Not mine, not mine, la la la la la.
***
Edward came to only to discover himself topless and chained by the wrists to the posts of an unfamiliar bed. "Bella my love, this will not persuade me to take advantage of your human virginity," he called out annoyedly. "And my strong, pure morals do not allow me to enjoy bondage games."
"Bella can't play right now," Drusilla's eerie voice sang out, approaching him with a smile. "She's rather somewhere else."
"Where? Where has she gone?" Edward demanded insistently. "Where have you taken her? Who are you?"
"This's Drusilla," Spike said with a roll of his eyes, coming over to wrap a languid arm around her waist. "And I'm Spike."
"William the Bloody, once upon a time," Dru cut in, eyeing her childe happily. "But the knight became a new sort of boy and we shan't call him William anymore, oooo, no, Spike it is."
"Precisely," Spike nodded. "And if you were a real sodding vampire, you might have known all that already."
"A real vampire?" Edward repeated stupidly. "I do not understand. I have been a vampire since 1918 when I was turned at my mother's request to prevent me from dying of the Spanish Influenza."
"I remember the Spanish Influenza," Drusilla said, smiling nostalgically. "All sorts of strange things. Blood and corpses all around, but nobody wanted to be the first to take tea."
"Now, pet, we still had a lovely time, didn't we," Spike declared.
"Mmm, yummy and naughty and crimson red," Dru agreed, planting a kiss on the barely-visible scar from her having turned him so many years ago, longer ago by decades than Edward's vampire birthday. Edward, for his part, was incredibly frustrated with trying to read Drusilla's mind, finding it incomprehensible and frightening by his simple, innocent standards, and tried to block Spike's out once he realized how attuned it was to Dru's.
"Where am I?" Edward repeated insistently. "Why have you brought me here?"
(Edward was beginning to sound like Raoul from The Phantom of the Opera. Not that he would have noticed, and Spike certainly wouldn't have. Dru, for her part, had gone through a Phantom phase back in 1987, in London, and had fond memories of that time, and the darling little ballet girl she'd made a fledge of, but pressing matters distracted her rather from making the comparison.)
"Well, nancy boy," Spike began, going to an ornate wooden dresser that had seen better days and digging around in the top drawer. "My girl Dru here had a premonition of sorts 'bout your kind." He tossed Dru a little glass vial… of holy water. "And since this here town is our territory, not to sound like a bloody American cowboy or one of your sissy street gangs, we decided we'd do well to figure you out. What makes the shiny vamp tick?"
Edward frowned moodily. "How do you know that I am a vampire?" he questioned angrily. "You have not seen me in the sun or killing an animal. Now the Volturi will be after me for revealing my terrible secret."
"What the sodding hell's a Volturi?" Spike smirked.
"Why, they are the council of lawmakers for all vampires," Edward declared plainly. Drusilla and Spike exchanged glances, then laughed.
"P'raps not all vampires," Drusilla murmured with a laugh. "We don't answer to any silly council, mmm, that's for Slayers and Watchers and not for us, no, not at all."
"Slayers – like the blonde girl, the one who was beating me up," Edward realized pathetically.
"Mean, nasty Slayer," Drusilla pouted. "Always ruins the parties and games." With a sudden smile, she uncorked the vial of holy water – careful not to spill on her own skin – and poured it on Edward's exposed chest.
"Brr," he said. "That water's freezing."
Drusilla and Spike stared at each other, then at Edward, shocked. "It's meant to sting, to burn your pretty starlit skin," Dru wailed, pouring yet more on him. "It's been blessed by a Holy Father, stolen so nicely for me by my sweet Spike, it's meant to burn, oooo, to hurt."
Spike tossed her another vial, glowering, "Nancy boy's just tryin' to play tough, pet. You'll break him soon enough."
She dumped the whole of it down his chest, watching for a reaction. Edward shivered again, but made no other protest. She then threw the empty vial at him, watching as it bounced off, hit the floor, and broke into hundreds of tiny glass shards.
"Fetch me somethin' sharp and shiny," Drusilla declared, running two fingers along Edward's throat and whispering in his ear, "I want to see if the lovely boy bleeds glitter."
