Disclaimer: I still do not own the characters and I still really wish I did.
A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please read and review.
A few days had passed; Buffy had yet to see the prince again. The only contact she had with anyone was when a small woman with long white hair that brought her meals. The meals were not much, but Buffy had figured she would not be receiving anything and would be left to starve. For the past few days, all Buffy had muttered to the woman was a thank you, but today she decided that she was going to talk to the woman.
Buffy heard the door open and the slight humming of the oddly young looking woman. Buffy could not understand how she could be so cheery working for a beast like the prince.
"Hello dear," the woman greeted cheerfully.
"Hello," Buffy replied back.
The woman smiled, "Ah, there we go, dear. I was so worried you would never speak again. How are you feeling?"
Buffy couldn't help, but smile the woman reminded her of Giles. She was small, but that said nothing for the size of her heart. Clearly the woman was caring and cared about her wellbeing.
"I'm fine. I don't know if you know this, but my name is Buffy."
"Such a lovely name, fitting too. I'm Willow."
Willow slid Buffy her food and said, "Alright, I must be going, I have quite a few chores to do this morning, but I will be back." Willow smiled and walked away.
Willow moved up the stairs heading to serve the prince his lunch. She was determined to talk to him about the girl in the dungeon. When she came to his door, she knocked and entered when she heard him call for her to come in.
"Hello, dear" She greeted the prince like she had since he arrived at the castle.
The prince did not say anything, which was odd. He normally wished her a good afternoon, but today he was too lost in thought. Willow simply put the tray holding his cup of blood down onto the table where she always placed his food, but she did not leave.
"What is on your mind?" she asked the prince.
"Where will I ever find anyone who can break the spell?" The prince asked, answering Willow's question.
Willow smiled at her good fortune. She had wanted to discuss the curse with the prince, which was never an easy thing to do, but the fact he brought it up made task less daunting and made her more determined to be heard.
"My lord, that is actually something I wanted to talk to you about. The girl…" Willow was interrupted by the prince before she could finish.
"The girl will stay in the dungeon. She trespassed and interfered where she did not need to. I may no longer be able to rule my kingdom, but I can rule over this castle," the prince stated clearly.
Willow not one to be discouraged started again, "Angelus, dear, did you ever stop to consider that it may not be a coincidence that a human girl came into your life?"
The prince looked at Willow, but said nothing.
"The witch said only a human girl who would freely give you her love would break the curse. When did you last see a human girl in this world?" Willow asked.
The prince looked over to the rose, but remained silent knowing there had never been a human in this world, except for those that his sires had once brought in for food.
Not liking the prince's continued silence Willow pushed further her facing setting itself into a look of determination, "She is a beautiful girl; her name is Buffy. Obviously, she has a fierce will to stand up to you. You need that in a mate, dear,"
"Willow, you may be right," the prince almost smiled, with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Of course I am right, deary. Now maybe you would allow me to fix up a guest room for her?" Willow asked.
"Are you telling me you already haven't started?" The prince asked with a slight chuckle to his voice.
"Of course I have, my lord." Willow answered as she headed out of the prince's chambers.
The prince smiled for a moment, but his face turned serious when he now realized he would have to try and win the girl in his dungeon over. He knew it would be no easy task, but he had never failed in seducing a woman before.
Later that night, Buffy sat in her cell wondering when Willow would return. She wasn't hungry, but she missed having someone to talk to. She was growing lonely. She was hoping that maybe she could ask Willow if she would be allowed to have a few books to read. Buffy, however, was taken away from her thoughts when she heard the door at the top of the stairs open. She smiled, but her smile soon fell when she heard heavy footsteps instead of light cheery humming. Buffy backed into the corner of her cell, scared for what would happen to her next.
The prince entered the room, he could smell the fear radiating off the girl. The scent was quite pleasurable, but he knew that she couldn't be afraid of him if she was to break the spell.
The prince moved closer to Buffy's cell before saying, "I'm not here to hurt you," his voice was hollow so it betrayed no emotion.
As the prince opened the cell door a curious look crossed Buffy's face as she remained in the corner. When the prince said nothing she asked, "Are you letting me go?"
"No, but I am taking you out of the dungeon" his voice wasn't caring, but Buffy supposed it could be described as soft.
"Why?" Buffy asked as she inched out of the corner of the cell.
The prince smiled in a way that seemed almost charming before he answered, "I realized it has been awhile since I have had a guest in the castle, especially one as pretty as you," the prince paused for a moment to look into Buffy's eyes.
