Spanderverse: Dracula
Chapter 9: Lust at First Bite
Riley stood before the door to the crypt that Spike had been using as a home lately. He couldn't quite make himself believe he was actually going to do this. If anyone was going to try to get information from Spike, it ought to be Xander. Of the gang, Xander seemed to be the only one that could ask Spike for anything without it turning into a major battle. Even Willow and Tara were as often insulted as assisted by the chipped bad guy, which made it even more odd that they still wanted anything to do with the pale menace. If it were up to Riley, Spike would have been dusted a long, long time ago. At least as far back as the Adam thing, but no, the gang continued to think they could make a real person out of the parasite… well, it was time for Spike to make their efforts worth the headache.
Pushing aside the door, he entered a cool and musty interior. In the middle of the crypt stood two heavy stone sarcophagi with at least a half-inch of dust sitting on the stone slabs covering the coffins contained within. For some really odd reason, the stone building had small windows cut into them, pane-less, that let in ambient moonlight and fresh air from outside. Who was supposed to have benefited from this accommodation was anyone's guess.
The light allowed Riley to make out clear shapes in the interior, though heavy shadows still inked out the corners. "Spike? You out hustling somewhere?"
"Well, well. The commando. And to what do I owe the pleasure, mate?"
"Surprise… this isn't a social call. Something's come up and I'm looking for information. I got two twenties, one if you know nothing, but both if you cough up something valuable."
"Okay, I'll play. What do you need to know? Has Red and Tara done something wonky? Or would this just be an apocalypse come 'round early this year?"
"Hopefully, neither," Riley said, "This one involves Dracula. He's in town and has Buffy in his sights."
"Dracula? Here in fair old Sunnyhell, then?"
"Tell me about him."
"Well…" Spike thought for a moment, "He's a ponce, for one. An aristocrat, if ever there was one. Don't let him borrow any quid, he never pays you back."
"How helpful," Riley told him, the sarcasm dripping.
"Look, mate. Dracula was something of a rival for just a few back in the day. Well, more a rival to Angelus, but I got dragged into it with the rest of the family. The thing about Dracula? Glass jaw. The problem is getting in the hit. The bugger is one sly magician."
"That's the stuff I need to know. What kind of magic can he pull? I mean, Buffy said he misted and turned into a bat. What the hell is up with that, and why can't all you vampires do it? And what's up with the hypnotizing thing, is he really that potent when it comes to the whammies?"
"So, he's already made himself known to the Slayer, then? That's not so good. Y'see, I've never known the Count to act rashly. He's one of those plan everything out sorts. Really superstitious too, what with his special dirt, and all. Point is, if he's already allowed himself to be seen by Buffy, then he's already established a base of sorts somewhere in the area."
"Well, how'd you fight him," Riley enquired with a nod of his head.
"Eh, it was more like harassed him. Like I said, it's tough to fight him with all that shape-shifting and running away shit he likes to pull. Angelus was going to look up a few wizards, but Darla was going on about bein' bored and wantin' to visit the Far East. I always half suspected that she'd been with Dracula sometime during that month. Y'know, shagging him on the side. Anyway, Darla got her way. We headed toward China and we didn't run into Dracula again after that."
"So if Drac is making himself comfy in town, we need to look at abandoned mansions, that sort of thing. He's all about luxury, right?" Riley was thinking hard about the places he could investigate once the sun rose. The Crawford mansion was used by Spike, himself, before. He could start there.
"Whoa, soldier-boy. You're out of your league this time. Why don't you just go snuggle-bunny up to the superhoney and leave Drac to himself."
"First of all, you don't know anything about what my league is. Second, Dracula isn't going to stay to himself and we both know it. He's here for Buffy. Why else make such an obvious show of arriving? If he wasn't interested in her, he wouldn't have wafted right up to her tonight on patrol. Third, there's more at risk here than just Buffy. Did you think he might try to get to her through her friends? Isn't that what you did, kidnapping Willow and threatening Xander."
"I think you owe me a few twenties."
"Look, Spike," Riley said, getting annoyed, "you've helped Buffy in the past, right? It's what kept you from getting a sliver of wood between your ribs. For some nutty reason, no one here is ready to off you. You could act a little more grateful by helping me find him, instead of being your usual jerk-self."
"It's not like I'm standing here hoping he gets to Buffy, y'know." Spike raised his voice, "You're not the only one caring for the Summers'."
"The Summers? Or just Buffy? It must just be burning your ass to see her happy with me."
"You think so, huh? Listen, boy, you don't have the dark spark that she needs to keep you in the game. Sooner or later, she's going to tire of the Boy Scout and look to someone with a bit more edge."
Riley balled up his fists, taking a step closer to Spike, who stood his ground. "Listen to me, you pathetic, useless, and helpless moron: You get over this growing obsession with my girl, or I may just have to report to the gang one night that you were tragically dusted."
"That a fact. You think that Buffy couldn't have dusted me already, then? Hell, at this point, you think that over-the-hill Watcher couldn't take me out? I know how low I've been brought, thanks to you types and this bloody chip. But I'm still here. Seems to me that the others like having me around," Spike said, his voice full of bravado.
"They just can't face killing you because you've helped them out in the past. Plus, they tend to forget what you really are underneath the conditioning chip. I haven't forgotten. I've got no problem staking you right now."
"I'd like to see you try that, mate."
