New York

Afternoon

In a car, Peter rolled up outside a bar, looking through the window at it wearily.

"This the place?" Peter asked as he glanced over at Spike, who was in the passenger seat, a blanket draped over him.

"Yeah. Hopefully this one has more than the last two," Spike muttered.

Peter nodded absently, knowing Spike had a point. They'd been to two demon hangouts since leaving the apartment this morning, and none of the demons had seemed to know anything, even with Spike's 'persuasion'.

Hopefully, this one would be different.

The pair got out of the car, Spike being careful to keep the blanket around him before they approached the bar. Spike dropped the blanket the moment they stepped inside and the pair found themselves the center of attention.

Peter surveyed the bar, finding mostly human looking people, probably vampires, with a few more noticeable demons mixed in with the other patrons. And they were all eying Peter and Spike like they'd just walked into a bar at the old west.

"Can really feel the welcome," Spike said sarcastically.

"You're the vampire who went around hunting demons last night. We don't want you here," one of the vampires sneered at him.

"Then that makes this easier, because I don't wanna be here. But I'm looking for information, and we're not leaving without it. Tell me what I want to know, and I'm gone," Spike offered.

Peter's Spider-Sense went off a second before the vampires and demons attacked. Peter jumped back, avoiding a strike from a vampire before Peter grabbed the vampire's fist and easily tossed him into another vampire behind him, causing the two to fall into three others, causing them all to tumble down.

Behind him, Spike was engaging three vampires and a red skinned demon. A punch from Spike sent one of the vampires flying over the bar and the bartender had to duck, drinks spilling as the vampire hit the wall. Spike then grabbed the second vampire by its neck, twisting until it broke. Spike let go, the vampire dusting before he elbowing the red skinned demon in the face. As the demon stumbled back, Spike took out his zippo, acting like he was about to light a cigarette. Then, at the last second, he turned the lighter on the third vampire, lighting his shirt on fire. Spike then stood back, watching as the vampire futilely tried to put the fire out as it spread. Apparently a dumb one, by the time it occurred to the vampire to take his shirt off, the fire had spread, leaving only flamed dust in its wake.

"Well, that was eventful," Spike drawled, not even bothering to turn around before grabbing the red skinned demon by the head and slamming him down onto a table, knocking him out. "I thought New Yorkers were supposed to be tough. Apparently the demons aren't."

Spike looked over to see Peter had managed to knock out all the vampires trying to attack him, all without using any webbing. Not that Spike was surprised, he'd forced Peter to spare with him the first few times he visited after Peter moved in with Dawn, and Spike was leagues above these vampires.

"So, anyone else feel like a good brawl? Or would you like to do this the easy way?" Spike said and no one made a move. "Good. We hear there's a human who can control vampires, make them kill. Anyone know anything about that?"

For a beat, there was complete silence.

"I might know something," Peter and Spike turned to a corner where a timid looking, green skinned demon sat at a table. "I know a guy who knows a guy who says he helps find vamps for this guy."

"This guy who knows a guy have a name?" Peter inquired and the demon shook his head fearfully.

"We don't keep in touch, and I haven't heard anything for a few weeks. But he said the guy he works for is called 'The Goblin'," the demon said fearfully.

"First 'The Doctor', now this. Criminals aren't even trying anymore," Spike rolled his eyes.

"Thank you for your help," Peter said politely before he and Spike walked out, Spike grabbing the blanket again on the way.

Once the pair had walked out, as the patrons went back to their business, the bartender waited a few seconds before picking up a phone, dialing a number. Within a few moments, someone picked up.

"Sir, he just left. He was with a vampire, they were asking about you. One of the demons told them about you," the bartender said.

"Took him longer than I expected. But now that he's onto me, I'll have to accelerate my plans. It's time to attack his heart."


"So do you believe him?" Peter asked as he and Spike got back in the car.

"Yeah, I do. He's the shifty sort, but put enough pressure on him, and he'll tell the truth," Spike said and Peter raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know that?" Peter inquired and Spike smirked.

"You do this long enough, you learn their trade secrets. We have something to start with, now we just need to find this 'Goblin'," Spike said and Peter grimaced.

"I just hope he's less dangerous than the last one I met," Peter muttered as he started the car before driving off.

Hotel

Not long after

"Well, this is extremely unhelpful," Xander grumbled as he put the last of the files on the table, each of the Scoobies having gone through the files.

"There don't seem to be any connection between the victims aside from the fact that they were all killed by a vampire," Giles said as he removed his glasses, massaging his temple.

"There has to be one, we're just not seeing it," Buffy said in frustration.

"Well it must be a pretty vague one, because neither Dawn or the NYPD could figure it out, and they have the ability to look into these people," Willow pointed out.

The mention of her sister caused Buffy to go completely silent. Everyone else exchanged a look, knowing Buffy was upset about her encounter with Dawn but not knowing what to do about it. They couldn't make Dawn forgive Dawn or Buffy to swallow her pride and apologize. Unfortunately, it would either be worked out between Dawn and Buffy themselves or it simply wouldn't be worked out at all.

As Faith looked back at the files, she frowned, noticing something.

"Are the files put in the order that the victims were killed?" Faith asked randomly and the others looked at her oddly.

"Yes. Is there are a reason you're asking Faith?" Giles inquired, all of them wondering where the Slayer was going with this.

"The names of the victims, the first names. Gretchen, Oscar, Billy, Lisa, Ian and the latest one, Nicole. Look at what the first letters spell when you put them together," Faith said, pointing towards the files and they saw it.

"Goblin," Xander said out loud.

"So you believe it's a message that no one has understood until now?" Giles inquired.

"Wouldn't be the first time a serial killer decided to use codes. The Zodiac Killer ring any bells?" Faith pointed out.

"She's got a point. And if this is a human controlling vampires, then this might be their message," Willow agreed.

"But what kind of message is Goblin?" Buffy wondered.

"I believe the larger question is who the message is for," Giles said grimly and no one had an answer.

Police Precinct

Same time

Dawn was at her desk when one of her co-workers was bringing in someone to be locked up, a young man when suddenly; the young man easily broke the cuffs and sent the officer flying back with a surprising strength. Dawn looked up, moving to draw her gun but, with inhuman speed; the man had gotten behind her, grabbed her gun and was aiming it at her head. Everyone paused as they realized what had happened.

"Nobody move or I'll blow her brains out. You let us go, no one tries any funny business like calling for back up or she dies. You hear me!?" the man snarled.

"Okay, okay, they hear you. Just calm down," Dawn said, her mind racing and as the man chuckled.

"I'd be telling yourself that Dawn," the man said and Dawn froze, wondering how he knew her name. "The Goblin would like to speak with you."

A rather short chapter, I know but I hope you guys enjoyed it anyway.