Part 10

Riley Finn slammed the door shut and stepped out into the dark streets of London. This was just not happening, he thought. It had to be a nightmare or worse. Vampires! The girl he was meant to marry all his life was a vampire. And on top of this she even said she was in love with another one. Well, it was only logical, two vampires in love seemed fitting, although it was ridiculous on the whole of course.

He was a soldier, he'd been on the battlefield, he'd killed enemies, he'd always thought he was a brave sort of man but seeing the face of his fincée contort into something not very human had been like a punch into his stomach. And much to his annyoance he'd realised the feeling was plain fear. Of course he'd read about vampires, there were stories about them, stories of the fairytale-kind. Children had nightmares, woman fainted if vampires were mentioned and gothic circles tried to communicate with them, but this. This was just not happening!!

The other thing was that he couldn't talk with his buddies about this. His friends would laugh in his face or - in the worst case secenario - lock him away. Seeing a little stone on the pavement he skipped it away with his foot not looking out for his way only to bump into someone. Raising his head he stared into the eyes of a blonde woman who smiled at him. There was something in her eyes he couldn't place, it was a certain expression: "I'm sorry, Miss," he said.

She raised a brow: "Well, I'm not." Her voice had  a flirtatious note and Riley's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't look like a hooker but she surely talked like one. "Mr. Finn," she laughed when she saw the expression of pure confusion on his face now. "You don't know me, but I know you. I will explain soon, but for now it just seems as if we've both lost something."

*******

"So Mr. ... er ... Whistler, what you're saying is that Mr. ... er ... Angel here and my daughter are meant to hunt vampires?," Giles rubbed his glasses with the hem of his shirt which made his daughter laugh inwardly. He only did this when he was highly confused.

"That's it in a nutshell," the demon nodded and leaned against the wall near the door. "Buffy and Angel here are meant to hunt vampires - together."

"Father," the blonde stood up, walked over to Giles' chair and kneeled down in front of him, "do you believe me that I love Angel?."

He looked into his daughter's face and nodded: "Yes, I do." He let out a short laugh, "I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but the way you both look at each other is very assuring. Although I'd like to know more about you," he looked at the dark-haired vampire.

"And you will," Angel assured him quickly. "I will answer any question you might have. As honestly as possible. I love your daughter, Sir Giles." He smiled at Buffy, "More than I thought possible. She gave me a new life, a second chance if you want to see it that way, and I'm planning to grabb it, with her ... if she still wants me."

Their eyes locked and Buffy held out a hand for him which he took immediately. This little gesture was so intimate, so full of love that Giles had to blink. Not in his wildest dreams he'd imagined his daughter to find a love like this. He even forgot about the fact that she was a vampire for a moment. "You have my blessings," he said, his voice loaded with emotion. "All I ever wanted," he took his daughter's other hand, "was for you te be happy. What you obviously are. So who am I to deprive you of that."

"Oh father," Buffy squeezed his hand tightly and then moved back to sit beside Angel.

"Alright," Whistler pushed himself away from the wall and looked at the couple. "I'm sure Angel will tell you all about how to live and behave like a vampire but I'm here for a purpose too. And this is to teach you how to kill other vampires."

"Staking, beheading, fire or daylight," Angel replied with a slight grin, "Whistler my demon wasn't very fond of his own kind. He killed more of them you'd imagine."

"Oh I know," the demon made a gesture with his hand, "don't forget they," he looked at the ceiling, "see everything. No, what I mean it, how you kill them and stay alive yourselves. It wouldn't make much sense if you'd be dusted in the process. And this is where this comes in handy," he pulled something out of his pocket and held it out in front of the vampires' faces.

"Nice jewelry," Buffy remarked and took on of the gems dangling on chains before them in her hands. "What is it?"

"It's called the Gem of Amarra or well, the whole thing is called the Gem of Amarra. These are only pieces of it."

********

"Spike come back to bed," Drusilla looked at her lover with annoyance and patted the spot beside her. "I'm up to it," she changed her face into a seductive expression while her index-finger trailed a way between her breasts leaving no room for imagination what it was she was up to.

