Pairing: Willow/Angelus
Summary: The Gang finds out that Willow is missing
Distribution: same as always, Soulmates, Bite Me..Please, UCSL, anyone who wants it. Just ask, I'll say yes.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to Joss and a bunch of other people who are not now and have never been me.
Feedback: PLEASE! Constructive criticism welcomed.
Author's Notes: To Kitty, thank you so much for beta-reading this and for being such a friend in spite of your own problems. I love you; to Kat, who helped me make this chapter so much better and prodded me to develop an inetllectual framework for my ideas; to Missy, for being a super cheerleader; to Elisabeth,for the icon; to lilbreck, for putting my W/S fic on her site and making gorgeous banners for it; to Emmy, for being Emmy; to Lisa Kelley, who gave me the computer I am writing this on(thanks again, babycake!); and to everyone who wanted a sequel...I sure hope you like it!
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~Part: 1~
The mood in the library had never been more sombre. Giles, Buffy, Cordelia, and Xander couldn't even look at, let alone speak to, each other. Oz had taken off alone, dealing with his pain privately. But not before he had uncharacteristically blasted Buffy, calling her a worthless bitch and blaming her for what had happened to Willow. And he wasn't the only one. Xander, too, had gone off on the Slayer before he was calmed down and induced to sit and cool his temper by Giles. And Giles had been right, after all. Yelling at Buffy would not fix what had happened. And if there was any hope at all, they would have to work together. For that was the only possible way that they could get Willow back.
Giles had been the first to find out. Principal Snyder had taken him aside first thing and told him that the door to the school had been found unlocked that morning and that Willow's purse, keys, and test papers had been found on the floor in the computer lab. But there was no sign of Willow. No clue as to what had happened to her.
Giles knew though. He knew immediately what, or rather who, had happened to Willow.Angelus. He had immediately called Buffy, Xander, Oz, and Cordelia into the library where he broke the horrible news. There had been shouting, tears, and recriminations instantaneously. Most of the blame was heaped on the Slayer. After all, Xander pointed out, if she hadn't been so eager to lay rather than slay her precious Angel, they wouldn't have Angelus to worry about right now. Jenny Calendar would still be alive and Willow would be here at school with them right now.
Oz had agreed and had pointed out that Buffy hadn't even killed Angelus at the mall when she had the chance. And now that monster probably had Willow, the girl he loved, the girl who had been his for such a short time, the girl who was probably being tortured or turned if she wasn't already dead. And it was all Buffy's fault. With a last venomous dig at the Slayer, Oz stormed out of the library. None of the others were his friends, after all. The only reason he had spent any time with them was because helping them was so important to Willow. And now Willow was gone.
Xander was numb. So many feelings were roiling around in his brain that
he thought it might explode. After all, he had never been much good with
the brain stuff. That was Willow's forte. Willow.oh, God. What could have
happened to her? A part of him hoped that they were wrong. Maybe she had
escaped and was hiding somewhere. After all, wouldn't Angelus have just
killed her and left her body there for them to find, the way he had left
Jenny in Giles' bed? Or maybe he was dreaming. Yeah, that was it. This
was a nightmare. He'd wake up soon in his bed at home and never again eat
Twinkies after midnight. Hell, who was he kidding, he'd give up junk food
forever.even dump Cordelia, if it meant that Willow would come home safe
and sound. He realized, with a sinking feeling, that since he'd begun his
relationship with the popular cheerleader he'd barely spent any time with
Willow, unless it was to ask to borrow her homework or to discuss demons.
Well that was going to change, he vowed. When
Willow was found, he would be the best friend she ever had.
If everyone else was blaming Buffy, it was no more than she was blaming herself. Oz and Xander were right, she thought. If only she hadn't ignored her sacred duty. Or at least staked Angelus at the mall when she'd had the chance, Willow would be here right now where she belonged. Laughing at Xander's dumb jokes. Looking up things on the computer for Giles. Listening to Buffy go on and on about yet another outfit she'd ruined while slaying. Holding hands with Oz. But instead.who knew what was happening to her right this minute? Angelus might have killed her or worse, turned her. Buffy had no idea what she would do if her best friend in the world was a vampire now. If she couldn't stake Angelus, how could she possibly stake Willow? And poor Xander, he'd already lost one of his dearest friends, having had to stake Jesse himself. What would happen to him if they had to slay Willow? She didn't think Xander could survive it if that were the case. And she wasn't sure she could either.
What would she do without Willow? Who else would listen to her troubles so patiently and be such a great shoulder to cry on? But, with a dawning sense of self-loathing , Buffy realized that she hadn't been there much for Willow lately. Brushing her off with a generic comment when she talked about Xander or Oz, not offering any real support at all when Miss Calendar died. How could she have been so thoughtless? Willow's grief had to nearly equal Giles. Yet, while Buffy had given her Watcher a sympathetic ear and companionship, she had left Willow alone to deal with her loss all by herself. That would change, Buffy swore. If they could just get Willow back safe and sound, she'd be as great a friend to Willow as Willow had always been to her.
Only Cordelia was immune to the sense of terror and despair that pervaded the library. She had never liked Willow, had always hated her in fact. She had spent most of her young life taking enormous pleasure in making Willow miserable. And now Willow was probably dead. Cordelia really didn't feel particularly sad about that. Besides, Willow was better off dead than being a loser for the rest of her life. But Cordelia was smart enough to know that Xander and the others wouldn't appreciate hearing that, so she put on a credibly mournful expression and pretended to be concerned about Willow's fate. She just hoped everyone would get over it soon. She didn't know how long she could keep up the act. If only Xander knew what she put herself through for his sake.
Giles was the first one to break the long silence that had held since Xander's last outburst. "Where do you think he might have taken her, Buffy?" he said, looking at his downhearted Slayer.
"You don't really think she's still alive, do you?" Cordelia interjected.