"Hmm, grand idea," Spike chuckled. Going back to the dresser drawer, he soon removed a fine, sharp blade, testing it on his own index finger as he approached Dru once more. Blood began to pool as he sidled over, and he allowed her to take his finger in her mouth and suck a few drops. She grinned wickedly, licking and sucking on it in a suggestive way that made Edward blush prudishly.
"You've got remnants of the lolli-girl in your taste," Drusilla purred, though her eyes were focused on Edward. She let go of Spike (clearly leaving him wanting more) and pressed the blade to Edward's chest. She dragged it across his marbly bicep, only to find a distinct lack of blood (or glitter) spilling from the wound.
"Spike," she whined, alarmed. "He's all stone."
***
"I won't be long on this one, guys," Buffy said, loading up the last of the stakes and crossbows into her duffel bag and shouldering it effortlessly. "It's probably gonna be an in-out-over kinda thing."
"I'll go with," Xander said, grinning eagerly once more.
Cordelia let out a giant yawn, rolling her eyes. "How about you walk me out to my car instead," she suggested, attempting to sound bored. "In case there's any creepy-crawly pointy-bitey things out there." They were out the door with hasty "goodbyes" before anyone could say boo.
Giles stifled a yawn of his own. "I suppose we've done enough research for the night," he said, shutting a heavy book and adding it to the stack of those that needed to be reshelved. "Buffy, you will be careful."
"Course," she chirped. "I'm always, aren't I?"
"Er – no, but there's no point contradicting you," Giles sighed. Willow had dozed off at the computer, and he gently shook her awake, stepping back to allow her space as she lifted her head drowsily and offered an apologetic smile.
"Oops," she said, hurriedly clicking the computer off and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"No worries, Will," Xander laughed. "Working as hard as you do should earn you a little sleep here and there."
"Yes, I do rather agree," Giles nodded. "I think we'd all best get a bit of rest – Buffy, do check in once you've finished, though?"
"Got it," Buffy nodded, giving Giles a little salute.
"Want me to go with you?" Angel asked, turning his broody stare off long enough to appear somewhat questioning.
"Wouldn't mind if you walked me down there, at least," Buffy replied, smiling at him in a way that Giles felt vaguely wrong about witnessing. He removed his glasses and rubbed his forehead agitatedly, still uncomfortable with that relationship at times (this being one of such times).
***
Alice was following the path that had been laid out in her conveniently detailed vision when she froze, her topaz eyes flashing darkly. She stuck a hand out, propping herself against the nearest wall, and said in a low hiss, "Bella." Her supernatural vampire speed and strength kicked in, and she lifted up the nearest manhole cover and jumped gracefully into the nearest sewer tunnel.
It didn't take long to find the more populated underground areas, and she high-kicked the thug vamp that was standing guard at the entrance to the abandoned factory where Spike and Dru kept court. Once he was down, she sped worriedly towards the bedchamber, stopping in her tracks at the sight before her.
"You, you glimmer, too," Drusilla declared, dropping the whip she had been attempting to beat Edward with suddenly. (This was making Spike want to beat something else – he had forgotten how vicious his ladylove could be, how terribly cruel and wonderful.) Her head canted to the side, she regarded Alice's petite figure, short, feathered hair, dainty little dress, coming to rest on her eyes: topaz as the precious little lolli-girl had described. A small smile crept over her blood-stained lips and she near-whispered, "Naughty little dolly! She sees just like Mummy, but her sparkling sighing counterpart never ever told us. What fun the little dolly will be!"
"You mean t'say this little twit's got the Sight?" Spike queried, now looking Alice over himself.
"Mmm, she does, has visions of what's to come, sometimes clear, sometimes hazy," Dru murmured, getting up and flashing a wicked grin. She had always wanted a daughter, but none of her little girls had ever stayed or her dark kitten had become far too jealous. He could not be jealous of this little dolly though! She hadn't made her, just found her.
"You – you've killed Bella," Alice announced.