"Clearly, the dungeon is no place for a girl as lovely as yourself. I have had Willow, prepare you a room. Hopefully, you will find it to your liking"
The prince held out his hand, a gesture to Buffy that she should take his hand. Buffy obliged, though she was not exactly comfortable with the contact. The prince wasted no time in clamping his cold hand around Buffy's small warm hand.
The prince led Buffy up to the west wing of the castle. The room Willow had prepared for Buffy was only a few rooms down from his. He smirked, Willow thought of everything. Having their rooms so close would definitely make things a lot easier for him. Being a vampire had its perks, one for sure was the fact that he would be able to hear anything she was doing and anything she said from his room.
Angelus stopped at the room that had been redone for Buffy. He opened the door and was shocked at the changes. Willow must have started this the moment she found out there was a girl in the castle.
"Welcome to your new home, if there is anything that you need Willow will be sure to get it for you and my room is just a few down, if you need me. Dinner will be soon, I shall come by to escort you," The prince left Buffy in the room before she could say anything.
Buffy looked around the room. It was lovely; the stone walls had been covered by layers of sheer fabric, the outermost layers being a pale yellow. Yellow was her favorite color and while there was no possible way that Willow could have known that, it made her feel a little better. While Buffy did not like the prince, she was thrilled to have a sanctuary in yellow to escape the dreary castle and the life it now condemned her to.
Buffy moved over to the bed which was covered in many plush white and yellow pillows. When Buffy sat down on the yellow comforter that covered her bed she was shocked to feel the fabric was silk. Buffy couldn't help, but smile a little more. She felt a little like a princess in her dream bedroom, but in just an instant that feeling was taken away. She was not a princess; she was a prisoner of the prince. The moment the reality of her fate hit her she fell back into the bed and sobbed.
Prince Angelus could hear the sobs that racked Buffy's body. He could hear the slight gasps for breath as her tears took control. He wondered why she was crying. She had been moved from a cell to the room, which Willow had made lavish and elegant. She didn't seem like the type to be unappreciative of such a caring gesture. He decided he would investigate. He couldn't have the girl crying all the time. He savored the sweetness of her pain, but knew that her pain wouldn't work to his advantage.
Prince Angelus made his way to Buffy's door. He knocked quietly; when Buffy did not answer he called through the door,
"Buffy, may I come in?" His tone was sweet, much more so than he ever thought he would be capable.
Buffy was shocked to hear the prince at her door. The sweetness in his request left her baffled and frozen for a moment before she granted his request.
The prince heard her shuffle around a small bit before he heard the whispered, "Come in." He had almost thought she wouldn't allow him in. As he entered the room, she was standing beside the bed, her eyes puffy and red from her tears, yet her face seemed dry. He stood silently watching her not quite sure what to say to the woman that stood before him.
Buffy wanted to say something, she wanted to ask him why she was still here, and why he was in her room, but fear of what would happened if she voiced her questions kept her silent.
Finally the prince spoke, "I am sorry to intrude, but I couldn't help but hear that you were crying. Do you not like the room?" His tone was courteous, but revealed nothing about his true feelings.
Buffy looked at the prince for a moment. Disbelief crossed Buffy's face as she spoke without thinking, "You are holding me prisoner and you think my tears are because of the room?" Buffy questioned, anger tainting her voice.
The prince was stunned that she would dare talk to him that way; anger over took his body and as he was about to shout at her when Willow came into the room.
"Dinner is ready," She smiled.
Feeling the tension in the room Willow looked at the prince, her look was stern. The prince for a moment ignored her gaze, looking to Buffy ready to let his fury at her statements run free, but then he caught Willow's look for only a second more and stopped. The prince turned to face the wall, taking a few deep unnecessary breaths.
"Buffy, you are no longer my prisoner, you are my guest. I would very much like it, if you would accompany me to dinner," The prince's voice was friendly, but tense.
"I'm not hungry," Buffy said in way of rejecting his dinner offer.
"Then you will not eat, until you eat with me!" The prince shouted storming out of the room.
Willow stayed behind.
"Buffy, dear, he is trying to be civil. Would you reconsider dinner?" She asked quietly.
Buffy sighed. She was hungry, but she wanted no part in making small talk with the man who had locked up her father and kept her in a dungeon.
"You have to understand, he has a very tough exterior, but once you get to know him"
Buffy interrupted Willow, "I have no interest in knowing him," she stated firmly.
Willow sighed. She had known this would be a difficult task, but she was hoping Buffy would not have been quite so stubborn.
"If you get hungry, give me a ring," Willow offered in a whisper as she left the room.
A/N 2: Please review!