Xander looked sharply at his callous girlfriend. "She has to be alive, Cordelia," he said. "If Angelus had killed her, he would have left her body for us to find just like he did with." Xander left the sentence unfinished, not wanting to cause Giles any more pain.
"Quite right, Xander," Giles replied. "Since we have not found a body, we will go on the assumption that Willow is still alive and proceed accordingly." He suddenly felt better. Making plans, coordinating action, all these things made him feel hope. Made him feel more like a Watcher, and less like a father whose child was gone. Buffy might be his Slayer, the girl he was sworn as a Watcher to train, guide, and protect. But Willow had been very much like the daughter he'd never had and he desperately hoped that he wouldn't fail her, as her own parents had done throughout her life. He felt the part of him that was still Ripper rise within him as he thought about what he would do to Angelus for daring to harm Willow. Then he calmed himself and turned once more back into the Watcher and prepared to guide his Slayer and her cohorts in an all-out mission to find and save Willow Rosenberg.
~Part: 2~
Angelus gazed down at Willow's face as she peacefully slept next to him. He, himself, was too keyed up to allow for sleep. So many things to think about. So many plans to make.
He went over the events of the previous night in his mind, looking for anything that might complicate things for him. He swore to himself as he remembered that he had left Willow's purse and keys in the computer lab in his eagerness to get her back to the apartment. That would inevitably cast suspicion on him and ensured that Willow's disappearance had already become known. Buffy and Xander might be complete idiots, but the Watcher could certainly add two and two. And when Willow's body wasn't discovered, they would all be eager to believe that she was alive and would come looking for her.
And they knew where his 'lair' was. That put a crimp in his previous plans. Taking Willow back to the factory was a bad idea. He couldn't deal with both Drusilla and the Scoobies at the same time and still keep Willow safe and where she belonged.with him. He would have to come up with a better idea.
Looking back through Soulboy's memories, Angelus recalled a hotel in town that just might serve his purposes. Luxurious accommodations and a willingness, for a 'reasonable' fee, to serve clients with 'unique' needs were among the services they offered. Now that was the ticket. He could leave Willow there, go see to his impetuous and annoying childer, feed, and perhaps even get a chance to see what the Slayer and her merry band of morons were up to. Willow would leap at the chance to prove her loyalty to him by remaining in her room and not trying to contact anyone in his absence, he was sure. But just in case, he would have the phone turned off and provide financial incentive for the staff to watch the door to his room in his absence.
Now his thoughts turned to what to do about Drusilla. And he realized that the answer was rolling around the lair already.Spike. Now that he was no longer engaged in a ridiculous competition with the bleached brat for the worthless affections of Drusilla, he was able to view him in a more objective light. And what he saw was a creature who could be of tremendous use to him.
Spike was a dangerous fighter who had killed two Slayers. Get him back in fighting trim and he'd be a valuable ally against Buffy and her cohorts. He could also be counted on to keep tabs on the volatile and venomous Dru. After all, it was in Spike's interest to preserve the life of Angelus' alternate love interest. As in love with Dru and willing to do her lightest bidding as Spike was, even Dru couldn't come up with a good reason for Spike to help get rid of Willow that didn't involve Dru getting a chance to climb back into her Sire's bed.
And then there was the intriguing possibility that turning Spike against his sanity-challenged sweetheart might be worth his while as well. While his memories regarding Dru's sexual skills had been faulty, he was reasonably sure that those regarding Spike's erotic abilities were not. After all, there were no emotional clouds to color them. Just crystal-clear images of a wickedly talented mouth around his cock and a tight, grasping ass milking him of everything he had to give and then some. After all, though he was sure that Willow was going to be the finest bed partner he had ever had, there were limitations to the human body. And there would be times when he would just want to let go with all the violence of his vampiric nature. On those occasions, it would be pleasant to have Spike there to give him what Willow could not.
For a moment, he considered simply staking Dru when he returned home that night, but he quickly discarded that idea. First and foremost for reasons entirely practical in nature. He could not stake Dru without reasons which would carry weight in the vampire world. As her Sire, he was expected to protect her and to treat her with a degree of respect above that accorded to minions. Only the curse gave him a good excuse for having abandoned her nearly a century ago. Staking her now, without good and obvious reasons, would diminish his stature and practically send out an engraved invitation for other Master vampires to swoop into town and challenge him for rulership over the Hellmouth.
No, he needed to wait. Besides, it would hardly be a long wait. Certainly Dru's fury over his new companion would make her act against him in a way that would allow him to destroy her with no loss of face in the demon world. After all, betraying one's Sire, no matter what the reason, was an act punishable by death. He need only bide his time and let Dru dust herself, so to speak.
As to winning Spike over, that would require a bit of finesse but he was sure it could be done. He would remind Spike that his precious Sire, for whom Spike had cared so faithfully after her near-destruction in Prague, had not done nearly so well for him. Hadn't even offered him a drop of her blood to help him heal. Then he would let Spike stew in that truth for a bit. Once Spike ruminated on that, Angelus was sure it would be easy to get the emotional brat to see things his way. After all, as his Sire's Sire, and as the one who had actually trained him, it was Angelus' right to step in and take the boy as his own, a concept that now seemed rather a tantalizing one to the elder vampire.
But, first things first. It was time for him to get up, shower, change, find the stash of cash Angel kept in the apartment for 'emergencies', and awaken his lovely Willow. Then, at sundown, they would leave for the hotel. Willow would be pleased, he was certain, at not having to meet with his childer and his minions, thus cementing her loyalty to him even more solidly. And the next day, after she'd had a bit more rest while he was out, she would surely be ready for them to enjoy each other completely. He could hardly wait.
He gently removed his arm from around Willow's body, delighting in the soft moan of protest she made in her sleep. Rising silently from the bed, he went about his business quietly. Showering, putting on fresh, if boring, clothing from Angel's closet, and getting the cash from inside the ugly sculpture in the living room area. Once he was sure he had tidied the apartment sufficiently to hide the fact that he had been there, he went back to the bedroom to awaken Willow. It was almost sundown. Time to leave.
