Xander Harris lay in his bed, waiting. Waiting for what he knew was coming. His transition to vampire.
The night before, he’d discovered that the father he never had was actually Spike, a vampire. Then, that day, he’d found out that he was going to become a vampire that night.
Now his eyes were riveted the clock. 10:56......10:57. He braced himself for what he knew was coming.
That was when the pain started. He opened his mouth to scream, but nothing came out. He writhed and twisted, but the pain continued.
Then, as suddenly as it started, it was over. A new and entirely different sensation set in, as his heart and lungs shut down. Xander scrabbled for a breath, but to no avail! Then, his heart started up again, but not his lungs. And the strangest part was, he felt fine! He had no need for the air which just moments ago he’d had such a supreme struggle to get.
He could feel the muscles in his arms and legs increase in strength a hundred times more than any human muscles could. He was invincible!
Then came the best part, the part all mortals wished for. His immune system increased in strength a hundredfold!
After that was a truly indescribable sensation as his body, mind, heart and soul changed from that of a human to that of a vampire. He was a heartless killing machine.
Then came the final, finishing touch as his vampire visage set in. He smiled. He was complete. And he was starving.
He exited the room which moments ago had been so welcoming, in search of some fresh blood. There! He walked in the direction of Mariah Harris’ room.
She was so serene! She would be an easy target. Xander grabbed her throat and revealed her neck. Brushing her hair aside, he had his first meal as an immortal. And it was so good! Her fresh, warm blood seeped in through his fangs. When he was done, she lay utterly still, dead as a doornail. But he was still hungry. And he wasn’t going to give up until he was full.
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Willow’s house -- 11:00
Willow Rosenburg, Cordelia Chase and Oz Atman sat around Willow’s dining room table, watching the clock lick. 10:59.......11 :00.
“The transition should be complete by now,” Willow said. “Cordelia. Oz. You know what to do.”
The ritual began. Willow began to chant the words she’d practiced so many times.
“Nefer sioue tolkn. Masachiu.....mascada.”
Suddenly, her head jerked up and down, as if she were a puppet whose strings were being pulled. A demonic look filled her eyes, and her chanting became angry and insistent.
“Malkop irrepetia cor sioue sedos havret! Sioue sedos! Amarakech! Amarakech!”
Suddenly Willow fell back, drained. Oz gripped her shoulders and helped her get her breath back.
“It worked,” Willow said.
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Buffy Summers, the Slayer, was on patrol near Xander’s house as they’d previously arranged. She scanned the area for Xander. She was approaching his house when she nearly fell over a shaking shape in the road. She knelt down.
“Hey, are you OK? Is there anything I can do to help?”
The shape turned its head. She gasped as she realized she was looking into the bloodshot eyes of one of her best friends.
“Oh my God, Xander!”
She helped him get to the side of the road and onto the grass.
“Xander, what happened?” He looked up at her with an expression of absolute agony on his face.
“I killed my mother, Buffy. I killed my mother!” He then began to sob. Buffy just held him and let him cry.
“Xander, you didn’t know. No one could have known! You were a vampire.”
“Correction, Buffy. Am a vampire. That curse doesn’t give me back my mortality.”
Buffy sighed. “Let’s get you to the library.”
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Everyone was assembled in the library- Cordelia, Oz, Willow, Giles. Cordelia sighed. “OK, that’s it. This is really ticking me-”
She was cut off by the sound of the library doors swing open. Buffy walked in with Xander.
Cordelia ran to her boyfriend, and hugged him. “Oh, Xander. I can’t-I don’t-I’m sorry.” They held each other, and Cordelia cried.
She wasn’t the only one. Silent tears ran down Buffy’s face, and Willow was sobbing into her open book. Oz was holding his girlfriend and comforting her. Giles wasn’t crying, but he was obviously trying to suppress tears.
Cordelia whispered, “Xander, no matter what you are, I will love you. I will always love you. I will never stop loving you.” She held her boyfriend at arm’s length. “I want you to understand that. I want you to get that!’
Xander kissed his girlfriend. “I love you.”
Buffy stood. “The prime issue here is helping Xander get his mortality back. Giles?”
Giles nodded. “The -ah- only ways for you to get your mortality back are very painful, unusual ways. Unless, of course, we can find an-ah-what are they bloody called? A palot. They’re a rather eccentric type, but they are, nonetheless, very useful people.”
“Uh, Giles?” Willow ventured. “I hate to interrupt, but what’s a palot?”
“A palot is a person who is versed in the Black Arts. They are rather like alchemists, only more -ah- intelligent in magic, so to speak. Rather like............Jenny. She was very-”
Willow brightened. “Hey! I know someone kind of like that....I think. Are these palots just regular people?”
Giles nodded.
“I have an old friend named Chanse. He’s sort of a hybrid of you, Ms. Calendar and that guy who came here once- Buffy’s friend. Ford?”
Pain filled Buffy’s eyes at the mention of her traitorous friend. Willow whispered, “Buffy, Chanse is......”
“Yeah, I thought so was Ford. We can’t trust anyone, Will!”
