Chapter 3

“Wow, he used to know your mom? Isn’t that going to make things awkward?”

Buffy thought about it. “I admit that knowing he was involved with my mother is a bit disturbing, but it might come in handy having a vampire on my side.”

Willow was about to respond, but never got the chance.

“I think this is a really bad idea, Buffy. What do you know about this guy? He could be lying to you.”

She let out a sigh, knowing that he would have a problem with it. “I’m a big girl, Xander. I can handle one vampire. Besides, the story checks out with what Giles told me.”

Willow nudged him in the stomach before he could say anything else. “Is he a hottie?”

Buffy found herself blushing, which wasn’t something that happened often. “You have no idea.”

Xander rolled his eyes, wishing that he had more male friends.


* * * * *


“Where are you off to?”

Buffy turned around at the sound of Giles’ voice, knowing that she wouldn’t have been able to sneak out. “I’m going for a quick patrol.”

He shook his head. “It is a school night, Buffy. I’m sure you have some homework to do.”

She shrugged. “I’ll have time to do it later; vamps aren’t going to take a night off just so I can finish my homework.”

“Your grades are slipping. I know that you feel you have to do this…”

Buffy cut him off by raising her hand. “I know I have to. A vampire killed my mother, Giles. Ripped her throat out while I watched, that’s not something I can just let go. I know that I’m not a Slayer, but I still have to do this. I can’t rest knowing that vampire is still out there somewhere. If I have to kill every single one of her kind until I find her, then I’ll do it. I can feel that she’s close by. I don’t know how, but I just can.”

Giles rubbed his temple. “It’s not possible to kill every vampire. Several rise every night; it’s not your responsibility.”

Buffy looked around. “Really? I don’t see another Slayer in this town. She was called elsewhere, so I’m going to do what I can to protect this place and everyone in it. Even if it kills me, at least I’ll know that I died doing something right for a change.”

“The right thing is going to school and getting an education. I knew your mother better than anyone, Buffy. This is not the life she would have wanted for you.”

Buffy grabbed her jacket before opening the door, giving him one more look. “Maybe you didn’t know her as well as you thought,” with that said, she made her way out of the house.

He watched her go, a somber expression on his face. Giles prayed that someone could get through to her, because he doubted that she would ever listen to him.


* * * * *


“Bloody hell, don’t you ever get tired?”

Buffy smiled as she helped him up. “You know, I would expect more from a vampire. Maybe you’re just too old for this.”

Spike growled and attacked her, which Buffy easily blocked.

She flipped him over and landed hard on his chest, knowing that would have knocked the wind out of him had he been human. “You give up yet?”

Spike gazed up at her. “Are you sure you’re not a Slayer?”

“Nope, I’ve just had lots of practice.” Buffy shifted on top of him, feeling the obvious bulge that Spike was sporting in his pants. Her eyes widened as she bounded off of him, taking a step back. “Okay, I think that’s enough for one night.”

He smirked and stood up, noticing the adorable blush that tinted her cheeks.

“I should get home, but thanks for the sparring. You were very hard. I…I mean good. Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Spike watched in amusement as she rushed out of his crypt. He had only known the chit for three days, but could already tell how different she was from Elizabeth. Buffy was a great fighter, very determined with her skills, but when it came to men, she didn’t seem to have much of a clue. Spike didn’t know why, but he was very grateful for that.


* * * * *


Buffy snuck into the house later that night, only to find that Giles was waiting up for her.

“How was patrol?”

She shrugged and moved further into the room. “Same as always, nothing I couldn’t handle.” Buffy headed for the stairs, stopping when Giles spoke up again.

“Have you seen Spike since your last encounter?” he wondered.

Buffy turned to look at him. “No, I told you, I’m not going to be seeing him. I’m not my mother, I don’t socialize with vampires.”

Giles nodded after a moment, but for some reason didn’t think she was being completely honest with him.

“Can I go to bed now? I’m pretty tired.”

Giles nodded again, remaining silent as she made her way upstairs. He didn’t know what to do with that girl anymore.


* * * * *


“Do whatever you want with me, Drusilla. Just please, don’t hurt my baby.”

The crazy vampiress grinned, moving her gaze onto the small child that was huddled in the corner. “Such pretty sunshine. I’ll make you pay for taking my dark prince from me, then I’ll eat the little one.”

Elizabeth tried to block the girl from her view, but it was no use. “I don’t have anything to do with his disappearance, but you lost him long before that. My daughter has nothing to do with this, she’s an innocent.”

Drusilla cackled madly. “Innocence tastes very good, my sweet.” She grabbed Elizabeth around the neck, pulling her closer. “Let’s see how you taste,” she spat, then struck her fangs into the Slayer’s throat, draining her dry. Drusilla dropped the body to the ground, licking her lips of the sweet ambrosia and focusing back on the helpless child. She moved over to her side, kneeling down to be level with her. “It is not your time yet, deary. He will come for you, and then we’ll be a family again.”


* * * * *


Buffy awoke with a start, sweat dripping down her face as she took in her surroundings. She remembered the moment as if it were yesterday, but something felt different this time around. The dreams were getting more and more cryptic; she just wished that she could make more sense out of them. With that thought in mind, she clutched her stuffed pig tighter to her chest and tried to succumb back to sleep.

It was a long time coming.