"Is the little dolly terribly displeased?" Drusilla asked with a pout. "We're so very sorry. She was singing to us like angels and mockingbirds of how very sweet she'd be if only we took just one little sip. But she was far too humble, the little lolli-girl was, she tasted too sweet and Mummy just had to eat up every cookie in the jar, every cake on the table. We mightn't have if we knew how it would upset you."
Edward, still chained to the bed, cried nonexistent tears, sobbing silently. Spike laughed at him.
Are you okay? Alice thought, knowing that vampircally telepathic Edward would pick up on it.
I am going to Italy, where I will commit suicide by removing my shirt in the sunlight, Edward thought despondently. Then the Volturi will surely decapitate me and my sad, unworthy soul will rest at last with the girl whom I love. It is my fault she has met her terrible end.
"What does how upset I am have to do with whether or not you'd have killed Bella?" Alice asked, looking curiously at Drusilla.
"Now, now," Drusilla chided, a smile appearing on her face as she suddenly got a flash of the younger seer's life and circumstances. "Little Alice has fallen down the rabbit hole and lost her manners before the White Queen. Mmm, curtsy like a good girl. Not nice making Mummy do all of the talking."
Alice knew better than to ask how the other woman knew her name – it came with precognitive abilities, getting flashes of that sometimes. She also knew better than to question this woman – Drusilla, she discerned – so she dipped into a neat, graceful curtsy. "Hello," she chirped.
"Much nicer," Dru proclaimed, smiling. She was certain that the petite girl, even if she did shimmer, would be a treasure.
Alice, what are you playing at? Edward thought worriedly. These are far more dangerous vampires than we have ever known.
Don't worry, Edward, we'll get out alive, Alice thought cheerfully.
"So, Alice," Spike said, some amusement evident in his voice. "I reckon this ain't just a social call."
"I saw that Bella and Edward were in danger," Alice replied. "I came to save them."
"Bit too late, pet," Spike smirked. "You missed out on a wicked snack, though."
"We do not suck the blood of humans," Edward insisted. "Alice is a vegetarian vampire also, and my adopted sister."
"Do you love your brother very much, Alice-dolly?" Drusilla asked, tilting her head.
"Of course," Alice said. "Even if he is a whining prude at times."
"But you're not a prude, oh, no," Dru continued, enchanted. "You like to play. And you – oooo, you've known hurt and pain."
"What do you mean?" Alice asked, at this point still unaware of her human life and past.
"Mummy was called mad, once, too," Drusilla murmured. "Nobody wanted to hear about the pictures in her mind, she was called a devil child. Little dolly was locked away before she began to shine and shimmer, and the transformation set her free."
"Excuse me?" Alice questioned, almost in a whisper.
"Alice-dolly can't see her own sordid story," Drusilla keened, frowning. "Nobody but Mummy will tell her of herself. They are all wicked mean storytellers, but Mummy will always be true." She sent Spike a pointed glance, or as pointed as she was capable of. "We shall keep the little dolly, and I want no fuss from you."
"Keep her?" Spike groaned. "Dru, she's not even yours to keep."
"Mmm, I didn't take her soul or taste her blood, but I will bring her from the dullest darkness into the dearest deadliest, and she will shine and shimmer till the end of days," Dru cooed, smiling at Alice. Oh, she was glad she hadn't rushed to keep Bella, when the tiny little seer was so much better!
"I'm very flattered, Drusilla, and I can see us becoming great friends, but I just can't stay here forever," Alice said warily.
"Tsk, tsk," Dru sighed. "Little dolly will come round soon."
"Perhaps she'd feel more inclined to stay awhile if you just unchained me," Edward suggested wussily. Alice shot him a disbelieving look, surprised he'd essentially think to sell her out like that.
Are you joking me? she thought angrily. He chose not to respond.
"Naughty glitter boy," Dru admonished. "Speaking out of turn. Back to the whip for you."
She picked it up and struck Edward's bare back with it, letting out a little "oooo!" with the effort. He flinched slightly, and this tiny non-reaction caused Drusilla to frown. "Nothin' I do hurts him," she wailed. "Have I lost my touch, Spike?"