~Part: 3~
The limousine ride to the hotel had been lovely. Until Angelus had drained the driver right after they had arrived. It was at that moment that the reality of just what her lover really was hit her with the force of a freight train. He was a vampire. A ruthless, remorseless killer. And that was never going to change. Every night he was going to go out and feed. Feed on the lives of unsuspecting, innocent people. Maybe even people she knew. People she loved.
Used to love, she reminded herself. Before she'd had her eyes opened and realized that none of them had ever loved her. Before she'd realized what love really was. Before she belonged to Angelus.
Could she live with herself, though? Could she just ignore what he did as if it didn't matter? Of course she could, she told herself. What had caring about everyone else ever gotten her, anyway? Nothing, that's what. She'd given and given and no one had ever cared. It had never been enough. She had always ended up ignored and alone with no one to talk to, no one who cared anything about her until they needed her to do something for them again.
She had been there for Xander since she was five years old, but now that he had Cordelia, the only time he ever even spoke to her was to ask to copy her homework. And even before that, he had used her to practice asking out Buffy and never even noticed or cared that Willow was in love with him.
And Buffy. She'd once thought Buffy was the best friend in the world. She had thought she was so lucky to have a friend who was a girl for the first time in her life. She had truly believed that Buffy liked her for who she was. But she'd been wrong again. Buffy was just like Xander. She simply wanted someone to listen to her troubles, someone whose homework she could copy, and someone who wouldn't get in the way of her being in the spotlight all the time. Buffy hadn't done more than pay lip service to Willow's feelings about Xander and Cordelia. Hadn't cared that Angelus had come into Willow's bedroom and killed her fish. And had paid no heed to Willow's grief when Jenny Calendar was murdered.
Remembering Jenny immediately threw Willow into a state of confusion. What kind of person had she become? Jenny had been her mentor, her idol. She genuinely mourned and grieved for the techno-pagan. Yet she was now the consort of the monster who had broken Jenny's neck and left her dead body in Giles' bed. How could she be so callous?
Willow's head throbbed as she struggled to deal with the contradictory feelings raging within her in a confused and frightening maelstrom. She wished Angelus were here. She knew she would feel so much more certain if he was with her. But he wasn't. Shortly after checking them into the lavishly appointed suite, ordering a tray of cold food from room service, and instructing her not to use the phone or leave the suite, he had left, telling her that he had things he needed to do and that he would be back before dawn.
She hadn't asked what those things were. She knew better than that. If she needed to know, he would tell her. And she was far too grateful for not having to be with Angelus' childer and the minions to want to repay that kindness by offending him. But she wished he were here.
Being alone with her thoughts right now was frightening for Willow. Trying to make sense of what had transpired in the past 24 hours was doing nothing but upsetting and disorienting her. She wished she could find a way to shut off her thoughts. But they just kept on thundering through her brain.
Suddenly, another fearful recollection struck her.Oz. She hadn't thought about Oz once before now. Not even last night when Angelus had.when they had made love. Willow wouldn't call it rape any more. Not now that she understood what had happened. But what would Angelus do if he found out that she had had a kind-of boyfriend? Would he be angry? Should she tell him about Oz? Explain that, after all, she and Oz had barely even kissed, and then not even with tongue? Or should she just leave the subject alone? After all, she hadn't really felt that deeply for Oz. She was with him mostly because he was in a band and he liked her. A part of her secretly hoping that dating the musician would make Xander jealous. Sure, she had thought Oz was nice and she had come to like him more and more as time went on, even after discovering that he was a werewolf. But her feelings for him were nothing compared to what she and Angelus had.
And then she once again was confronted by a stark and terrifying possibility.what if Angelus killed Xander? Would she be able to accept that? She wanted to say 'yes', that she could. After all, Angelus loved her. Xander didn't. Angelus cared about her and her feelings and needs. Xander didn't. Angelus would always be there for her. Xander abandoned her every time a short skirt and a tight tank top walked by. She was over Xander. She was Angelus' now. And if Angelus killed Xander she wouldn't bat an eye. She told herself that and it was true. It had to be true.
For now, she decided that the best way to while away the hours til Angelus returned would be to take a hot shower and go to sleep. That would stop the thoughts racing uselessly through her mind. She needed her rest anyway. When her Angelus came back, he would most likely want to make love to her again. And she was still sore from before. But with a shower and some rest, she was sure she would be good as new when he arrived. And then she would show him how much she appreciated him for taking her away from her old life. And she would let him fill her body, her mind, and her heart so fully that she wouldn't think about the past ever again.
~Part: 4~
Drusilla seethed with anger as her Daddy entered the room. He'd been playing with the little red almost-witch all night and all day. He should have been with his Princess. But instead he was with some mousy little human who didn't even know where her broomstick and candles were. The stars had told her something of Daddy's new playmate, but she couldn't make them tell her any more secrets. She was angry at them anyway. They lied and teased and were mean to Drusilla, telling her that Daddy would never give up his human and that she must take care of her Spike and leave the little tree alone. That Daddy craved the little witch-to-be and her magic and would use the little tree to stake his Princess if she wasn't careful. Naughty stars.
And what was worse, they had convinced Miss Edith to be naughty too. Well, she simply wouldn't listen to them anymore. She knew that her Daddy could never prefer some weak little mortal to his Princess. And if she couldn't make her Daddy see that she was all he needed, she would do what he had done to her and take away his distraction. She would kill the red tree. And then she would be all her Daddy had.
Angelus scowled at his insane childe as he wandered into the main room of the factory. She was obviously in a temper. And he just knew what was going to come next. She would attempt to seduce him with what she thought were her irresistible wiles. He dreaded the tantrum that would follow her failure even more than he dreaded the feeling of her cold hands running over his body. Oh, well. It couldn't be helped. And at least Willow was safely out of the fray.