"Not now," Spike barked and turned away from her. He could feel the flesh between his legs responding to her immediately and it just wasn't the time for this. "Give me some peace," he added. "I have to think."

"But I want you here," she pouted. "And I want my Daddy back. He's gone too long. He's with her. I hate her."

Spike sighed loudly and turned towards his lover: "Can you please stop talking about him for a moment. It makes my head ache." He was desperately trying to figure out a way to stop Darla, but annoyingly enough he didn't even know where she went. And Dru was no help either of course. This moment he wanted her to vanish, to disappear from his life, but the same instant he knew he'd never wanted to live without her. He seemed doomed to love her.

He had to find a way to stop Darla, Drusilla's madness was one thing but her permanent obsession with her sire was another and he would be damned if he would let him come back into their lives. "Stay here Pet," he said while he grabbed his duster, "I'll be back in some hours." There was something he had to do now, he didn't like the idea that was forming in his head but to hell it was the only one he could figure.

*******

"The Gem of Amarra," Angel stared at Whistler with awe in his eyes.

"That's it my boy," the demon assured the vampire.

"Okay, I know I'm maybe missing something, but you both look as if this was the eighth world wonder. For me it just looks like some pretty gems on two chains." Buffy looked back and forth between the two men and then her eyes were resting on her father: "Do you understand that?"

"The Gem of Amarra," Angel stood up and paced the room, "is said to have magic power. A vampire wearing it or parts of it is said to be unkillable."

"Like never to die?," Buffy's eyes were wide.

"Exactly," Whistler confirmed. "And that's the reason I have those," he took on chain in each of his hands and held it out to Buffy and Angel, "for you. You don't have to be afraid. They cannot be stolen. They're magically bound. The moment you have them on your necks they cannot be removed by anyone but yourselves. There's only one thing. Your two souls are bound by love. The love you're feeling for each other. If one of you should ever stop loving the other you would lose your souls. As a result the gems will destroy themselves because as you certainly understand it's much too dangerous to have a soulless vampire running around wearing this." He walked over to the brandy and poured himself another glass. There was certainly something about earthly desires he told himself. "Now put them on, kids."

Exchanging a short glance the two vampires put the chains on. "It doesn't feel any different," Buffy looked at Whistler.

"It will the moment someone tries to stake you, you'll see," he replied with a grin. "Oh boy, I would love to see this. It must be fun to see the look at your opponent's face that moment. Thinking he's killed you and you'll be laughing in his face."

*********

Darla stood leaning to a wall, her arms crossed in front of her chest and waited, her eyes never leaving the man laying on the ground. Riley Finn had been very interested in what she'd told him. She'd counted on it and grinned inwardly --- humans were just so predictable.

The same moment Riley stirred and groaned opening his eyes. In seeing Darla standing above him he grinned.

She grinned back and tilted her head: "Hello my childe," she said extending a hand to help him up. So far her plan was working excellently. 

Part 11

"What's going to happen now," Giles looked at his daughter and her ... was it her lover? He sighed inwardly, this was the strangest situation he had himself ever gotten into. But in a very odd way he did approve of the relationship of the two people in his room. Was it the way his daughter's eyes would lighten up every time she looked at Angel?

"What do you mean?," Buffy frowned.

"He wants to know, what's going to happen with the two of us," Angel said with a smile. "And the answer is yes. I intend to marry your daughter. Of course we cannot be married in a church, but there are other ... uhm ... possiblities."

Giles nodded, "Good to hear." Then his eyes shifted to Whistler, "And I suppose you're going to be the best man?"

"So far nobody's asked me," the demon grinned.

The dark-haired vampire was about to answer when they heard a knock on the door. Giles rose to answer it and was about to invite the visitor in, when Angel's voice stopped him, "You're certainly not expecting to be invited into this house."

"Bloody hell, no." Spike shook his head and then grinned, "But you're in and he's still alive. To hell, whatever happened to you mate?"

"None of your business," his grand-sire snapped. "Sir Giles," he turned to his future father-in-law - talk about strange things he thought - "This creature is a vampire as well. First law, never invite anyone into your house. Not with words, not with a gesture, at least not after darkness." He shifted back to the blonde vampire on the doorstep, "What do you want?"

