Zoë was walking down Main Street. She didn't know what to do. Was Buffy right? Spike did pay less attention to her when Dawn was around. She loved Spike, but if he thought she was going spend the rest of her life competing with a teenager for his affection, he was wrong. Maybe that's what Spike wanted. Maybe he wasn't going to kill Buffy. Maybe he was going to turn her too, and have himself a little harem. Well, sire or not, she wasn't going to be a part of that. She didn't need him. She could find someone she likes and sire them, then she would have her own vampire family.

"Beautiful," said a heavily accented voice. Zoë turned to see a pale, tall, thin man with piercing eyes and dark longish hair. She knew immediately he was a vampire, too. She looked around to see if he was addressing her. The man approached Zoë and took her hand. He kissed it and spoke again, "I sense sadness, my beauty." Zoë didn't know what to say to the man with an accent she could only place as Eastern European. "Has someone hurt you my dear? Who hurt you?" he asked.

"My sire," she replied. Zoë could sense magic in this man, and knew she was in the presence of a powerful thrall. It was hard to keep her wits about her, but for the moment she decided to go with it.

"Clearly he does not know what he has."

"How do you know it's a he?" Zoë said with a smirk, regaining a bit of her senses.

"I smell a male's scent on you. Also, I am familiar with the type of sadness a man brings to a woman."

"Who are you?" asked Zoë.

"I'm sorry, I have yet to introduce myself. I am Dracula."

"Wha . . .?" said Zoë. "Dracula, as in the Count, as in Vlad the Impaler, Dracula?"

Dracula chuckled. "It's been a long time since anyone has called me the Impaler. And what is your name my dark enchantress."

"Zoë."

"Beautiful. It means 'life' in Greek, I believe."

"I guess that's not very fitting for a vampire."

"Vampiric life is still life, and unlike most, we have the capability to live it to its fullest potential. Which is why a beauty like yourself should not be so sad." Zoë would have blushed if her blood was circulating, Dracula was nothing if not charming. "If you do not mind me saying so, I sense magic in you Zoë."

"Well, I was a practicing Pagan when I was human."

"And now?"

"I can do some things, but I'm not as powerful as I was. I don't understand it, it's like I'm hitting some sort of wall."

"I could help you with that."

"I thought I smelled magic on you."

"Why don't we retire to my mansion? I could show you magicks you would have never thought possible."

"Okay," said Zoë without hesitation. She knew Spike wouldn't like it, but who turns down an invitation to talk with Dracula, and he probably could help her with her magic.

"Come," said Dracula as he motioned her over to an expensive looking car. Zoë didn't know anything about cars, but if she had she would have realized she was getting in the back of a Rolls Royce. Well, she was about to get into a Rolls Royce until someone violently yanked her back. She turned to see who put their hands on her, but she already knew who it was. Spike, in full vamp face, was holding her by the arm and looking very angry.

"Where do you think you're going?" he yelled.

"Release her," Dracula said.

"She belongs to me, Drac," said Spike.

"Get off of me," said Zoë pulling herself from Spike's grip. "Why don't you go yank Dawn around, I'm sure she'd love it."

"Excuse me?" said Spike. Dracula took that moment to punch Spike in the face. Spike struck back and the two of them put on an impressive fight. Once again Zoë was torn, yes she was angry at Spike, but he was her sire and she didn't want to see him hurt, but Dracula was well . . . Dracula, the Johnny Depp of the vampire world. Just then, Zoë realized the fight had gone from physical to verbal. Spike ripped the sleeve of Dracula's shirt and Dracula was not happy about it.

"You cretin! Are you a woman? You need to rip clothes to win a fight?"

"What's a matter Nancy Boy? Worried about getting a little dirty?"

"Fighting in the street is low and base. If you would like a real fight, then we can duel."

"Duel? This ain't the 15th century pal, around here we fight where we're standing, but if you're not man enough, well, that's your problem."

"It seems I'm man enough for your childe."

"You bloody wanker!" Spike was enraged again and ready for more violence, but this time Zoë stepped in between him and Dracula.

"Spike just calm down."

"Calm down! Calm down! You were about to go off with this poof and I'm supposed to stay calm about it."

"Stop embarrassing me."

"Embarrassing you!"

"Yes, embarrassing me. What are you going to do about it? You going to hit me again? Go on, hit me Spike. Show Dracula and all the other creatures of the night what a big, strong man you are. Go on, Spike, I'm right here."

"I said I was sorry, luv," said Spike returning to his human face.

"You hit your women? You must truly be weak, William," said Dracula.

"You stay out of this, Euro-trash!" said Spike.

"Spike, you're from Europe," said Zoë.

"I'm from England, there's a difference."

"English barbarian," muttered Dracula.

"Zoë, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, all right, but I . . ." Spike stopped and looked at Dracula, "Do you mind? We're in the middle of something here."

Dracula seemingly ignored Spike and took Zoë's hand. "It's been a pleasure my dear, but I see you have prior commitments. If you decide to end those commitments, you can find me . . . well, I'll find you. You will be at the Vampire's Ball, yes?"

"Well, I'm not actually invited but . . ."

"I am, and she'll be there with me!" said Spike.

"Well good, then I will see you again." Dracula kissed Zoë's hand, again ignoring Spike. "Good night my dark enchantress." Dracula stepped into his Rolls Royce and had one of his enthralled humans chauffer him off.