young 'un's won't know about her. Okay, gather round people, it's lesson time."
The rest of the vampires gathered round where Spike and Drusilla had sat down, again on the 'throne'.
"Right, listen carefully. What I'm about to tell you might save your un-life."
"The Slayer, one girl in all the world. She's strong and she's fast. What's worse, she knows what we are, and what our weaknesses are. Come to think of it," he mused. "She's probably the reason why so few of the people we've been turning haven't been making it here. Anyway, I'm digressing." he raised his voice again. "Basically, it means that you're all going to have to be extra careful. Make sure that when you hunt you do it further away from the caves, and check that you're not being followed."
He rose, and then paused, addressing the nest of vampires again. "Oh, and if anyone finds her, and manages to knock her out or something. I want her bringing here. Alive! It's been about twenty years since I last fought a Slayer, it'd be nice to see if I've still got the trick of it."
The vampires dispersed, and Spike turned to Drusilla. He was more worried that he'd let the other vampires know, but it was obvious in the question he asked of the insane seer. "I don't suppose the stars have let on whether she'll get us or not, Dru?"
Drusilla cocked her head to one side, as if listening to something, before replying. "I don't think she'll get you my William. They've told me that you'll kill at least one more Slayer, but then the bad men will muzzle you, and then you'll become like my Angelus has become now, with a naughty soul." She giggled, and leant closer, whispering. "I think they might be telling me stories though. They say you'll save the world from the First!" Having said that. Drusilla danced over to the other side of the cave, where a pile of dolls was sitting.
Spike watched her, shaking her head as he muttered to himself. "You may be crazy Dru, but I couldn't love anyone more."