Spike raised a brow, "Want? I came to make a deal with you."

"Is that so? Talk."

"Well, it's a little uncomfortable out here. I've eaten already," he said.

"Doesn't matter, you'll be hungry again tomorrow. Go on, talk. I'm starting to get annoyed with you."

"Angel what ...," Buffy joined the men at the door and tilted her head seeing the new face there.

Spike's eyes were wandering up and down and then he smiled, a slow, sensual, vampiric smile, "I see. Well, can't blame you. She's more class than Darla, that's for certain." His grand-sire merely shook his head, "Buffy, this is William or Spike as he calls himself now. He's my ... er ... grand-childe and deeply annoying. Spike meet Buffy, she's my mate. So hands off and would you now talk."

"Talk, oh yes, talk," the blonde vampire nodded after a last glance at the petite blonde. "Darla's really pissed mate. So there's my deal. I'll help you to get rid of her and in exchange you stay away from Dru and me."

Angel let out and exasperated sigh, "I'm not interested in Drusilla."

"Maybe. But she's sure as hell interested in you. It's an obsession and I don't like to compete."

"And how exactly do you intend to help us?," Buffy asked looking at him

*******

Darla stormed through the door of her lair with Riley in tow and was surprised to find Drusilla there on her own.

"Where the hell is William," she shouted.

As expected her response was a whining sound from the insane vampiress who was sitting on the ground clutching her head.

"Who's she?," Riley wanted to know.

"That my childe," she patted his head, "is our Drusilla. Angelus did a fine job on her, but still she can be very useful. She's psychic. Means she can see things."

The newly made vampire merely shook his head. Psychic, what nonsense. "Why are you so nervous," he asked his sire.

"Because that slippery weasel William isn't around and I don't like it. He's not the brightest sort of vampire, but if he's going behind one's back it can be very uncomfortable."

"And why didn't you try to get rid of him," Riley asked with a grin. Killing was so appealing all of a sudden. He'd just had his first meal. A blonde hooker, she'd tasted wonderful and her screams had just been the right addition to turn him on. Now all he needed to be completely satisfied was a healthy portion of sex, but Darla didn't seem to be interested in him that way and Drusilla, well to be honest he wasn't really attracted to someone who needed strong mental care.

"Because we need him to keep her," she pointed at the dark-haired vampiress, "in check. Angelus could do it as well, but he doesn't like it.  He's a very headstrong boy," she smiled and licked her lips. "You'll like him. He's lots of fantasy. You'll learn a lot from him about torture and pain."

"My Spike," Drusilla suddenly cried and began to rock back and forth on the ground. "Ohhhhh."

"What do you see?," Darla crouched down beside her, touching her shoulder.

"He's with my Daddy. I see him talking to my Daddy. Oh my Angel," she whined.

"Who's Spike?" Riley wanted to know.

Darla made an impatient gesture with her hand. She was already doubting if it had been such a good idea to make that annoying guy a vampire. "It's William. He's got a thing for calling himself Spike these days." At least she had to keep up the appearances, she needed Riley - for a while. "Anything else?," she turned towards Drusilla again

"No," she shook his head. "But he'll come back to me. He isn't lost like my Daddy and her. Their hearts stink of love for each other ... it's so disgusting."

Darla sighed and got up again, "Spike and Angelus ... I don't like it. Don't like it at all." She looked at Riley. "Come on then."

"What? We just came back," he protested.

"There's a change of plans, my childe. You get to see your former fiancée sooner than you'd expected." 

Part 12 "I think your father took everything pretty well," Angel said some hours later when he and Buffy were alone in the guest room of her father's house. "I can hardly believe it," she agreed. "He was even alright with the fact that you and I will stay together for the rest of the night," she added quite shyly.

"Buffy," he reached out for her and took her tiny hand in his large one. "I know this is a lot for you to take in. And although I can't think of anything more wonderful than to spend eternity with you, you should know that I'll be eternally sorry you had to experience this."

"This?," she asked not quite understanding what he meant.

"Becoming a vampire I mean. It's ... I never planned," he paused and took an unnecessary breath, "The demon did plan it. Killing you, I mean. Then turning you, but I...," his voice broke and he just shook his head, not able to find any words for the shame he felt right now.

