Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

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Chapter 33 - The Play Begins

The Master leisurely sat in a fairly large chair facing the fireplace of the study. He sipped casually from his glass, letting the rich blood abate his momentary thirst. He could hear the young vampire behind him fidgeting slightly. For a moment he wished it was Darla that was waiting on him. She was such a dutiful child and very attentive to all his needs. He understood that she was not happy with his plans. He would have forced her to stay to serve his every need. He knew she would have obeyed him without question but he felt like being kind to his daughter. He had sent her away together with her crazy daughter. If they stayed, the two would only serve as a distraction to dear William.

“Hmmm… William … “ he murmured.

William was quite a puzzlement -- too many emotions in that one. The young one had turned his mother when he was but a fledgling. The fact that he was able to survive the blood letting was a statement to the strength of the demon he had inside. But the act of turning his mother was a symbol of his attachment to the mortal world. It was lucky for the dear boy that Darla had kept her family to herself for years because if that had not been the case, then the Master would have seen to it that William was killed. The show of human emotion and attachment to the world of men was a weakness. In addition to this, he staked his own mother. Though it wasn’t really something to be concerned about because she was technically William’s child and thus William could do whatever he wanted, the Master was intrigued about the addition of this woman. He felt that the demon in her would have been quite delicious to watch and taste. But from what he had heard, dear William thought she was unworthy. But the Master knew the truth.

To preserve the family he would often take note of each addition to the Aurelius Clan. The minions were of no consequence to him, but those that were made into childer should always be looked upon. Though the link now between him and his children diminishes with each generation he could still feel a smidgen of their being. Of course William was not that far from him, since he came from Darla’s line. When William was turned, the feel of his addition made the link to Darla’s line feel like a glowing ember in his mind. The same was true when he turned his mother. He could feel the vestiges of a sadistic nature in that woman and in but a blink of an eye it was extinguished. The anguish that flowed through the line when William killed her was faint as a ripple in a large pond but it was there and he knew it was more than just because he killed his child. If Darla had not taught him well William would be no more today. William would have been too soft of a vampire to have been deemed worthy to the clan and the Master would have had him disposed of long ago.

It is ironic how things come to pass. The Master saw great potential in Angelus. At first he was displeased with this vampire that drew his beloved daughter away from him. But after years of bloodshed and chaos he began to see the creature of the night that his daughter had so lovingly created. The chaos and violence in him was sweet. Though he drowned himself in the sensation of destruction a little too much. Years pass and he eventually bestowed upon Angelus the right to lead the family that stayed behind in the Hellmouth. It was a great honor to protect their property on such evil ground. But then the Master saw how he became obsessed with the sensation of despair and misery. The Slayer was an enemy. She was meant to be disposed of not toyed with. Though Angelus intentions were correct in the need to turn her, what the Master had in mind needed a Slayer willing to offer her blood.

And then the opportunity presented itself in the form of young William. The Slayer was attached to him, glowed with a light that he had only seen in claimed vampires. He thought at first that perhaps William had done a first by claiming the Slayer as his own. It seemed like the only explanation as to why a Slayer would follow a vampire with such devotion and vice versa. But the Master felt no such mystical connection. But with this Slayer ... this Buffy, he could improve the Aurelius line, making any vampire that William sire stronger and perhaps even have lesser weaknesses than the others. That is what the spell he had found explained.

In truth, he cared not if the Slayer survived. All that was important was that William drink from her till she was almost drained. The spell would make William stronger. If he in turn does turn the Slayer, then she being his child would be stronger than any currently known vampire. This was how he intended the Aurelius line to grow.

But William had somehow broken his initial thrall and had refused to drain the Slayer. The spell was forfeit, for now. A bigger scene needed to be weaved, one that will ensure that William will pull through.

Finally after a long silence, the Master raised his hand. "Tell me young one, how are our guests fairing?"