But where, he wondered, was Roller Boy? Ah, there he was. Grumpy, as usual. He'd have to see what he could do about that. As annoying as Drusilla's fits of anger were, Spike in a temper was actually quite arousing. There was nothing quite like the sight of Spike in a rage to get his juices flowing and his cock hard. On second thought, he'd better spare himself that sight for now. He had plans for Spike that would be better served by waiting to take him. And, after all, he had a great deal to do tonight before getting himself back to the hotel to enjoy the daylight hours in the company of his lovely Willow.
Glowering at his grand-Sire, Spike wheeled himself into the main chamber. Damn. He'd been hoping Angelus had been staked, or gotten himself re-souled or something. Despite not having felt anything through the bond, he had still entertained some pathetic hope that the bastard's absence the past 24 hours meant that they would never see him again. That he was gone forever and that Spike would have his Dark Goddess all to himself once more. The way that it should be. If it wasn't for the fact that Dru had been alternately miserable and enraged throughout the last day, Spike would have enjoyed himself immensely in Angelus' absence. But it was pretty hard to have a good time without his lovely Sire, and she had locked herself in her room, mumbling to herself and screaming at the stars.
Yet, there might be reason for celebration after all. For, if the scent pouring off of his grand-Sire was any indication, Angelus had found himself a new playmate. And that meant he wouldn't be wanting to play with Drusilla anymore. Unlife suddenly seemed to be looking up for Spike. Now if he could just get out of this wheelchair, things would be damn near perfect.
"Welcome home, Daddy," Drusilla simpered, schooling her expression into a seductive smile. "We've missed you. Haven't we Spike?"
"Yeah, like a stake to the heart," Spike grumbled as he wheeled himself next to his lovely Sire.
"Where were you, Daddy? I was ever so lonely with you gone." Drusilla decided not to mention what she knew of her Daddy and his new playmate. The stars had been so naughty, she couldn't be sure they were telling the truth about anything. And she was sure she would be more successful at seducing her Angelus tonight by keeping quiet about what the stars had told her anyway. But her intentions were immediately undone by what Angelus said next.
"It's none of your business, Drusilla. And you'd better get used to my absence. I'll be spending most of my days somewhere else from now on." Angelus braced himself for the tirade and he was not disappointed.
"No!" Drusilla shrieked. "This is all because of the red tree! She's turned my Angelus against me with her magic! She cannot take my Daddy away! I won't let her!"
With a movement so swift it caught even Spike by surprise, Angelus grabbed the insane vampiress, tilted her head to the side, poised his teeth at her neck and growled. "I can drain you to dust where you stand, you loony bitch! I will only say this once, and you will obey. What I do and who I do it with is none of your concern. I have taken a consort. She is under my protection and you will not go near her or try to harm her in any way. If you disobey me, I will torture you until you beg me to end your unlife. Then I will douse you in holy water and stake you out to meet the sunrise. Have I made myself clear?"
Drusilla nodded her head, fear and hatred coursing through her veins. She knew that she would have to pretend to accede to Angelus' demands for now. He was under the spell of the nasty red tree, just like the stars and Miss Edith were. But she would be patient. And she would be cunning. She would destroy the little almost-witch, and with that her Daddy would be hers once more. She just had to bide her time.
Angelus was no fool. He knew that Drusilla's nod meant only that she would back off for a short time. But she would begin to plot and plan. And the moment she thought his back was turned or his guard was down, she would go after Willow. But his order and her acceptance of it had been heard by Spike and his most trusted minions. So the moment he caught Dru acting against him, he could stake the worthless bitch and no one could argue that he wasn't wholly within his rights as her Sire to do so. For now, he'd let her keep her unlife. She'd screw up soon and give him the perfect excuse to stake her.
"Why don't you go out and hunt, Dru? And bring something back for Sit and Spin here. He looks hungry."
Drusilla knew better than to argue with her Sire right now, so she smiled, curtsied, and left the room. Seething with frustrated rage, she left the factory to vent her anger on the unsuspecting citizens of Sunnydale.
After Drusilla had left the room, Angelus turned to Spike. "How you feeling, William, my boy?" he said in a mockingly concerned tone. "Your legs any better? You know what would really help you with that? Sire's blood. Oh, but Dru won't give you any, will she? Pity about that. Well, if you ever get tired of sitting around all day, come to me. If you ask me real nice, I'll give you some of mine."
With that, Angelus turned on his heel and walked out into the Sunnydale night, looking for a good feed and maybe some information. He knew he had given Spike something to think about. And that put a spring in his step as he looked around for an unfortunate and unwary wanderer to drain. He had snacked on the limo driver earlier that night, but a vamp had to keep his strength up. After all, he had a little woman waiting back at the hotel who was sure to make demands on his energy from now on. And he wanted to be well fed for their reunion at dawn. Angelus whistled softly to himself as he spied a foolish woman walking out of an apartment building and down the sidewalk towards a corner market. Yeah, she'd make a nice meal.
~Part: 5~
"Explain to me again why you came on patrol with me?" Buffy asked Giles as they walked through one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries.
"Because, Buffy, you shouldn't be alone right now. And frankly, I don't think I want to be alone now, either," replied Giles with more than a hint of sadness in his voice.
"You're right, Giles. I just feel so helpless. Why don't we go to the factory? Maybe he has Willow there."
"Buffy, as much as I would like to go charging in and rescue her, don't you think that if Angelus is keeping Willow there he has her well-guarded? We need to see if we can find out more about what his plans are before we go rushing in. He may be laying a trap for you and you won't be of any use to Willow--or to anyone for that matter--if you're dead," Giles cautioned his rash Slayer.
"I know, Giles," Buffy said, her worry coloring her voice. "I just feel so helpless. He could be torturing Willow right now. And it's all my fault. And what if he's.?"
"You mustn't even think such a thing, Buffy," Giles interrupted. "If she were.we surely would know about it by now," Giles said, unable to even form the words to speak of their worst fear. That Angelus had made Willow a vampire.
