It was late into the night when Eris decided she was going to spend the following night at Spike's for fun since everyone was out doing stuff with others. She wasn't too far from the crypt when she felt the air suddenly chill.
The wind usually perfectly still in the graveyard, like it didn't want to disturb the slumber of the dead, yet tonight it stirred. She could feel the bite of cold as the wind brushed against her cheeks, something wasn't right.
She stopped walking and brought out a stake from her jacket, readying herself for any attack that may happen, "it is late into the night for a beauty such as you to be wandering alone..."
The voice she heard was foreign yet smooth and seductive, like a verbal caress, "who said that? Where are you?" her voice was laced with worry but she felt strangely calm.
Soon after speaking she saw white mist begin to swirl together before her, as if pressing together to make a solid form. Soon, a being appeared within, a man with pale skin, blackened hair and beautiful eyes that drew you in with just a mere look, "I did," the smooth voice she heard before came from his soft lips, "you are Eris, the one who shares blood with the Slayer."
Her body felt uneased at his words, "how do you know who I am?"
"The world knows of the Slayer, but only I know of you," he moved closer to her with such elegance that it looked as though he was gliding on air. She dared not move, wanting to hear more from this alluring man, "a beauty with raven hair and eyes the colour of blood, you are a visage of a goddess in human form."
"I love the flattery but that doesn't answer my question," she watched as his pale hand gently grabbed a strand of her hair and let it glide through his elegant fingers.
"You are known to me, as only one who is bonded to you can," once her hair slipped from his fingers he moved to touch her skin, to feel the warmth she emanated against his frozen flesh, "have you heard of reincarnation?"
"I've heard of the theory, yes."
"It is not theory, as you are proof of such."
"You think I've been reincarnated?"
"Have you not had experiences of recognition from immortals?" his question made her pause, the memory of the stalker vampire flashing through her mind.
"I-I have, once."
"You are a being with an immortal soul," he moved his hand across her cheek and to her lips, letting a thumb glide across it, "same soul, different body. Never looking the same except for your eyes."
"But why?" she whispered softly, not wanting to ruin the strange moment between her and the man. She didn't know why she didn't resist or pull away, it was as if he had things strong allure, like a moth to a light.
"That is one of the great mysteries of life, some things exist without explanation."
"If I've been reincarnated then how do you know me?"
He let a smile grace his face, "I do, but now is not the time for revelations," Eris went to speak but he shushed her with is finger, "all in good time, we will speak again another night," he stepped away from her, lessening the intense feelings.
"Who are you?"
"I am Dracula, Prince of the night," in a swirl of mist he suddenly disappeared, leaving her feeling cold and so very alone.
Her mind eventually gained control of itself again, and once she realised what just happened, she said, "DRACULA!?"
"Spike Spike! I met Dracula!" Spike was watching Passions when Eris came barging in like a mad woman. He barely understood what she said as she ran straight to him and stood in front of his television.
"Oi! Get you're blocking Passions!"
She grabbed the remote and turned if off which made him look at her in annoyance, "Fuck Passions, I met Dracula!"
"That Ponce is in town? That's just great, whenever he's around drama always follows."
"But he's the Prince of Darkness!"
"Yea, that's what he says," he rolled his eyes and motioned for Eris to move back so he could stand up, "more to the point, how do you know he's in town?"
"He appeared and was all sexy and smooth and my god that accent…" she sighed dreamily as she remembered the conversation she had with him.
"Of course he tried to seduce you, he always goes for the dark-haired ladies, he tried that with Dru once, was hard to keep her from going."
"Oh, I'd let that man take me."
"You would not want that, if he's showing interest in you it's because he wants another Bride."
"Bride? Like in the stories?"
"Stories…those stories really ruined it for vampires and yes, like in the stories. He likes your pretty face and wants to add it to his harem of wives and let me tell you they never last long."
The Raven-haired woman scrunched up her nose, "I think he's hot but I don't want to be a vampire wife."
"You may not have a choice, the annoying cocksucker always manages to get what he wants, not sure even Buffy could stop it."