"A'course not, princess," Spike replied instantly.
"I hurt every day that I am still walking upon this earth," Edward declared emoishly. "I am filled with the pain that all monsters must suffer."
"I don't suffer it, d'you, luv?" Spike asked, cocking his head and raising an eyebrow at Drusilla.
"Mmm, no, it's a lovely feeling," Dru agreed.
Alice, get us out of here, Edward thought desperately. She did her darnedest not to return his thought.
"Alice-dolly, are you so very dull as your brother?" Drusilla asked in a sing-song voice. "He's as boring as Daddy when Daddy's got his soul."
"Oh, don't bring that git into it," Spike muttered to himself, never fond of hearing about Dru's sire and "Daddy," who just so happened to be Angel. There was a jealous rivalry thing there.
"I hope I'm not," Alice exclaimed, laughing. "He's a virgin, you know. Girls throw themselves at him and he just broods about it, going on about how he wouldn't want to hurt them, how they couldn't possibly know how dangerous he is."
"Oh, I bet," Spike chuckled. "Poor sod. Are you sure he's not – y'know. Rather fancy?"
Alice and Drusilla both gave Edward appraising looks, which Edward withered under. "No, I am not fancy," he muttered. "I just respect women and would not subject them to the horrifying truth about my innate bloodlust, nor would I tarnish their reputation by stealing their virtue before they were married."
"Oi," Spike groaned. "You got problems, glitter boy." Turning to Alice, he asked, "How d'you live with this prat day in and day out? Must get awfully annoying."
"To tell the truth…" Alice said, giggling. She was never one to partake in the Edward-bashing that went on amongst the adopted Cullen siblings, but now that she knew he would easily have sold her down the river, she finally allowed herself to engage. It felt great.
"Alice-dolly has such a lovely laugh!" Drusilla exclaimed cheerfully. "Are you sure you don't want to play?"
"I – " Alice stopped mid-sentence, turning to look around the room and breaking into a smile. "You've got excellent taste, Drusilla. The décor in here is quite marvelous. A bit cobwebby, but that's all just preference, isn't it."
"Mmm, thank you, dolly," Dru smiled. "My wicked dark prince made sure it was to my liking when we arrived, we had to leave our last home so – oooo, so awfully sudden."
"Got run out by a mob, we did," Spike nodded. "Terrible shame. They tried to hurt my princess, but I saved her, didn't I?"
"You did," Drusilla purred, rising from the bed to give Spike a kiss and giving Alice a truly good look at her dress for the first time.
"My god, that dress is beautiful!" Alice exclaimed.
"Like spun moonbeams, mmm," Drusilla said, giving a twirl. "It's fit for a princess, and that's what I am, innit, Spike? I'm a princess."
"Right you are," Spike agreed, smirking.
"You could be a princess, too, Alice-dolly," Dru said airily. "I've more dresses, and we could dance and twirl through the night."
"More dresses?" Alice asked eagerly. Drusilla nodded towards the chest of drawers, and Alice immediately went to it, pulling it open and almost orgasming over the high-quality gowns and tops and skirts inside.
"Mummy always means to please her dolly," Drusilla said. She regarded Edward once more, a sort of lucidity momentarily appearing in her eyes. "P'raps the marble boy won't fall prey to knives and splinters like the rest, won't hiss and smoke when he's splashed… mmm, but such a nice boy might not survive his guilt, don't you think, Spike?"
"Marvelous plan, luv," Spike grinned. Dru made her way to Edward, standing right in front of him.
With two fingers, she caught his attention, waving them in front of his eyes and murmuring, "Be in me," staring him down unblinkingly till he was in her power. Her voice lowered as she whispered, "My darling, what have you done to me?"
Alice held up a red and black corset, admiring it in the candlelight and declaring, "This is a lovely top, Dru – I think I can see myself bor –" But she stopped in her tracks, blinking confusedly at Dru and Edward. She turned to Spike, asking, "What's going on?"
"It's called thrall, pet, just one'a my princess's special gifts," Spike smirked.