"It's okay," she said softly and moved to his side, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You didn't do it."

"No. But without me, Darla wouldn't have had any cause to act on you."

"That's wrong and you know it," she closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of being so near to him. "You have to accept that you are not your demon although you share the memories which is pretty unfair to me." She could hear him chuckle slightly and had to smile, "But," she continued, "I can understand why. Whistler explained it to us, that you had to carry them so you can understand what's going on inside a vampire. It'll help us."

"But you will never have a real life. Never any children, no husband, no home," he sighed, "not a human one that is."

"So what?," she turned her head to look at him, "I had everything you talk about right in front of me and you know what? I didn't look forward to it. I didn't enjoy the idea of playing the nice, caring housewife by Riley Finn's side. I would've done it because I thought I had to honour my parents' wishes, but it wasn't what I wanted to do." She held his large hand between hers. For the first time she realised how cold they were. Funnily enough it wasn't an uncomfortable coldness, but it was something she had to get used to. "I already told you I wanted to see different countries, learn languages and now I can do it. We don't even have to fear the sunlight." She glanced at the little gem on the chain at her neck, "thanks to Whistler and this we can almost live like a normal couple."

"But what about...," he began but was silenced when she laid a finger on his lips.

"You mean children? Well, maybe there'll come a day when I'm going to miss them, but all we can do is deal. We should try and look on the bright side of this. We're going to spend eternity together." She gave him a sweet smile and kissed him on the cheek.

"How can a person so young be so wise?", he asked with a lopsided smile.

"I don't know," she replied. "But you'll have to live with it. According to Whistler you're stuck with me."

"Am I?," now his lips curved a bit more into a smile.

"Hmmm," she grinned. "You realise we're alone together in a room?"

"Buffy...," "No, don't say it. Maybe I'm a wicked woman, but I want you. Hey, I'm a vampire now. Who cares about rings and vows, and didn't you tell my father you're going to marry me?"

He had to laugh at that, "I didn't even propose to you."

She shrugged, "You will." She sounded very convinced. "But for now, I'm quite content with you by my side. I love you, Angel. By the way I really like that name. Sounds sweet, much better than Liam. More melodic."

"Does it now?," his voice became low, sensual, "well, before the night is over you're going to whisper it, cry it, shout it ... out of pleasure." He leaned towards her and caught her lips in a sweet kiss.

"Is that a promise?," she asked a bit breathlessly, when their lips finally parted.

"You bet on it."

******

"Drusilla," Spike looked at his lover who was sitting on their bed when he returned to their lair.

"My Spike. You came back."

"Obviously," he replied a little bit annoyed. He didn't like the fact that Darla wasn't there. "Where's the bitch?," he asked.

"They left," the dark-haired vampiress informed him.

He raised a brow, "They?"

"Hmmm. She brought a new childe."

"Excuse me?," Spike approached his lover and took her hand. "Drusilla look at me!," he commanded, "What are you talking about."

"I didn't like him. He didn't like me either. But he knows my Daddy," she gazed at him with wide-eyes. "I saw you then. In my mind. You saw my Angel."

"Dru, listen to me," he grabbed at her shoulders. "Did you tell Darla about it?"

"Hmmm," was her only reply.

He pushed her back on the bed, "Damn," growled. "Damn, damn. This isn't good. No, not good at all." He took an unnecessary breath, "Alright, luv. So she knows I met with Angelus, right. Well, why not. He's my grand-sire after all. But then she knows I hate the bugger," he was talking to himself now, desperately trying to find a solution for his problem. Darla was a bitch, but she was a clever one and the fact that she knew about his meeting with Angelus would raise her suspicion. But to make his plan work she had to trust him. He needed a plan and he needed it fast. Before she would be back.

And the hell what childe did she bring with her? So she made a new one. This was odd. Usually Darla was very picky with her childer, she hadn't made a vampire for ages. Something was going on and he didn't like the fact that he didn't know what.

******

"Are you alright?," Angel asked the girl laying naked next to him, firmly wrapped in his arms.