"The Watchers are quite strong Master but they are slowly weakening after being held for days now. By your orders, the Slayer has been kept in a different room from Spike. We have seen to the needs of the Slayer though she sparingly eats. As for Spike, we have ensured that he has not eaten anything in two days. The thirst will be upon him soon."

"Good. Very good. Perhaps our little play shall begin soon."


**

Buffy woke up hoping once again that this was all a dream. But she felt the heavy shackles on her wrists and ankles. She had been here for what she thought was either one or two days. It seems like she was back to where she started when her life all of a sudden changed because she thought some tall, dark and handsome man in the Bronze was a hottie. That was a huge mistake. The only thing that was at least a comfort between then and now was that at least now there was no torture involved. Though maybe she should be afraid of that even more. They gave her food and enough slack to go to the bathroom if she needed to. So they obviously don't want her dead any time soon. It seemed like they were keeping her alive for some reason. She was worried about Spike though. She had no idea where he was and when someone came to check up on her, she couldn't get a word out of them.

She still hoped that wherever Spike was he was fighting. Maybe he was finding a way to get them out of here. She knew he would come for her. He loved her. He promised to protect her. But what if they had staked him? No. She mustn't think that. Spike was strong. He would find a way.

**

Spike opened one eye, his body feeling weak from lack of blood. The hunger was getting to him. They had him shackled but that was about it. He was pretty sure that when he first felt the cold steel clamp around his wrists and ankles that he was going to get his fair share of beatings. The Master was most probably furious with him for not turning the Slayer. But the only torture they were inflicting upon him was hunger. His demon was getting impatient and it didn't help that he was angry at himself for getting captured. He was worried about Buffy as well. But he knew she was still alive. He could smell her on the minions that came to check up on him. That gave him some small comfort but without blood, he was getting weaker.

He tried tugging on the shackles again. He had to get free. He had to escape from here and find Buffy before he was too weak and too hungry to think rationally. He tugged again, feeling the chain links clinking against each other. There had to be a weak link in there. He just had to keep on trying. He's been at this for days, surely at least one link should give way. He heard the door to his room opening and he quickly let his body grow limp. As the minion entered the room, Spike could sense that he wasn't alone. But that wasn't what had his demon raging to come out. He could smell blood ... Slayer blood. He had to find her. He had to get out of here and find her.

The minion stayed by the door in reverence and Spike looked up to see why. The Master entered with a somewhat sympathetic emotion on his face.

"What did you do to her?" Spike said with seething anger towards his sire.

"Moi? Come now William. I would do no such thing to someone as precious as the Slayer."

"Stop mocking me!" he said straining to get to the Master. He wanted to destroy something. He knew that he would kill anyone and anything that harmed his Buffy.

"I speak the truth William. I gave you my word that I would let you keep her."

"Yeah. That's why you sent those vampires and demons to protect us." he said with such sarcasm.

"Now now, I was just trying to help you realize the truth of the situation."

"Like I'll bloody believe that. So what now? You keep me here while you do what you want with her?"

"On the contrary, I tried to keep her safe until you came to your senses, but unfortunately as you can sense, the Slayer has ... uhm ... "

"What happened? Tell me!" he growled.

"She is dead!"

He strained again, pulling the chains taunt trying to get to the Master. "You … how dare you?!"

"Now William. You have me all wrong. I did not do this."

"Yeah, you just ordered it."

The Master shook his head. "The Watcher's Council. As you ordered Dalton, they were able to capture the Retrieval Team, but they escaped and found your Slayer."

"They fucking did this?"

The Master nodded solemnly.

"You lie. You ordered them to kill the Slayer since I wouldn't turn her."

"How little you trust your Sire. You do not believe me? Come, I will show you." The Master motioned the minion to release Spike from his restraints.


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A/N: Thanks to everyone that has been reviewing this story. It really helps and inspires me to keep on going. About three or four more chapters to go and the story will most probably be ending, though I already have ideas for a possible sequel. Thanks again to all the readers out there.