Chapter Eight

Where am I? Willow opened her eyes trying to focus on anything but the throbbing in her neck, as her gaze swept across the grand room she found the answer to her first question. Las Vegas. She was lying naked in a king-size bed, Spike's arm wrapped possessively around her waist, his face resting on her breast. Willow felt her body tense and tears sting her eyes. Why was she naked? Had he claimed her last night? No...he can't have. She tried to reason with herself; it was only her neck which throbbed, surely she would ache...there if they'd had sex? And whilst she was naked Spike was fully clothed – even his boots were still on. So why was she naked? She thought back to the previous night, but the throbbing in her neck was too intense. She desperately wanted to get up, to go to the bathroom, but she was too frightened to move in case she woke Spike. This is ridiculous! Forcing herself to move she pushed the sleeping vampire off and fled into the bathroom, when she emerged she was tightly wrapped up in a fluffy robe. She paced around the room chewing on her thumbnail, every so often her eyes flicked between the vampire and the window but she couldn't bring herself to try and kill him again. She wasn't the slayer, and even Buffy had failed at killing Spike. What chance did she have?

"What time is it?" Spike groaned burying his head under a pillow, when Willow kept pacing and didn't answer he sighed and rolled onto his back. "Willow." She looked up at him blankly and hugged herself.

"What did you...did we...am I?" Her cheeks were flushed and Spike could feel himself growing aroused. He stood up and walked towards her, she flinched backwards against the wall.

"We did nothing. I bit you; I was hungry and your blood..." He couldn't quite explain to her how intoxicating her blood was, it was pure and sweet like honey. He could have tried but it would have frightened her even more. "Trust me love, you'd know if we'd had sex last night." He gripped her shoulders and crushed his lips against hers; Willow wanted to push him away but a larger part of her yearned to respond. "I didn't take much." Willow wasn't sure how to reply to that, did it matter how much he'd taken? It was her blood! He shouldn't have taken any! "When you passed out I stopped," Spike shrugged and moved away from her – he clearly didn't see a problem. "I bought you something; I thought you should really see Vegas."

"You know I'm not legally old enough to gamble?" Willow pointed out.

"But you are old enough to see a show, have a meal." She shook her head in disbelief, he was driving her crazy – what did he want from her?! She took the box that Spike presented her with, The box was thin cardboard and was about the length of her wrist to her elbow, she looked at Spike nervously not sure what to expect. She set the box on the bed and timidly opened it, she unfolded the deep crimson crepe paper to reveal a black dress. She picked it up and ran her fingers along the silky fabric.

"It's beautiful," she whispered. "Thank you..." It fell just above her knees; the neckline was high and was tied at her throat by a slender black fastening. The top was almost sheer and she could see her hands beneath the fabric, the skirt was a heavier material and flared out whilst the sleeves were capped to show off her pale arms.

"You don't like it?" Spike sounded genuinely hurt and Willow flinched.

"I do...I just..." She shook her head.

"You would rather go home." Willow nodded unable to look at Spike. "Once you're changed –"

"No." Willow looked at him her eyes blazing and Spike felt himself growing hard at the furious look on her face. "I will not go back to Sunnydale if you turn me. I won't have you using me to try and kill Buffy – I won't put my friends at risk!" Spike liked the determination in her voice and smiled to himself as he decided to see how far he could push her.

"If I suggest this to you as a vampire you will jump at the chance. The first thought in your mind will be ripping Buffy's throat out. Draining her. Watching her eyes go blank."

"NO!" Willow shouted and a raging wind whipped through the room knocking Spike off his feet. She took control of the wind and used it to lift Spike from the ground and pin him to the wall. "I don't care what you do to me," she hissed and Spike saw her eyes had turned black. "If you harm Buffy I will kill you." As the wind died and Spike dropped to the floor her shoulders drooped and she knelt beside the bed, she hadn't meant to use her magic but she'd certainly not meant to pour her emotions into it! She felt drained.

Spike watched as Willow rested her head against the side of the bed and closed her eyes. She will be quite powerful, he thought to himself realising he would have to do something to make her want to remain with him. It wouldn't do to turn her into a vampire and have her leave him as well. She was his distraction from Drusilla! Tomorrow...after tomorrow she will be mine. Standing up he cricked his neck and rolled his shoulders back feeling it lodge into its joint once more. "I'm sorry Willow." He said sitting beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he felt her stiffen beneath his touch but her eyes remained closed. "We won't go back to Sunnydale." He had no qualms lying to her, "Get dressed." He pulled her to her feet and began untying her robe. Hastily Willow pushed him away, grabbed the dress and fled into the bathroom. When she emerged Spike was lounging in the door with a second box in his hand, he flipped the lid open to reveal a pair of black strappy stilettos. Willow looked at them mesmerised and took them from the box nervously.