"Better than that," she said sleepily. "I always wished for my first time to be good, but I didn't expect this. It was wonderful."

He chuckled in response, but didn't say anything.

"You probably had a lot of practice," she said after a while. "You know. How to make a girl feel happy." Her voice was steady, but he could hear the tinge of jealousy in it.

He sat up in bed and looked down at her, "Buffy," he gently stroked her cheek with his knuckles, "I don't know what to say to this. Yes, there have been other women, lots of them actually. A demon isn't very picky about sex." He paused for a moment and added, "Any kind of sex." When he saw she was listening attentively he continued. "But this ... you and me ... is different from everything I've experienced in my long life. I've never been in love before. Not even when I was human. I was a drunken bastard with a thing for one-night-stands in my time."

 He paused again and searched her eyes, they were clear and watching him, but he found no sign of judgement there, so he went on, "You were a virgin before tonight, but in a certain way, you might not understand, I was too. For me it was the first time to make love to a woman. To put her wishes before mine. And I didn't do it because it was different, but because you're important to me. Because your feelings are more important to me than my own." He smiled and touched her lips with his thumb. "I love you so much. I never thought something like that existed. Something so beautiful, so perfect. I can't even imagine being without you anymore." He shook his head and let out a short laugh, "I always thought I was good with words, but tonight I suck."

"No," she shook her head, "not at all. It was beautiful." She smiled, sat up as well and cupped his face in her hands, "and I understand about you being a virgin. I love you too. So very much. Love me, Angel. Please love me and never let me go."

Part 13

Angel's eyes shot open and he tried to control the uneasy feeling that had woken him with a start. The last second he stopped the growl forming in his throat. Quickly glancing to his side he saw that his mate was still asleep, curled up in his arms, pillowing her head in the crock of his arm. Despite the danger he felt gripping him he had to smile. She looked so innocent and beautiful - how he loved her.

That instantly made him snap back into reality. Darla was near. The feeling of her being close was to familiar to him to be mixed up with anything else. His first instinct was to get out of the house and meet her, but he remembered Whistler's words about his destiny and looked at Buffy again. He couldn't risk getting hurt. They were bound together for eternity. Leaning over he gently kissed her on her forehead and slightly shook her shoulders, "Buffy," he whispered into the darkness. Well, darkness for humans, vampires could see just fine.

"Hmmm," she made but didn't open her eyes.

He chuckled, she obviously wasn't a person getting up easy.

"My love," he kissed her again and her lips responded immediately. One hand came up, pulling his head closer, deepening the kiss. He smiled into her mouth and carefully pulled back. "Sorry, love, but now isn't the time."

One eye opened and her lips formed an almost irresistible pout, "Not fair," she mumbled into the sheets.

"I'm sorry," his voice was soft. "I'd prefer this too, but Darla is outside."

Now both eyes opened and she looked at him with concern in her beautiful eyes, "How do you know?"

"I can feel her," he told her simply, not wanting to elaborate his long relationship to his sire.

"Oh," was her only reaction, and after a moment "she was your lover, wasn't she," she asked.

"No," he shook his head and when he saw her incredulous gaze he explained, "she was the demon's lover. Never mine. I would never touch her." His lips twitched into a smile, "I'm addicted to you, don't you know?"

"Good," her smile grew. "So she's outside," she shifted until she sat upright on the bed beside him. "And what?"

"She's watching us," he slipped from the bed and Buffy would've blushed furiously hadn't she been a vampire. She hadn't really looked at him before and now he was moving around in her bedroom - completely naked and totally unashamed. He's probably used to it, she thought. There's really a lot I have to learn, was the next thing that came to her mind.

"She doesn't even try to hide," his voice interrupted her thoughts and she turned her head to look towards the window where he was standing now in the light of the full moon. God, he was beautiful. Like one of the statues she'd seen in the National Museum. One could develop an inferiority complex.

"You mean she just stands there?," she asked surprised.

"Yeah," he replied and glanced towards the bed. "Come and look," he invited reaching out a hand.