“Buffy, Chanse already........there’s a Slayer-in-training that Chanse helps. Like I help you? Chanse helps that Slayer.”
Giles put in, “Her name is Fila. I’m aquainted with her Watcher. He’s not a kind man, so don’t be surprised if Chanse has some horror stories to tell about him. His name is -ah- Dran, I believe.”
“Wait a minute,” Oz said. “Fila? Chanse? Dran? Where are these people from?”
“Wisconsin. The names are very- creative.”
Willow said, “I’ll see if I can get Chanse to come around. He sounds like he might be a palot.”
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A week later -- At the library
Buffy swept into the library after school. “Hey. Anyone see Xander last night?”
Cordelia blushed. “I did.”
Buffy touched her arm. “You alright, Cordie?”
Cordie shook Buffyis arm off. “Yes! God, Buffy!”
Buffy said, “Cordie, you didn’t.....”
“I did, all right? And he didn’t.”
“Everyone, get out. I have to talk to Cordie.”
Oz, Willow, and Giles made a grumbling procession walking out. Buffy turned to Cordelia. “Cordelia, you’re a fool. You know what happened to Angel when I was with him!”
Cordelia said, “Buffy, I know what happened. I love Xander. I’m sorry, all right? I was terrified that what happened to Angel was going to happen to Xander. But it didn’t. I plan to....”
“Cordelia, even if it didn’t happen, didn’t you consider the flip side? We’ve discovered that vampires can have children. Xander is proof of that. You’re seventeen! You’re a junior. Do you want a kid yet?”
“Before I went with Xander, I decided. I can handle a kid if one comes along. Until then, I’m going to continue to be with him, no matter the consequences!” Her voice changed to a pleading tone. “Please, Buffy. You know what it’s like to be in love. You know how hard it is. You know how painful it is! Please, don’t discourage it. If I love Xander, ther is no way on this earth that I will separate from him. And I love him. I do. So, pledase, support this.”
Buffy sighed. “Get out of here, Cordelia. And- be careful.”
Cordelia nodded, and swept out.
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Buffy sat in the graveyard, waiting. Anything. Anything! She was bored crazy, and her thoughts proved it.
She couldn’t get her mind off of Spike. His face, his hands, the way he looked at her....she couldn’t stand it! It was driving her crazy. She had to do a little slayage to get her mind off these crazy thoughts.
Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She nearly fell off the gravestone!
“Spike!’ she gasped. “What the hell.....”
“Hello, cutie.”
She glanced at him sidelong. “Uh, Spike? What is the matter with you?”
“Nothing.” His voice softened. “I just can’t get my mind off you. And I’ve gotta tell ya, it’s driving Dru mad!” He laughed, then his voce regained that soft undertone. “But seriously. I can’t seem to stop thinking about you. I really...”
“Sh!” Buffy said. Then, her voice softening, she said, “I’m afraid to say that I feel the same way.” She then realized something. “Hey. You’re walking!”
Spike laughed. “Yeah. Great, huh? Another little thing Dru doesn’t know.”
“Wh.....oh, who cares?” She reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed. him.
I could kill her right now, Spike thought. Wouldn’t that be priceless.Another Slayer to add to my collection!.......but I can’t. Damn!!! He shook his head and kissed her back..
When they were done, Buffy pulled back. “Spike, do you realize what we just did?”
“Yeah, and it bloody disturbs me!”
“Same here....God, this is freaky! First, Xander, and now this!”
But by then the two of then were sitting on the ground, bodies close together. Spike pressed his body up against hers in a long, passionatekiss.
Buffy fell back, gasping. “Spike, let’s go someplace more.......private.”
Spike nodded. “I’m all for that.”
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Twenty minutes later, the two arrived at the factory. “Wait! Dru.....”
“Is out with Angelus. Relax- we have plenty of time.”
Buffy observed the warehouse. “Nice. Very nice. Now can we get down to business?”
Spike nodded. “Couldn’a worded it better m’self.”
The vapire and the Slayer walked over to the bed. Buffy said, “Spike, I.....”
“Relax, Slayer-girl. I won’t bite.”
Buffy smiled. She laid on Spike’s bed, and he laid beside her. And confusion ensued.
A shriek crossed the room. Buffy jerked her head to see Drusilla standing mid-floor, looking at the two as if she had just gained a soul and killed her entire family.
Spike looked like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar, “Dru baby, I can explain!”
“Angel!!!!!!” The word echoed, as Angel ran in.
“Dru!! What’s the......never mind.” He glanced at Buffy. “Why, lover! Cheating? I’m shocked.”
Buffy turned a very appealing shade of purple. “Angel, shut up. You’re in where no one oughta be.”
“Huh....what would Willow think? I bet she wouldn’t approve.”
Buffy’s color deepened. “You bastard, Angel.”
“Or what about Xander? What would he do- bite you?”
That was it. Buffy was sent over the edge. She whipped out a stake, and, in the blink of an eye, Angel was dusted.
Buffy felt no remorse. She could see, however, that Spike was taken aback
She did it! She bloody did it! God! I didn’t think she’d have the guts.Spike looked at Buffy with newfound respect.
