Previously: I chuckled and hung the phone and walked back to the couch, settling myself in for the next episode of 'Passions'.

Chapter 18

Dawn and Carly walked out of school together. It had been pretty uneventful not only because Candice had been absent, but because Carly had teleported all over the place during the day, leaving Dawn alone most of the time. When she did get back however, Carly told Dawn all about her previous adventure. The last one ended with, 'Then I turned him inside out and it was awesome!'.

Dawn wasn't too sure how many points Carly would get for that one. She and Anya had been competing against each other even harder, now that they knew each other. Anya still ignored Carly during the day, but when she was dishing out vengeance, she tried just as hard to top Carly's last performance.

'So Carly, do you know how Candice is?' Dawn asked casually.

Carly's face became serious. She wasn't supposed to tell about these things. Especially about her best friend. But Dawn was part of the group now, so…

'You have to promise not to tell anyone' Carly said. Dawn nodded and reassured her she wouldn't tell.

'Well you know how every human girl gets their 'time of the month' yea?'

'Yeah?' Dawn nodded, unsure of where the conversation was going.

'Well for Candice, her 'time of the month' is when she goes all serial killer like and tries to kill and eat people. It has something to do with being part 'ancient demon' or something' Carly explained.

Dawn was shocked. Candice? Sweet, quiet Candice? Ok, well Dawn knew she wasn't a normal girl, neither was she, but to hear Candice being a 'killer demon' was just something she couldn't quite get her head around. Candice was the one who never fought, never argued, unless it was over the 'you're so emo' thing or 'demons are monsters' topics and definitely never tried to kill anyone!

'Dawn, say something man' Carly look worried. Had she said too much?

'Huh? Oh, I was just trying to picture it. You know, Candice killing people. It just doesn't add up. I mean she's so sweet' Dawn explained.

'Well, The 'killer' Candice isn't so sweet'

'Yeah. I got that. So five days?'

'Give or take. C'mon. Your sister, 'The Buffster' as Xander puts it, probably wants us to help stock the bloody store. The quicker it's done, the more time we can have to ourselves'

'Too right. So how are things with you and Anya?'

'Don't get me started'

'That bad huh?'

'She doesn't even look at me… it sucks balls'

Dawn laughed at her friend, who in turn laughed with her and together they made their way towards the 'Store of Doom' as Carly called it.

'So did you have a nice time today pet?' I asked as Buffy and Willow stepped through the door of her apartment. I had let myself in again so I could get to the blood. I still couldn't swing by the butchers yet.

'Yeah it was great! Hey did you know there's another slayer here?'

'Really? Fancy that'

'Yeah. Willow knows her from university. Her name's Angelina. She's a bit like Faith'

'Really pet? Never would of thought another Faith was possible'

'Well, she's not Faith, she dresses similar though' Willow chirped.

So another slayer was in town? Maybe her and Buffy could work something out? Buffy takes a few days off and this Angelina takes a few days kicking vampire ass? Then I could spend some time with my slayer. I would have to voice the idea to her at some stage.

Buffy and Willow ended up hanging out together for a while. They explained that the Angelina slayer had said she had homework or study to do, so had left the outing in order to finish it. Which was fine by me. Now I was just waiting for Red to leave.

'Buffy? Why weren't you at Hocus Pocus? Giles made Carly and I stack boxes' Dawn complained.

She was exhausted and flung herself onto the couch next to me, consuming herself in the program I wasn't really watching.

'Had the day off. Went shopping' Buffy answered.

'Oh, ok. Hey wait a second! You? Day off?'

'Yeah. Weird huh?'

'Yep' Dawn never took her eyes off the television screen.

It was obvious I wasn't going to get time with Buffy alone until later. It was dark enough for me to go outside now and so made the excuse I was out of blood. Which I was, mind you. I excused myself and headed out the door into the fast approaching night.

The butchers wasn't too far away. I asked for my blood and he gladly gave it to me. It was as if he thought I'd rip his throat out if he didn't give it to me. I probably would, if I didn't have a soul and all, but it was kinda funny to watch him squirm every so often.

I paid for my thirty odd litres of blood and wished him a good night. He was glad to see me go.

I was heading back towards my apartment, so I could cram all of the stuff into the fridge when I heard the sound of growls and laughter. Following the sound, I was led down a small alley and in it, three vampires, all of which were jeering at this one girl. She didn't seem phased at the fact that she was outnumbered; she remained cool the entire time. The vampires were teasing her, the girl coming back with some crude joke about them. Eventually the pleasantness ended between them and a brawl broke out. I gently placed me blood on the ground so I could go help the poor bird but when I turned around, all that remained were piles of dust. The girl was nowhere in sight.

Perplexed, I picked up my blood and carried on my way. Was that the other slayer? The Angelina girl? Or something else entirely?

If so… Bloody hell.