Did he expect her to walk over naked as well, she wondered. He probably did, but she wasn't ready for it so she wrapped herself into the bed-sheet and joined him at the window. There she stood. The vampiress she'd only seen once before. In the dark alley when she'd made Buffy into a vampire. It hit her now, she was not only Angel's sire but hers too. "It's strange," she said, "she's my sire but I feel absoulutely nothing for her."

"You never lost your soul," he replied as if it would explain everything. And somehow it did.

Buffy could see the vampiress talking to someone behind her and when the person stepped into the light of the street lamp she gasped. "God, that's ... that's..."

"Riley," Angel finished for her. "She was busy it seems."

"Yes," she whispered and leaned towards him. He wrapped her in his arm and pulled her close. Even from the distance she could see Darla's features contorting with jealousy. She immediately vamped out, turned and hit Riley square over his face. "She's angry."

"Oh yes," he confirmed."Very. Darla is very obsessive with my demon. Seeing me here together with you ...," he shrugged, "she doesn't like it. But I really don't care."

Buffy had to smile at his words, "Good," she said and kissed him on his chest. Looking up to him, she whispered, "Because you're mine now."

One of his eyebrows shot up and a grin played around his mouth, "Possessive all of a sudden?"

She shrugged, "Must be the vampire in me," she smiled. "Kiss me. Let's give her a reason to be jealous."

"You're a bad girl," he scolded playfully but obliged. Their lips met and Darla was forgotten in an instant. Wrapped up in passion they sunk to the floor.

*****

"I will kill her," Darla shouted in uncontrolled rage. How dare she! And Angelus! Her most favourite childe, her lover. He was hers and he was with that ... that girl now. Usually she wasn't really jealous when he went to have his fun with other women, but there hadn't been a real reason to be. None of them ever meant anything to him. But this girl was special. She'd felt it the moment the whole story had begun. He was more than obsessed with her. And he didn't even try to hide it. The possessive way he'd put his arm around her shoulder... she didn't want to think about it, but the image wouldn't leave her mind.

Riley wiped his face and licked the blood from his fingers. Blood, he wanted blood, more blood. Darla had just introduced him to the new world, but now she was neglecting him for this jerk. And Buffy, his Buffy wasn't even ashamed to kiss this man in her room in front of his eyes. She would pay for it as would Angel. Darla and he had more in common than she knew."I'm hungry," he said and looked at his sire

"Hungry?," she echoed. "Then go and find yourself something to eat, I'm not your nurse, you know. I made you, but that doesn't mean I have to care for you."

"Fine," he shot back. "See you later." With this he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

"God," Darla groaned when he was gone, "what a nuissance. Can't even care for his own food." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She would keep him for a while and then stake him. At the moment she could use him, but she wouldn't bother with an idiot like him for eternity.

Involuntarily her eyes wandered back to the window where she'd seen both her childer only some minutes before. Hot rage consumed her when she thought what they probably did right now. They would pay. She would kill the girl and torture Angelus for a while. And she would make him watch while his precious new toy died, she decided. And then, if he'd suffered enough she would open her arms and welcome him back at her bosom. Yes, she liked the image and a moan escaped her throat thinking of his cool tongue allover her. Yes, she would get him back! Laughing out loud she walked into the direction where Riley had just disappeared before. Maybe she could join him for the meal after all

*****

Spike stood behind the bushes and chuckled. Angelus certainly knew how to make a woman angry. Darla was fuming right now. And Spike was happy. An angry vampire was a careless vampire. Well, that would make his plan easier. He just had to talk to his annyoing grand-sire again. But then, he shrugged inwardly, if his plan worked, it would be the last he'd seen of him, and for that he'd do almost everything. Grinning he followed Darla into the darkness.

*****

"Are you alright?," Angel asked for the second time this night.

"Hmmm," came her reply. The pleasure was evident in her voice, when she spoke, "This was the best so far."

He chuckled against her body. His head was buried between her breasts his arms firmly wrapped around her. "Glad you approve of me."

"Oh, I do," she said smiling. "You're certainly good at that."

"And how do you know?," he asked and looked up at her. "I know first hand you had nothing to compare me to."

She shrugged slightly, "Girls talk. And there are certain poems, but you know what. It's all not true. This," she smiled at him, "is so much better." A happy sigh escaped her mouth. "I think I get used to it."

