Gypsy Girl

Pairing: OC/Spike

Summary: When a travelling Gypsy from the Kalderash clan settles on the Sunnydale, she'll be no exception to the challenges of life on the Hellmouth. Alexandreina will survive though, she always does, but will she get a chance to live?

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CHAPTER TEN


Alexandreina sat on the couch while she ran a concoction of deep conditioning oils through Janna's hair. She massaged her fingers into her cousins scalp as she listened to her own rendition of 'Slayerettes drama, the cliff notes version' being told.

Alexandreina idly listened, not having the heart to tell Janna she didn't really care about the Slayerettes drama. But it gave them something to talk about and that was why she listened.

Also a segue into Giles talk.

Which was what she was interested in hearing.

"Well It's been a crazy few months" Janna scoffed as she leaned into the relaxing touch. "A new Slayer showed up in town, her name is Kendra. For a few days Buffy thought she had killed a guy. Ted, he was a robot as it turns out. But Ted and Joyce were dating and Ted hit Buffy"

Well shit.

Alexandreina couldn't help but react to that information, even if she didn't really like Buffy.

She knew all too well how that situation could have gone down. Buffy was extremely lucky to have Slayer strength and a support network. Alexandreina supposed she was glad the guy was gone - robot or not. She would have been glad even if Buffy had killed a human rather than a robot.

Not that Buffy would agree.

Or Janna.

"Shit. What did she do when she thought he was human?" Alexandreina asked

"Joyce called the cops. They were still investigating when Teddy made a miraculous recovery. Found out he was trying to off Buffy to have Joyce to himself" Janna scoffed in disgust.

It was pretty disgusting.

Whatever fucking sick logic that was, Alexandreina was glad she didn't understand it.

Nobody should understand that.

"Of course Joyce doesn't know about the supernatural. Which I think puts her in more danger personally" Janna complained. "When the new vampire in town - Spike and his goons attacked parent teacher night, Joyce believed they were a gang of kids on PCP. Can you believe that?"

Alexandreina chuckled, "People explain away what they don't understand"

"And apparently they just they dismiss what they can't explain away" Janna shook her head a little. "I don't get that"

"You don't have to, but it brings them comfort" Alexandreina reminded her cousin.

They had grown up being reminded of that fact. For their people, the Romani people of the Kalderash clan, it had come in handy a lot of the time. As travellers some of them were often able to earn more money doing fortune readings if they gave people what they wanted to hear. It was also a reason as to why they had to be careful about using their abilities in public. Some ignorant humans took any indication of supernatural-ness as them being monsters.

It had been horrible.

Quite traumatising to literally be run out of a town like that. Though that was mostly church groups who organised to run them out of town. The towns folk can get quite violent when empowered by their 'gods' approval.

"Anyway" Alexandreina changed the topic as she twisted Janna's hair and clipped it up out of the way. "What else has been happening? It's been about 11 months, surely that's not it" she said in an effort to get Janna talking again.

"Parasite demons hatched from eggs that the students were pretending were children" Janna said, "They went inside your brain and controlled you. Xander and willow saved the day"

Alexandreina snorted.

She would have quite enjoyed watching Xander and Willow fight a demon.

Though she didn't say that to Janna, as she moved into the kitchen to wash her hands. Instead she grabbed her portable display case of nail polishes and rose a brow at her cousin. "Pick a colour for your nails" She instructed

"Why do you have so many?" Janna wondered in awe of the large collection.

Alexandreina merely shrugged. She quite enjoyed the pamper days and was always interested in fashion and the likes. It wasn't like she had anything else to do anyway. Her money was usually only spent on gas and food, meaning she always had plenty spare to indulge in her interests. Not to mention the fact that nail polish was really easy to just steal if she wanted to.

Which she often did.

Unlike Janna, Alexandreina did not live her life the way society expects her to. She played by her own rules and didn't give a damn what others thought about that.

Alexandreina took what she wants, when she wants.

With no remorse.

Janna, oblivious to that, searched through the bottles for the colour she wanted. "I'm glad we're having a relaxing day. I needed it"

Alexandreina nodded, "You always forget to relax. You've always been that way. How is everything going with Giles?"

"Good" Janna smiled bashfully. "Really good. We make a point to go on dates at lunch though. Just in case something happens while Buffy is patrolling and needs his help. It's okay though, because the dates are great. We've even- uh, never mind"

Janna blushed pink.

Alexandreina chuckled with a wide smirk.

"You're sleeping with him?" Alexandreina put It mildly in hopes to encourage Janna.

Janna nodded a little shyly. "Yeah. It took us a while. Nights were always him going patrolling with Buffy or researching something. And we work full time jobs. And it was just never the time"

"You don't have to justify it to me" She reminded Janna.

"I know" Janna deflated and relaxed back into the couch again. Picking a light yellow and beginning to paint her toenails. "It's just a little embarrassing... but it was a good night. A nice and romantic one"

"I'm glad" Alexandreina nodded.