Drusilla, meanwhile, saw only red as she advanced on the Slayer, her vamp visage in place. Just as she was ready to lunge, Buffy whipped out a stake and was about to plunge it in when Spike’s voice cut the silence like a knife. “Wait!!!”
Not moving a muscle, Buffy, said, “Why? Why should I?”
Spike was at a loss for words. “Oh, go ahead. Kill her, then.” His voice was full of pain, but there was no reason to keep her alive when it was Buffy he loved. Oh my God, did I just think that?........I can’t beleive it. In love! Aand with the bloody Slayer, no less! But he forced himself to watch as Buffy plunged the stake into Drusilla’s heart.
The vampire and the Slayer stared down at the remains of the vampire and the vampiress. Buffy turned to Spike. “Spike, I have to go.” She then turned and fled.
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The next day
“Hey, Buffy! Wait up.” Cordelia ran down the hall to her friend. “Buffy, I saw Xander last night. You need to go see him.”
Buffy looked troubled. “What? What’s the matter?”
“He’s really...” She gestured for Buffy to move away, closer to the wall. She then resumed, in a quiter tone. “He’s very depressed. He’s thinking of putting a stake through his own heart. H esaid it would be better to die than to live out his existance as a vampire.”
Buffy’s breath caught in her throat. “I have to get out of here!”
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Within half an hour, the Slayer was storming through Xander’s adopted residence. “Xander Harris, you are a fool. You are a blatant fool. First, Cordelia, and now this!” Buffy’s first glimpse of Xander revealed him a very bright red.”
“Who told you? Cordelia? Buffy, I-”Q
“I know. She told me. You’re still a fool.”
“Geez, Buffy! We’re in love. I love her, and I know she loves me. Stay out of it!”
Buffy sighed. “What’s this about being on a sad? Cordie said you were thinking about dusting yourself.”
Xander forced a twisted smile. “What would you do? You’re not what I am. I’m a vampire. I can die so easily. A little sunlight, a stake through the heart- it’s so easy. And whehn you die, when Willow dies, when Cordie dies- I’ll still be alive!! I can’t stand the thought. Of being alone? Good God, Buffy. You don’t understand!!! The bloodlust, the-the-” He couldn’t finish.
Buffy left, leaving him to his pain. He didn’t need her as a mother hen.
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She returned to school to be faced by a boiling Principal Snyder. “Summers, where have you been?”
“Mr. Giles. He told me to go get him a-a book.”
“And where is the little book?”
“When I got to the bookstore, Mr. Giles called up and told me that he -uh- didn’t need the book because he already had one.”
The troll said nothing, just stormed away. And Buffy ran to the library.
“Giles! Xander is-”
Giles didn’t let her finish. “I know. How is he?”
“Undead. Giles.....”
“We can keep Xander undead if we just-”
“I know. Giles, have Willow cover for me. I’m going to Xander.”
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Buffy lay on her bed exhausted. She’d had to fight Xander all day, and she still had to go on patrol! She just needed some place to relax. When Angel was alive.....
She shook her head. Angel is dust. It’s Spike I love! He’s the one I can’t keep my mind off of. He’s the one I dream about. He is the one I love! Buffy felt a new reslove. Before she went on patrol, she would go to Spike.
Within twenty minutes, she was banging on the door to the factory. Spike answered. His faced softened.
“I hoped you’d come.”
Buffy smiled, and fell into his strong arms.
“All I think about is you. All day I’ve been fighting Xander, and all I thought about was you.........oh, Spike this is wrong!”
“I know, and you know what? I don’t bloody care!”
Buffy held Spike tighter. “It’s killing me inside! All I think abuot is you, and I can’t even say it! I can’t even tell anyone! I can’t.....I can’t......”
“Shh, it’s all right, baby. I understand.....it’s been the same way for me. Last night, I ws hunting, and all I thought about was you. I bloody kissed a woman that looked like you, before I realized that it wasn’t. I turned a bloody bright shade of red, too!”
Buffy laughed, then said, “Spike.....let’s go somewhere. Anywhere. All I want is to be alone with you.”
“Do you have any ideas?”
“Yes.”
“Lead on, my sweet.”:
Within ten minutes, the vampire and the slayer were on a hill overlooking Sunnydale.
“No, this isn’t Makeout Point. When I thought you and Dru were dead, I was sort of lax on patrol. I would come up here a lot just to be alone and think. It’s just so peaceful.”
Spike smiled, and held his girl close. She put her head on his chest and just looked at the stars.
Twenty minutes later, she gasped. “Spike, oh my God! I have to go patrol!”
“And I should really bloody hunt.”
But both lingered, holding each other, neither wanting to let the other go. Finally, they parted, each with a sweet smile.
Buffy was about to turn and leave when she saw Spike. He was on the ground gasping.
“Spike! Spike! Oh my God, Spike!”
Spike looked up. “Buffy? Where am I? What....oh my God. I’m.....it’s......Buffy, the demon’s gone!”
The End
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