"That's good because I'm addicted already," he told her with a grin

"But I'm tired now," she said, her eyes closing.

"Don't you think, the bed would be more comfortable than the floor?," he asked but she didn't answer anymore. She was already fast asleep. With a low chuckle he shifted and scooped her in his arms. Sliding with her under the covers he pulled her to him and closed his eyes as well. And Darla was forgotten for the night. 

Part 14

He'd always hated Angelus. He hadn't liked him on first sight, because for Spike's taste he was to damned good looking. The moment however he'd realised Dru's obsession with her sire, Spike was outright pissed. It wasn't very likely for a vampire to feel like this, like being in love, but he felt that way, period. The days Dru would slip from their room to visit her sire he felt like killing something and most of the time it was exactly what happened. He would leave their lair as soon as the sun had set and find some ignorant human who was an easy victim.

It were these nights when Spike was doubting all his soul had left his body the night Dru had made him a vampire. Because even while sucking some human dry the pictures of Dru and Angelus wouldn't leave his mind.

So all in all he hated the bugger, but to find his peace he had to grit his teeth and go through with it. And in a way his grand-sire was different. First of all he'd never seen Angelus being civil with humans before. It wasn't like him, to stand peacefully beside them. Usually he would already inflict his century experience of torture on them.

He'd always been the inventive one when it was about torturing captives. He was probably the only vampire Spike knew that didn't get his kick from the kill. For Angelus it was nothing more than a necessity to survive. What really turned him on was the way to go there, to make his victims scream, to see them sweat with fear and terror. To smell these emotions on humans was like a drug for him.

He was a master of playing with human emotions what made Spike think about him as a human for a moment. He'd probably been someone with a fragile soul, compassionate and capable of great love, but easy to break, open for hurt. Often in vampires these things reversed to the opposite.

His special qualities were the reason all the women were so obsessed with him and his good looks of course. Angelus had once - under the influence of alcohol - confided in him how his human self had been a favourite amongst women. And becoming a vampire had certainly not lessened his attractivity. God, he hated the bugger! He'd spent the whole day listening to Dru's whining, crying out for 'her Angel' in her dreams. She never cried out of 'her William' or 'her Spike'.

With a growl Spike kicked some stone over the pavement and shook his head. But obsession or not, he loved his dark princess, he couldn't think of being with anyone else. Their love was meant for eternity and in moments of sanity Dru had repeatedly told him she loved him too. Whatever that meant for a vampire like her. But it had to be true up to a certain extent, because she'd made him her childe after all

Looking up he realised he'd reached his destiny, the house of Rupert Giles, father of the girl Angelus favoured at the moment. And oddly enough she didn't seem afraid of him. With a deep inward sigh he knocked and raised a brow when he saw said girl standing in the doorway, but something was odd about her. And then his eyes widened in surprise and understanding, "You're a vampire," he exclaimed and had to laugh, "oh that bugger always knew how to doit."

"Good evening to you too, Spike," Buffy gave him a saccharine smile. "Angel told me everything about you, so cut all this nonsense."

"Did he now?," Spike grinned. This was just fun now. "And he goes by Angel now, that's new."

"Yes, he did and yes he does, answering both your questions," came Angel's voice from behind his mate and a second later he stood in the doorway too. "So, what do you want?"

"I came to tell you that Darla ...," he stopped in mid-sentence and his jaw almost hit the floor, "hell, I can't believe it." He pointed at the matching necklaces Buffy and Angel were wearing, "if that isn't the Gem of Amarra. Bloody hell, where did you get them?"

"None of your business," his grand-sire was about to loose his patience with him. "So what about Darla? She was here last night you know."

"Yeah," his grand-childe nodded. "I was too. Nice performance," he said towards Buffy who bit her lips to prevent herself from giggling. She had been a well educated girl of the London society for some years now, until some days ago, but somehow she liked it better this way.

"She was furious," Spike grinned.

"I bet," Angel leaned against the doorframe.

"She knows about you and I," his grand-childe informed him. "Dru had a vision and told Darla."

"I see," the dark-haired vampire shrugged, not overly impressed. He knew Darla and he wasn't afraid of her and especially not now being protected by the Gem of Amarra. "Anything else?"