The two figures, Watcher and Slayer, moved quietly through the cemetery, unaware as yet that their conversation had an audience. An audience who was deeply gratified by what he heard.and was equally eager to play with the minds of his mortal enemies. Time for some fun.
"Well, well, what have we here?" Angelus' voice came out of the darkness. "Where's the rest of your little gang of losers, Buff? Don't they usually patrol with you these days? Or are they all back at the library doing research? Too bad, I was kinda hoping I'd see Willow tonight."
"Where is she, you bastard?" Buffy was in no mood for games. Standing in front of the evil vampire who wore the face of the man she still loved, she was torn apart by the fact that, now that she finally had the courage to kill him, she couldn't. Not 'til he told them what had happened to Willow.
"Willow? I would think you'd know that better than I would, Buff. After all, she's your friend. Aren't you the one who protects her? Who keeps her safe from all the things that go bump in the night here in Sunnydale? How come you're asking me where she is?"
Angelus was enjoying himself thoroughly. The expression on Buffy's face was priceless, even better than the one she'd worn when he had insulted her skills as a sexual partner the first night after he lost the soul. Utter confusion made her look even more ludicrous than Spike did in a wheelchair. He'd have to fight to keep from laughing so hard that she'd get the chance to stake him.
Then Giles spoke and Angelus regained his composure.
"I'm tired of these games, you damned vampire. We know you kidnapped Willow to use in some twisted scheme against Buffy. Whatever it is you want, we.we'll give it to you." Even as he spoke, Giles could scarcely believe what he was saying. But he had already lost his beloved Jenny to the dark vampire who stood before him. He couldn't bear to lose Willow, too. "Just return her to us alive and unharmed and we'll agree to your demands.whatever they are."
Even Buffy was dumbfounded at Giles speech. He was offering Angelus a blank check? Okay, Willow, but still. But then Buffy thought about Willow, poor, terrified Willow, and how unfair it was that she was suffering just because she was the best friend of the Slayer. And she nodded her head in agreement. Whatever it was Angelus wanted, if it got Willow back it would be a small price to pay.
Angelus' thoughts, however, were running along entirely different lines. And once again he was stricken with a feeling of surprising compassion for Willow. Did these people really believe that they loved Willow? Even the Watcher believed that Willow could have no possible significance outside being used to hurt the Slayer. He knew that Buffy was utterly self-absorbed, but it looked as if Giles was of the same mind as Buffy. That the world itself revolved around the Slayer, and everyone else was simply a moon orbiting her sun.
Poor Willow. Luckily for her, Angelus had come along. Someone who appreciated her for herself, and not just as Buffy's pet researcher. Well, since he was of no mind to give Willow back anyway, it was time to play another little mind game. Their utterly narrow-minded view of Willow's possible appeal to a demon like him gave him the perfect ammunition to create a little diversion. And it might even hold permanently. At the very least, it would take the Slayer and her satellites off his trail for a bit. And give him some peace and quiet to spend just enjoying his lovely Willow.
"You think I have Willow? If I had kidnapped her to use in some stupid plot against you, don't you think I'd have told you what I wanted by now? If I had turned her, don't you think she'd be standing here next to me? And if I'd killed her, you'd have already found her body. I don't need to kidnap Willow to defeat you, Buffy. I'm more than enough vamp to win against you on my own without hiding behind a little girl's skirts."
And with that, Angelus turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Buffy and Giles looked at each other. Both were more confused than they had ever been before. Could they have been wrong? Had something else happened to Willow? Had they wasted precious time that they could have been using to find her in their blind certainty that Angelus was the one who had kidnapped the hacker? If it wasn't Angelus who was responsible, then who, or what, could it be?
Turning and walking out of the cemetery, Giles decided they had both done enough of a patrol for that night. They resolved to return to the library, call the others, and research to see if there were any other demons who might have snatched Willow from the school the previous night.
As they walked, Giles found himself replaying Angelus' words in his mind. Something about what the vampire had said troubled him deeply. He just wasn't sure what it was.
~Part: 6~
Angelus entered the hotel suite quietly. He had sated his hunger for sustenance by draining a couple of unwary Sunnydale citizens and his hunger for mischief by toying with Buffy and the Watcher. But now he felt another hunger within himself, and it was one that only Willow could satisfy.
As he moved soundlessly through the room, he couldn't help but stare at the lovely creature who lay in peaceful repose on the large bed. Willow was a vision, her hair still slightly damp after a shower, wearing the terrycloth robe provided by the hotel. As she shifted in her sleep, Angelus stifled a groan as her legs parted, revealing to his hungry eyes the fact that she was nude underneath the garment. His nostrils flared as he took in the scent of her, freshly showered, in his bed. As innocent as the virgin she had been 'til the night before last. He had been right about her. There was no chance in Hell that he would ever grow tired of her.
Willow stirred to wakefulness as she felt eyes upon her. She sat up suddenly as she saw that Angelus had returned. She had so wanted to be awake when he returned, to have prettied herself up a bit for him. But the hot shower had been so relaxing, reminding her of how tired she really was. So she had lain down for what she thought would be just a brief catnap. And had not awoken until just now. She hoped he wouldn't be disappointed or angry with her.
"Mmmm.good morning, Little One," Angelus purred as Willow awakened. "You look lovely."
And he meant it. Before Willow, his taste had always run to more flamboyant and artificial beauty. But now, looking at Willow, her hair unstyled, her face devoid of makeup, Angelus thought he had never seen anything lovelier. His mind flew back to Drusilla's rant about Willow using magic. Well, if this was a spell, it was one he never wanted broken.
Willow's breath caught in her throat as she met Angelus' dark gaze. The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable. She couldn't believe how much he seemed to want her; plain, mousy Willow. And yet the evidence was unmistakable, the fact that he'd brought her here at all proved it, as did the undeniable lust in his eyes. Willow was dumbfounded by the concept that any man, let alone a powerful, handsome Master vampire, could want her so much, could feel such intense desire.for her.