She was glad the night had lived up to Janna's expectations.

Alexandreina had a completely different view on sex though. Her own behaviours often bordering destructive rather than anything passionate or romantic. It had taken a long time for Alexandreina to even become aware of that, but not much had changed since she had. Sex was still a confusing thing to Alexandreina. She both simultaneously craved it and couldn't think of anything she wanted to do less.

Alexandreina sighed.

Shaking her head she selected a dark burgundy nail polish and began to pain her own toenails. The dark thoughts being pushed away by the distraction.

"I have something I wanted to tell you about..." Alexandreina began with a cautious glance at Janna.

Janna rose a brow, "You do? What is it?"

"A few weeks ago I started getting this feeling like I could sense someone's pain. It just started out as sort of like an awareness of a person" Alexandreina found it difficult to explain but she pushed on. "It was specific. To one person. A vampire named Drusilla, actually"

"Drusilla as in Spikes girlfriend?" Janna worried at the mention of the vampires

Alexandreina sighed and nodded.

"It's okay, Janna. I can feel that Drusilla won't hurt me, and if she tried, I'm more than capable of defending myself. You know that" Alexandreina reminded her cousin

Janna nodded, "Yeah. It still makes me worried for you though"

Alexandreina smiled.

"Anyway. It's like our minds connected or something. I could see everything in Drusilla's mind and she could see inside mine" Alexandreina explained with confused and wary awe. "A connection I've never experienced before. And that's not just it. Drusilla is like us - born of the Kalderash clan"

Janna looked more interested now than worried. "Really? You've seen inside her mind?"

"Yes. Like watching a movie. I could sort through her memories and watch any one I wanted" She explained with a disbelieving shake of her head

It was shocking.

Something she had never before felt.

"It was an odd feeling but somehow I knew it was normal. I don't know how..." Alexandreina shrugged. "Drusilla called me her sister. Though I think it's because we're both Kalderash people"

Janna looked utterly shocked but simply nodded in agreement. "Wow- that's- uh, that's so interesting"

Alexandreina gave her cousin an odd look for the stuttering but easily brushed off the reaction. Instead going back to painting her nails. She understood the surprise at something like this, so she didn't put much thought into Janna's reaction. Alexandreina smiled over at her cousin. "Want a drink? I've got some of that wine you like"

Janna chuckled, "Sure. Thanks"


"You're supposed to be ash" Alexandreina spoke idly as she sensed him. Though she remained seated on the bench as he got closer.

"Yeah" he scoffed, "Bloody Slayer"

Alexandreina snorted and turned to look at him. Surprise flashed across her face when she realised he was seated in a wheelchair. Though she forced her face back to a neutral calm as soon as the change registered in her mind. Really she shouldn't have been surprised he was hurt. From what she had been told the fight at the church was brutal.

If he'd been human he would have died.

Though he had to of been seriously injured for a vampire to end up in a wheelchair. But she didn't dare ask about it.

Instead she lit a cigarette.

Alexandreina blew out a cloud of smoke as the nicotine washed over her again. She breathed it into her lungs before offering it to Spike. He took the cigarette with no clear plan to give it back again. The action made her smirk a little. It was something she herself would have done, and should have expected the same from a guy like him.

"Dru wants you at her party..." Spike finally said

Alexandreina rose a brow, "What party and why?"

Spike sighed angrily and threw the cigarette to the ground. He spun in his chair to directly face her. His eyes scrutinised her in an effort to understand... though she had no idea what he was trying to understand in the first place. But she could guess it was the connection she and Drusilla seemed to share. Honestly Alexandreina was just as confused by it too. Finally Spike shook his head in annoyance. As if he had come up empty on whatever he had been searching for in her face.

"Ever heard of a bloke called the Judge?" Spike reluctantly asked

The Judge.

It rang a distant bell in her mind.

Alexandreina shrugged, "Vague mention of him"

Spike nodded, "Pro'lly 'cause the blokes famous amongst the Demon types. Bad bloody dude. Had those white-hats scatterin' his body 'cross the world 'cause they couldn't kill the bugger"

"And what? Dru managed to find those parts again?" Alexandreina guessed, unsurprised.

It sounded like Drusilla.

The woman was all about Hell on Earth and tasty Happy-Meals-on-legs.

But that's most vampires wet dream anyway. So it wasn't that surprising to hear of an attempt to make it happen. Certainly not when it's vampires like Drusilla or Spike who are part of the few who could actually get it to happen. Which is part of the reason why Alexandreina didn't want to be their enemy. She would much rather be considered a friend than an enemy.

Even if she had to do some morally questionable things in the process.

It wasn't as if she cared about that.