Spike narrowed his eyes and studied the other vampire's face. "Something's different about you mate," he stated after a moment. "Something ... it's," he shook his head and then suddenly his eyes widened, "It's your eyes. Both of you. It's almost ... God, that's disgusting you know. You have a soul, mate! You and the girl, you have souls," he shouted and stepped back. "My own grand-sire, the Scourge of Europe has a soul." He ran a hand through his hair, "I don't believe it. I'm going to be the laughing stock of the whole vampire community. One of my ancestors has a soul."

"You can stop now, William," Angel said after a moment, "we all got it."

"Stop?," his grand-childe wasn't about to calm down. But then another thought entered his mind, "thinking about it, you having a soul makes you much more reliable, I'd say. Your soulless version wasn't a real team-player."

"No," Angel sighed involuntarily and rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "I should probably tell you that we're not the usual vampires anymore." Seeing Buffy looking at him oddly, he gave her a sheepish smile before turning back to his grand-childe, "And don't ask me why I'm doing it. You were a real pain in my ...," he trailed off, but went on a second later, "Anyway. Our destiny is to hunt vampires, for that purpose we got these," he pointed at the necklaces. "They protect us."

"Don't I know it," Spike shook his head, still unable to believe the fact that the great Angelus had disappeared all of a sudden. He felt bubbles of joy rising inside his stomach. This was better than celebrating Christmas and birthday together, if he was still human, that is. Suddenly his eyes narrowed, "You're telling me you're going to hunt your own kind. That's even more disgusting, mate."

"You aren't any of my kind, Spike," his grand-sire was dead serious, "not anymore. I have a soul and Buffy never lost hers. You're certainly not comparing yourself to her?," one of his brows rose. "You leave London with Drusilla, we take care of Darla and her new toy."

"Oh you've seen him. God, he's an idiot," the younger vampire rolled his eyes, "you should've seen him. He's following her like a puppy. I really hated your soulless version, but Angelus had at least style. He was his own vampire, but this. Darla must be more desperate than I've noticed at first." He paused for a moment and then shook his head again, "Doesn't it strike you as odd that we have our first civil conversation for like ... ever? Maybe I'm going to like you this way."

Angel's eyes narrowed, "Don't play games with me. This is a one time deal. If we'll ever run across you and Dru again, all deals are off. Then you'll be just the regular vampire for me and nothing will keep us from staking you or your sire for that matter."

Spike involuntarily stepped back and raised his hands, "Alright mate. I'm going to get Dru out of here. Maybe ... no," he grinned, "better we never cross paths again. I'm going to try to stay out of your way, I'm sure we'll hear from each other though. Dru and I will leave tonight. I've planned everything. Take care of Darla and if possible forever, because I'm not looking forward meeting her again. She'll be truly pissed knowing that we've worked together behind her back."

"I'd say it was nice meeting you but the way it is ..." Angel trailed off but managed to smile at his grand-childe. Spike surely wasn't the usual kind of vampire. His affection for Drusilla was certainly more than uncommon.

"No need for flattery," Spike turned towards Buffy and made a slight bow, "But it was really nice meeting you. If you'll ever get tired of him," seeing the blonde raise her brows he laughed. "No, I suppose not. Looks like true love. God, it's really disgusting. Have a good life kids." And with this and a last laugh he was gone.

Buffy turned towards Angel and smiled, "He's strange, but somehow ..."

He quirked a brow at her, "Don't go soft on him. He is as blood-sucking as any other vampire. But you're right, somehow..."

Both laughed at that. Wrapping his arms around Buffy, Angel closed the door.

****

The vampire formerly known as Riley Finn smiled to himself. Now Darla would take him seriously. He'd some information for her. William had made a deal with Angelus and the dark-haired vampire had a soul as had Buffy whatever that meant. Riley was to new in this to understand the deeper meaning. But certainly Darla wouldn't want him anymore now. She would be all his. He smiled and felt utterly superior. Oh yes, it was a good feeling being dead.

With a whistle on his lips he made his way towards their lair. He definitely loved being in control.

Go to Part 15