"I'll never be able to walk in these..." She didn't mention the spell as she slipped the shoes on. She could feel her ankles wobbling but she managed to keep upright. Somehow. Spike rested a hand on her elbow and led her from the hotel, the air was warm but she could tell it would soon grow chilly. Although neither of them spoke both were thinking about the same thing. She harbours great power, Spike thought to himself. He would have to tread carefully with her. "Doesn't it bother you walking around with humans?" Willow asked quietly, "how do you stop yourself from slaughtering everyone." She pulled a face as she turned around to find Spike lighting a cigarette. He blew the smoke behind him to keep it away from Willow.

"Once I would have, but times change and you learn to be cautious. You'll get the occasional vampire who would slaughter everyone in their path, and they tend to barely make it past their first century."

"What about the smell?"

"You grow accustomed to it. You'll know soon enough." Willow flinched and turned her head away, "it's not just humans here either. How many people do you think are human or mortal right now?" Willow looked around, as far as she could tell everyone at least looked human. "That girl over there in the silver dress? She's a succubus. You can see her horns," Willow followed his gaze and spotted the stunning woman. She was in a floor length silver dress which shimmered and reflected the lights of the hotels and displays. Her hair was a platinum blonde and she wore a black headband, outside of the headband poked a pair of horns. "I feel sorry for the poor sod who summoned her," Willow shuddered. "And you...you're not completely human."

"That's a bit harsh," Willow looked at Spike stunned.

"You're a witch – you have supernatural powers."

"But I'm not evil." Spike shrugged his shoulders, she wasn't evil...yet. But she had the power to cross over. Spike led her into a restaurant and pulled a chair out for her. "Thank you," Willow said timidly taking the seat. She didn't understand why he had brought her to a restaurant when it was only her who would be eating. She ordered a chicken salad and Spike gave her a funny look.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"Not really." She'd been living off greasy food since he'd kidnapped her, and even though she'd missed a few meals and could feel her clothes loosening, the thought of food made her sick. She picked at her salad when it arrived and watched the people in the restaurant with avid interest. "Sorry?" She looked at Spike realising he'd spoken.

"I said I've arranged a private jet to take us to London. Tomorrow is our last night in the hotel, we check out late the next evening." Willow nodded and set her fork down, tears blurred her eyes and she rapidly blinked them away. Was he really going through with this? She was still hoping Buffy would find her, that someone would save her. Spike watched her, he felt sorry for her – an emotion he wasn't entirely comfortable with. "Come on, let's go see a show."

"He's going to London." Angel strode into the library to find the Scooby Gang sitting around a table. "I can get a flight out and wait for them to land."

"You think you can find her in London?" Xander snapped, "how do you know which flight they'll be on? Which airport they'll land in? When they land?"

"He'll be using a private jet, same as I. Trust me Xander." Angel's voice was cool; he wasn't quite sure how he felt about missing the chance to kill Xander when he'd lost his soul. Out of all Buffy's friends, Xander was the one he liked the least. Xander opened his mouth but Buffy cut him off.

"Leave him alone Xander, Angel's the only one who can find them. He's spent centuries with Spike...if anyone knows where he'll be it'll be Angel. So just drop it." Her tone was waspish and she glared at Xander. Standing up Buffy followed him from the library and leant against the wall. "What will you do if you're too late? If she's..." She trailed off unable to bring herself to say it. "Angel...I don't think I could bring myself..."

"You won't have too Buffy I promise." He'd thought long and hard about what he would do, he was hoping it wouldn't have to be the very last option. "If I leave now I'll get there before them...I'll call you as soon as I land." He squeezed her arm, he wanted to pull her close and take in her scent but they were both too cautious. They'd heads had learnt their lessons, but their hearts certainly hadn't. Buffy stared into his eyes a fraction of a second too long; abruptly she nodded and smiled weakly.

"Thank you."

The hustle and bustle of the city had grown too much for Willow, sensing her discomfort Spike had led her from the city into the desert. He'd started a fire and wrapped his jacket around her shoulders, now they were sitting side by side gazing up at the dark sky flooded with twinkling stars. Spike looked down at his watch and noted the sun would be rising in the next hour; he'd have to bring her back to the hotel soon. Standing up he held out her hand, neither of them had spoken since they'd come into the desert. Kicking sand over the fire to put it out Spike pulled Willow close and took a slow wander back towards the city.

"Spike?" Willow asked quietly unable to look at him. "Is there anything I can do to change your mind? About turning me?"

"No." Spike spoke softly; he needed to tread carefully for she was like a mouse. One moment he had her in the palm of his hand, calm and almost trusting. The next she was skittering away.

"You just wanted a spell though..." Why hadn't she just said yes? Why had she been foolish and tried to give Spike terms? You should have kept your mouth shut, a harsh voice in the back of her mind screamed at her.

"I did..." Spike was trying to choose his words carefully. "I was drunk when I first took you, I didn't see you for what you were. I saw you as a tool. A means to an end." He paused and tilted her chin up gently, "I was a fool love. I know you are terrified of becoming a vampire but once it's happened –" He was cut off as Willow fell against him sobbing quietly.