She pouted and grabbed his arm so he was pulled against her, "you wouldn't try to save me?"
He raised a brow at her and scoffed, "I may like bending you over the tomb but not enough to against that twat."
"You are so mean," she pulled away from him just as the door swung open once more, this time it was Riley who stalked in.
He looked like he was in military mode, complete seriousness marred his face as he scanned the room and settled on the pair, "Eris why are you back at Spike's again?" he said sounded as if he expected to see her there, though irritation was still present.
"She likes chatting with me, more to the point why are you here?"
Riley turned his gaze to Spike, looking very much like he didn't want to be there, "I'm looking for some information. Might pay a little."
The Bleach Blonde vampire let a little smirk grow as he moved to sit back on his chair whilst Eris sat on the tomb, "I'll play."
"What can you tell me about Dracula?"
The other two looked at Riley curiously when the Count's name was mentioned, so he had shown himself to others too, interesting, "Poncy bugger owes me £11, for one thing and apparently he spoke to Eris."
"You've seen him?" The Solider boy asked Eris who nodded enthusiastically.
"He appeared and tried to seduce me, it was so hot, also, I forgot to ask, how do you know him Spike?"
"Know him? We're old rivals," he pulled out a cigarette and took a long drag, "but then he got famous and forgot all about his foes."
"Bullshit."
"Its not bullshit, that glory hound's done more harm to vampire than any Slayer. His story gets out, and suddenly everybody knows how to kill us. You know, the mirror bit…"
Riley decided to cut in to the strange argument that was developing between Eris and Spike, he needed answered not a childish debate, "but he's not just a regular vampire. He has special powers, right?"
"Nothin but showy gypsy stuff. What's it to you, anyway? Did he show up for you like he did Eris?"
Eris gasped and placed a hand on her heart, "did he try to seduce you too? I'm jealous."
"Not me, he's gunning for Buffy," Eris immediately stopped all joking at the mention of her cousin, "but I'm out to find him before he gets another shot at her."
"What does he want to do?" Eris asked in worry, "Spike said he likes to make women his brides, does he want to do that to Buffy?"
"She'd be more of a conquest than bride, like how he killed the Van Helsings," Spike chimed in before looking to Riley, "and looking around crypts is not going to help you catch him. The Count has to have his luxury estate and his bug eaters and his special dirt, doesn't he?"
"So, you're saying I should check out mansions, that sort of thing?"
Spike rolled his eyes and stood from his chair, looking cocky as he sauntered over to Riley, "no, I'm saying you should go home to your superhoney…have a nice, safe snog. You're out of your depth on this one, boy," he motioned to Eris with a wave of his hand, "and take this one home too, Dracula's given her the look over as well."
"Really? Another vampire Eris?"
"Its not my fault Riley!"
The soldier boy sighed, when he started dating Buffy, he didn't realise he would be protecting her vampire attracting cousin more than his actual girlfriend. He wanted to keep Eris safe as he cared for her, but she made that very hard, "look, Spike, you've helped Buffy before, so she has a problem with killing you now that you're helpless. I don't."
Eris and Spike stopped and stared at Riley, not expecting his threat, Eris went to speak up but Spike held her back by placing his arm in front of her, "I'd like to see you try."
The solider boy walked closer so he could tower over Spike with his height, as much as Spike wanted to look threatening and deadly, Riley would not be intimidated, "would you?"
"Enough with the pissing contest, Riley leave him alone," Eris squeezed herself between the two men and pushed them away, ending any possibility of violence, "let's just go back home and make a plan, ok?" she looked at Riley with pleading eyes, which luckily made him cave.
"Fine, we'll go back to your place," he stormed out of the room without another word, wanting to get as far away from Spike as possible.
"Sorry Spike, I should go with him."
"Its fine, just be careful. If he wants you and the Slayer it'll be hard to stop him."
"I'll be careful, I promise," she gave him a wave goodbye and ran off after Riley, leaving Spike alone with his thoughts.
"Why does Dracula always try to go for my women?"