She wanted so desperately to feel the same way for him. And yet, while she certainly found him more attractive now than she had when he was Angel, and was so grateful and dependent upon him, she knew that the intense physical passion he felt for her was something she did not feel in return. Not yet, anyway. But she would, soon, of that she was sure. After all, how could she not eventually respond in kind to the depth of his feelings for her?
Angelus slowly approached the bed where Willow sat, her legs curled slightly underneath her, her eyes fixed on him as if he was the most important thing on Earth. He couldn't believe his good fortune. Those worshipful eyes alone were worth everything he had done and would have to do in the future to keep his Willow by his side. A creature such as he couldn't possibly get enough of such attention, and now he would be the recipient of Willow's devotion forever. His cock hardened as he thought of all the delicious ways he would teach Willow to 'worship' him.starting now.
"Did you miss me, sweetling?" Angelus asked softly as he sat next to his redheaded consort.
"Yes," Willow answered. "I mean, I know you had to do stuff and.and that's okay. I mean, you can do whatever you want. I just.missed you."
Angelus chuckled at Willow's characteristic babbling and pulled her to him in a comforting embrace. "Willow, my Willow. It's alright. I like that you missed me. When you care for someone, love them, then you miss them when they're gone. I missed you, too."
The last part was said so softly that Angelus wasn't even sure Willow had heard him 'til she looked at him with wide eyes and said, "Really? You missed me?"
"Yes, I did, Little One. Why don't I show you how much?"
With that Angelus moved to remove his shirt as he kicked off his shoes. He reached for Willow after tossing his shirt over a chair. He then untied the sash of her robe and slowly pushed it off her shoulders. "Beautiful," he murmured as he pulled her to him for a gentle kiss and began to caress her breasts. "You are so lovely, my Willow."
Willow closed her eyes and tried to enjoy the sensation of Angelus' hands on her body. But while it was certainly more pleasurable, and even arousing, than it had been the day before, even the second time, it just wasn't as wonderful for her as it seemed to be for him. And Willow felt horrible about that. After everything that had happened, and with all that she knew Angelus felt for her, all he was doing to take care of her, she wanted more than anything to feel for him what he wanted her to: passion, desire, lust, love.
She consoled herself with the fact that she did feel for him deeply in some ways. She trusted him completely, cared for him, was more grateful to him than she had ever been to anyone in her life.might even love him. She couldn't be sure about that part. After all, her only prior experience with love had been Xander and that.
Maybe that was the problem, Willow thought? Maybe she wasn't responding to Angelus as much as she should be because the hotel where they were staying was too much like the location of the fantasies she'd once had about Xander? That must be the problem. It certainly couldn't be Angelus. She'd read enough books and seen enough movies to know that what he was doing was supposed to turn her on beyond belief. So she closed her eyes and tried to focus on Angelus, on his hands, his lips, his words, his desire. And she hoped it would be enough to help her respond the way he wanted her to, the way she so desperately wanted to in order to be everything he wanted her to be.
Angelus was consumed by his lust for the beautiful girl in his arms. Her lingering innocence, her loveliness, her obvious need to please him, all these things heightened his arousal to an almost painful degree. As he moved his hands over her breasts, feeling her nipples harden under his fingers, he could scent her growing arousal and his cock hardened even more. Gently, he moved Willow's hand to the front of his trousers.
"There, feel what you do to me, Little One?" Angelus nearly moaned at the feel of her hand tentatively stroking his cock through the fabric of his pants. Knowing he was fast losing his ability to maintain his self-control, he stood to remove the last barrier of clothing that remained between himself and the object of his all-consuming desire.
Willow's eyes grew large as she watched Angelus remove his trousers. Sure, she had seen him naked before, but she hadn't really been paying attention. Now that she was, she was almost frightened. His cock looked terrifyingly large to her innocent eyes. No wonder she had been in so much agony when he had taken her the night before last. Would it hurt as much this time, she wondered to herself?
Angelus caught the change in Willow's scent immediately and moved to reassure her. "Shh, sweetling. It won't hurt this time, I promise you. You trust me, don't you?"
Willow nodded and Angelus finished removing his trousers before joining her once more on the bed.
"I promise I won't hurt you, Little One," Angelus soothed her. 'Not until you're ready to enjoy it,' he added inwardly, stifling a groan as he imagined all the delicious games he would be playing with Willow in the future.all the ways he would teach her that pain could bring intense pleasure. For now, what she could handle was enough. He had to admit that the scent of her fear <i>had</i> been a bit of a turn-on. If he didn't control himself, this would all be over too soon.
"Would you like to touch me, Willow?" he asked. "The way that I've touched you?"
Willow nodded uncertainly and reached out her hand to touch Angelus' chest. She ran her fingers lightly over his nipples and was fascinated by the way they hardened under her hand. The moan of pleasure she heard gave her confidence and she moved her hand slowly down his abdomen.
"Can I.would you like me to touch it?" Willow asked as she stopped her hand just short of the base of Angelus' cock, waiting for his permission to explore his body further.
"Yes," Angelus half-moaned, half-spoke, biting back the word 'please'. He didn't want to lose his mastery of the situation by letting her know just how much power his desire gave her over him. Sure, he wanted her to know that he was pleased with her and that he wanted her. But something within him kept him from wanting her to be aware of just how badly he needed her. He would need time to cement their bond, time during which he wanted her to believe her need for him was greater than his for her.
Soon all thought left his mind as Willow's tiny hand began to gently stroke his aching cock. Her light, almost ghostly, touch was driving him to distraction. He saw her look curiously as pre-cum collected on the tip of his member and watched as she collected a drop with her finger and brought it to her lips, darting her tongue out to taste him. That broke his resolve. He had to have her, and he had to have her <i>now</i>.
Willow was stunned and a bit frightened when she suddenly found herself on her back, pinned under Angelus as his eyes flashed gold and he stared at her intensely.
"Do you have any idea what you do to me, Willow?" he growled as he moved his hand between her legs.