She had done plenty of things considered wrong or illegal. In the name of her own survival there wasn't much she wouldn't do. Though she still had some lines she would never cross, of course. Thankfully Spike and Drusilla had retained a fraction of their humanity and shared a few things they wouldn't do either.

But this?

Awakening the Judge seemed like something she didn't want to happen.

Maybe she'd contact Buffy?

Alexandreina sighed and rolled her eyes skyward in annoyance. The fact that she was contemplating contacting the Slayer to deal with an issue irked her. A lot. Yet she didn't see many other options.

"I'll go to this party..." Alexandreina finally agreed. "I won't help you with the Judge, but I won't work against you either"

Spike rose a scarred brow in contemplation.

"Got a loyalty to Drusilla that I can't turn my back on now" Alexandreina grit out. Her tone reflecting the fact she didn't particularly like that loyalty. She met Spikes eyes again to show her honesty.

She wouldn't get involved.

She would let the Vampires and the Slayer fight it out, as they'd always done.

That is just how these things work...

Spike sighed like he thought this was all one big bad idea. But he nodded in agreement anyway. "Fair enough" he said before nodding his head in the opposite direction. "Let's go then. Dru's waitin' for us"

Great.

Just fucking great.

Alexandreina didn't say anything as she stood and followed him. She hadn't been far from the warehouse district of Sunnydale anyway. It was only about a 8 minute walk. A walk which they did in silence. Neither having anything more to say to the other at the moment. It seemed that she and Spike had come to an understanding.

They weren't really friends, but they weren't enemies.

And that's what's important.

So they both indulged Drusilla's whims as the only ones who could understand the female vampire.

Alexandreina found herself sighing softly as she entered the familiar warehouse. She pursed her lips and followed after Spike. He seemed to have adjusted to using the wheelchair in the few weeks since the fight. There were other vampires milling around. Some were bringing in large crates and placing them together in the middle of the room. A large outline of a figure she presumed to be the Judge stood ready to be brought back to life.

Drusilla cooed when she spotted them. "Spike brought my lost little sister!"

Alexandreina smiled slightly in greeting.

"I did, love" Spike agreed as he went up to Drusilla. He looked around at the progress the other vampires had made and nodded in approval. "Let's wake this bloody wanker up then?"

"Yes!" Drusilla clapped in excitement

Alexandreina hung back in the crowd that gathered and simply watched. She figured this was a rare moment to witness. She had heard a few references to the Judge but ultimately needed to do more research about him. Though she planned on avoiding him at all costs after this. Yet she still stood there and watched as Spike's minions ran around trying to assemble the Judge. And before she knew it, it was time to awaken the Demon.

Everyone looked giddy in anticipation.

She pursed her lips.

Watching silently from behind Spike and Drusilla as a weird looking Demon was revealed. The judge was a giant with a large frame. He looked like he could pick someone up and snap them in half with his hands. His skin was a greying purple and his head was covered in little horns. It was not a pretty sight.

Drusilla looked up at the Judge in awe though. "Goll..." she swooned

The Judges eyes snapped opened as awareness came to him. He looked around before stepping out of the coffin like box. Though he had difficulty keeping his balance to remain standing, but he managed in the end. He looked around for a moment before pointing and staring at Drusilla, "You!"

Spike rolled over in front of Drusilla protectively. "Ho, ho, ho. What's that, mate?" Spike snarked

The Judge looked between them in disgust. "You two stink of humanity. You share affection and jealousy"

Alexandreina snorted.

Spike merely shrugged, "Yeah. What of it? Do I have to remind you that we're the ones who brought you here?"

Drusilla smiled and pointed to the guests as she spoke to the judge. "Would you like a party favour?"

The Judge finally took notice of the party guests. His gaze settling on Dalton. "This one is full of feeling. He reads. Bring him to me"

Another vampire grabbed Dalton and prevented him from running away.

Spike rose a brow, "What's with the bringing? I thought you could just zap people"

The Judge looked annoyed at the question but answered anyway. "My full strength will return in time. Until then... I need contact" The Judge said, slowly managing to walk over to Dalton.

Dalton shook in fear as his fellow vampires held him still. "No. No! NO!"

The Judge ignored the pleas and put his hand on Dalton's chest. Somehow Dalton begin to smoke. As if he had been set on fire or something. The Judge's hand was burning into Dalton, who eventually combust into a cloud of ash and lingering smoke. The stench of it was horrible but nobody said anything about it.

Drusilla gleefully clapped her hands. "Do it again! Do it again!" She smiled down at Spike as if he could force the Judge to do something on command.

The Judge wasn't a pet.

Something Alexandreina was districting made aware of through the display.

She looked over at the Judge and found him smiling to himself as he stared at his hands. Clenching them as if he could feel his strength returning now. Though she guessed it would take feeding from a few more people to be at full strength for him. Which is why she caught Drusilla's eye and gave a wave before making a subtle exit from the warehouse. The last thing she needed was to become someone's meal.

Fuck that.

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