"Would you really," Riley sneered, taking another step. Standing literally nose to nose with Spike, he towered over him, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's plenty of demons and other vampires that would love to see you dust, am I right? Who's to say that it would never be my sad duty to tell Buffy and the others that one of them finally succeeded?"
The threat was clear. It would also be easy for Riley to lie to the others, Spike knew. After all, everyone knew he was having trouble with the demon community, now that he was helping the Slayer out once in awhile. Riley could dust him right now and they'd never know that he'd gone against their wishes. Spike knew that for the moment, Riley had him by the short hairs, so he just looked away, conceding the point.
As Riley strode out of the crypt, Spike wished again fervently that Adam had removed the chip from his head. Sometimes he wondered if it was even possible. Maybe Adam had lied to him the whole time. Spike wasn't sure that he could go on if he was going to be stuck on this electronic leash forever, not if he was at the mercy of gits like Riley Finn.
Once Riley was gone with a slam of the iron door of Spike's crypt, Spike returned to the sub-layer. He lay upon the old queen size bed he'd found somewhere. He couldn't remember where now, but it wasn't important. Spike turned his thoughts to the problem of the new vampire in town.
Finn is never going to find Dracula. Not till he's already gotten to the Slayer, anyway. So, he meets Buffy, but doesn't just try to kill her. What was that? Why is he here? Whatever game he's playing this time around, if he doesn't get what he wants, he'll be throwing a fit. I'd better stop by Joyce's more often until things play out. Make sure that Dracula doesn't harm her if his plans go south. I'll have to warn Xander too, he could go after the Scoobies if he can't get to Buffy or her mother. I wish I knew what the ponce was playing at though…he couldn't really be here to vamp the Slayer, could he? Surely the Powers wouldn't just let their champion become a soulless vampire with all her strength and speed?
The more Spike thought about it, however, the more sense it made. Dracula was always obsessing over some 'Bride' or other. Why not a Slayer?
"Bugger," Spike whispered to himself. "Now I got two rivals."
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It was three o'clock in the morning when Buffy awoke from a deep sleep. Her senses were suddenly alert and the tingling at the back of her neck told her that something evil was near. She sat up slowly and scanned the room, already reaching toward her nightstand for the stake kept there. As her eyes scanned the window, left cracked open to the cool breeze, she saw a misted glow entering through the sill. It drifted down toward the carpet. Buffy pulled the sheets from herself and leaned cautiously forward toward the end of the bed. Below her, the mist gathered and then rose up suddenly, making her gasp and jump back. Kneeling with the stake tightly grasped in her hand, she watched a male shape take form from the mist.
"You look magnificent." Dracula stood at the foot of her bed, gazing down at her. Buffy felt exposed and self conscious wearing only a long T-shirt. She knew that she should already be on the attack, and yet she hesitated.
"I'm sure you say that to all the girls you stalk."
A small smile from the vampire, there was something predatory in it. "No. You are different. Special, and kindred."
"Uh…no. Nothing kindred-y to a vampire, sorry. Thanks for stopping by though, it'll make it easier to stake you."
Dracula chuckled at Buffy. It made all of her hair stand on end, as if he knew that he was in control of this whole encounter. She tried to shake off this stillness that seemed to be holding her limbs, but he was so intense. She seemed to be only able to gaze at him. The hand with the stake lay limply against her bunched up blanket, unmoving.
Buffy's heart was racing and she could feel the pulse in her neck throbbing away. Within her was a dark desire and it was rapidly making itself known to her conscious mind. As Dracula crawled upon the mattress with her, Buffy could feel wetness between her legs.
Dracula reached out, brushing her hair back from her shoulder and neck. Without prompting, she turned her head to the side, giving him more easy access. She could vaguely remember feeling this sort of helplessness before, when the Master had her enthralled. This was far different and more pleasant however. Then, she'd been terrified. Now, she just felt incredibly turned on.
Dracula smiled at her, brushing his fingertips over the bite scar from Angel. The Master's bite hadn't scarred for some reason, maybe because she died before it could. Angel's had remained, however, and right now it seemed to be sending sparks of heat directly through her body and stopping at her groin. Buffy groaned, her passion slowly building despite the danger she knew she was in.
"You've been marked before," the vampire said. He didn't sound angry or disappointed. It was simply an observation he was making.
"Yes. He was someone…"
"…unworthy of you," Dracula interrupted. "He pulled away instead of claiming you."
"Is that what you're here to do?" Buffy could hear the fearful tremor in her voice, and yet still, her pussy was soaking. "I've been killed by a vampire before."
"Really," Dracula said, betraying a little bit of surprise.
"The Master, you know, of the Hellmouth. He drowned me, but he did kill me."
"I'm not here to kill you." Dracula leaned forward, licking her old scar. The sensations were intense and Buffy moaned aloud. God, she wanted this, she needed to feel him buried in her, his fangs in her neck. The closeness and the intimacy of it, she needed to feel his power. "I'm here to take you from this duty which rests so heavily upon your shoulders," Dracula continued whispering in her ear. "I can show you delights that you haven't allowed yourself to dream of."
The vampire leaned in and Buffy took in a swift, deep breath. As the fangs pierced her shoulder over Angel's bite mark, Buffy's orgasm exploded through her. The room grayed out as she came and came again as Dracula fed from her.
As she slipped nearer to unconsciousness, Buffy's last coherent thought was, "He lied. He is killing me and all I can do is enjoy the ride down."
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End Ch 9