Willow wasn't sure what had just happened. She had been planning on performing oral sex on Angelus. Figuring that that would make it up to him for what he had done for her the previous night, and make sure that she pleased him without having to worry that her own responses would disappoint him. That was why she had tasted the pre-ejaculate from his penis first. To get herself used to the taste of him. But then he had grabbed her and pinned her beneath him.
Had she done something wrong? From everything she had heard, all men <i>loved</i> oral sex. Maybe he didn't think she would be any good at it? Maybe that was what had happened? Or maybe he didn't realize that she was willing to do that for him? She opened her mouth to ask him if she had done anything wrong, but found it impossible to speak as he passionately kissed her, his tongue ruthlessly taking possession of her mouth as she felt his fingers on her clit and inside her vagina. She knew what was about to happen. She just hoped it didn't hurt like before and that she could respond in a way that would make Angelus happy. All she wanted was to please him.
Angelus fought to keep his true face from emerging as he readied Willow for his entry. Gods below, but she aroused him. Aroused him more than any creature, male or female, human or demon, ever had in his life or unlife. Just <i>looking</i> at her made him hard, but when she'd tasted him, he had almost come on the spot. He had to be inside her. He didn't want to hurt or frighten her, but it was really her own fault. She was just too desirable. Too tempting. Too perfect.
With that thought, he positioned his cock at her entrance and penetrated her with one thrust. He hissed at the feel of her tight, wet cunt surrounding his cock. Never had he felt anything so fulfilling, so arousing, so satisfying. He would never tire of being inside Willow. He began to thrust into her at a demanding pace, finding her clit and stroking it in time with his thrusts. He wasn't going to last long and he wanted to make sure to bring her to release along with him.
Willow's feelings were a confusing mix of arousal, disappointment, fear, and uncertainty. While on a certain level she was enjoying what Angelus was doing to her, a part of her still wondered why sex wasn't more pleasurable on an emotional level. If her body was having a good time, then why wasn't <i>she</i>? How could it be possible to enjoy something so much while not really enjoying it at all?
Her thoughts stopped for a brief moment as she came just as Angelus spilled his cold seed inside of her. She felt his teeth enter her neck and for a brief moment was terribly frightened. Then she remembered reading in the Watcher's Diaries that vampires often bit their partners during sex. Not to drain them, but to heighten their own pleasure. So she relaxed once more and moaned in what she hoped was a sensual way hoping it was good enough to convince Angelus that she was as fulfilled as he seemed to be. She wanted so badly to please him completely, to be the perfect woman for him. If only she could feel more passion, or at least could be sure that she knew how to feign it. After all, it wasn't his fault that there was something terribly wrong with her.
As Angelus recovered from the power of his orgasm, he looked at the beauty he held in his arms and smiled. The feel of her walls tightening around him as she came had been perfect, bringing him one of the most satisfying orgasms he had ever had, especially when he had tasted her blood as he came. She was a feast for all of his senses; touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight.Willow satisfied them all. He had felt her tense a bit when he bit her, but she had quickly relaxed. And the low, sensual moan that had emerged from her beautiful mouth told him that the bite had pleased her as well as him, no doubt intensifying her own orgasm. As he watched her eyes close as he began to drift off into his own sated slumber, the last thoughts he had were that Willow was the perfect mate.and that he would do anything he had to in order to keep her.
~Part: 7~
It was two a.m. and Giles and his charges were no closer to an answer than they had been at midnight. They had been looking through every volume of demons they could lay their hands on, and Oz had been doing his best to fill in on the computer for the very object of their search.Willow Rosenberg. But it was all to no avail. They still had no idea what had become of the young hacker. And despair was beginning to take its toll.
"What are we looking for again, Giles?" Cordelia asked wearily, not knowing why she was even here. It wasn't as if she actually cared about what happened to Willow. Was it? In spite of herself, as time passed and no trace of Willow was discovered, she found herself becoming a little bit concerned. It would have been one thing if Willow had died a quick and painless death. That would have spared her from being a loser anymore. But the more time passed without any trace of Willow being found, the more she began to think that something even worse might have happened to the geek she had always tormented. And against her own will, she began to fear for Willow.
"We are looking, Cordelia, for any demons who might have kidnapped Willow. Either to use against Buffy or for some sort of ritual. Look for anything that would target a redhead or perhaps Jews or.girls who have never.er.<i>been</i> with a man," Giles snapped, fatigue and worry clearly evident in his voice.
"You really think a demon might target Willow because she's Jewish, Giles?" Buffy asked.
"Anything is possible, Buffy. And we need to cover all bases. Now that we have learned that Angelus doesn't have her, we have no idea who or what <i>does</i>. Therefore, we must look into all possibilities. Keep searching. The answer must be here somewhere."
Even as Giles spoke those words, he wasn't sure he believed them. Willow was gone. They had wasted nearly a day of valuable time in their blind certainty that she had fallen prey to the Scourge of Europe. And Giles was still bothered by something about what Angelus had said earlier that night. But what? And why couldn't he figure it out?
Oz was scanning every website Willow had bookmarked, hoping against hope that Willow had somehow left the tools to find herself on the computer. But each fruitless search through cyberspace left him more disheartened than the one before. He might never see his girlfriend again. And that thought was killing him inside.
At that moment, he truly envied and hated Xander Harris. Xander had had a lifetime with Willow. A lifetime of shared memories and confidences that Oz would have given anything for. The bastard had even had Willow's love, not that he ever appreciated it. No, he just threw that away for the chance to be Cordelia Chase's latest boy toy. Oz was no fool, he knew Willow didn't love him yet. Not the way that he loved her. And now, he might never get the chance to make her feel that way. If a demon had needed a sacrificial virgin, why the Hell couldn't it have been Xander?
Buffy was barely able to focus on the book in front of her. The thought of Willow being chained up, perhaps even tortured, and waiting to be sacrificed was making her ill. Why did this have to happen to <i>Willow</i>? She had done nothing to deserve this. Willow was everything that was good and fine and decent. She was the best friend Buffy had always wanted. And it took Willow being taken from her to make her truly appreciate that.
If a demon had taken Willow because she was a virgin, then this whole thing was <i>still</i> Buffy's fault. If only she'd kept her hormones in check and not had sex with Angel. Then, not only would they not have Angelus to deal with, but Buffy might have been able to trade herself for Willow's life. After all, it was Buffy who was the Chosen One, the one who was destined to die young fighting the forces of darkness. Not Willow. Well, whatever had gotten its hands on Willow had better watch out. Cause it now had one pissed-off Slayer on its tail. And with that thought, Buffy returned to her research with a renewed sense of purpose. She was gonna find Willow. And she was gonna kick this kidnapping demon's ass.
Xander hid his face from the others as tears he had fought back all night began to fall. He was never going to see his best friend again. He was researching more diligently than he ever had, and still had not found a clue as to what could have happened to his best friend. God, how he missed Willow. He wanted more than anything to wake up and find out that this was all a bad dream, or that this was some really lame practical joke Willow had decided to play on him to get back at him for Cordelia. He just wanted Willow to be here, safe and sound, where she belonged.with him. Whoa, where did that come from? Didn't he mean with all of them, or with Oz? Sure, he loved Willow. She was his best friend. But he didn't love her like <i>that</i>.did he? Xander decided to get back to his research. There would be time to think about what his feelings for Willow were if she was found-no, when she was found. Until then, he would focus on the search. Thinking was bad.
Another half an hour passed. Giles looked over at his weary band of young people and decided to send them home. There was nothing more they could accomplish tonight. They were all too tired. He prayed that, wherever she was, Willow would forgive them for going home and getting some sleep. They were all barely able to keep their eyes open at this point, much less do any productive research. He stood up from his chair and said, 'We've done all we can for tonight. We'll be no use to Willow at all unless we get some rest. I shall drive Buffy home. Oz, you have your van. And Cordelia, can you please get Xander home safely?"
Cordelia nodded at the Watcher as a thought suddenly struck her. Why hadn't she realized this <i>hours</i> ago? If she was right, Willow was so going to owe her for this.
"Giles," Cordelia asked. "What exactly did Angelus say again?"
There was a groan simultaneously from the other members of the Scooby Gang, but they all sat back down. After all, anything that might help Willow was a good thing. Even though an idea from Cordelia Chase was bound to be worthless.
Giles was more than a bit irritated with the May Queen. He had repeated the conversation at least twice. But the fact that she actually seemed to care about finding Willow softened his attitude a bit and he struggled to recall and repeat the vampire's exact words.
"He said that if he had kidnapped Willow to use against Buffy, he would have already made his demands. If he had turned her, she would have been standing there beside him. And if he had killed her, we would have already found her body." Having said the words again, Giles wondered what Cordelia would find in them that he and Buffy had not. And from the look of it, Xander and Oz were wondering the same thing.
The wheels in Cordelia's head might not turn as often as those in the heads of the others, but now that they did, they turned in a whole new direction. For Cordelia Chase could now see what the others had all missed. "Giles, you do realize, of course, that Angelus never actually said that he didn't take Willow?"
And with that, stunned silence broke over the occupants of the Sunnydale High School Library. Because they all realized that Cordelia was absolutely right.
~Part: 8~
Drusilla was seething. She didn't need the stars or Miss Edith to tell her where her Daddy was. He was with the little red tree. The horrid little almost-witch who had poisoned the stars and turned her Daddy and Miss Edith against her. Well, she was not going to just sit idly by while the nasty human broke up her happy home and took away from her all that she held dear. She had not gotten her Daddy back just to lose him to some worthless little human. The little tree was food, nothing more. Drusilla simply had to find a way to get rid of the nasty red-haired girl. And then her Daddy would be all hers once more.
Spike was seething for reasons of his own. Here he was, alone with his dark goddess, and she was paying him no attention at all. She hadn't even brought him a human to feed on. Just another damned puppy. Angelus' parting shot about Dru's unwillingness to heal him with her blood reverberated in Spike's mind. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, his hateful grand-sire had a point. Spike had done everything for Dru when she had been nearly done-in by that mob in Prague. But now that the situation was reversed, what did he get from his ungrateful sire? Nothing but puppies and the cold shoulder. Maybe it was time to rethink where his loyalties lay.
As she sat in her room, Drusilla focused her broken mind. Without the help of Miss Edith or the stars, she would need a plan. She wasn't used to having to plot and plan on her own. But she was determined to win this battle and if she had to fight it alone, then so be it. The prize was well worth the effort. She would focus her mind, use all the information she had gleaned from her former guides before they betrayed her, and she would come up with a perfect scheme to destroy the almost-witch and win back her Daddy.
In the main room, Spike too was lost in thought. He remembered the old days, when they had been known as The Scourge of Europe. The days when Angelus had been almost a Sire to him. He groaned as he remembered the nights they had spent together, fucking and feeding and blazing a trail of death and debauchery all across Europe. He would never forget the taste of Angelus' cum as he sucked the dark vampire's cock to release, or the way his grand-Sire's cock had felt in his ass, thrusting into him over and over until Spike thought he would combust from the glorious pleasure of it.
But then Angelus had eaten that damned Gypsy princess and ruined everything, getting himself a bright, shiny soul and leaving Spike and Dru at the mercy of his bitch of a Sire, the sadistic and uncaring Darla. Mercifully, she, too, had soon left them. And Spike was left all alone with his insane Sire, his dark goddess. He had spent the near-century since blocking the memories of Angelus, and the feelings that still smoldered within him for his grand-Sire, out of his thoughts.
But the embers weren't as cold as he pretended, and Angelus' words of earlier that night stirred them until he could once again feel the heat of his passion for the dark, sadistic, glorious creature who had made him the Master vampire he was today. Would it be such a terrible thing to submit to Angelus once more?
Drusilla tried once more to get the secret to destroying the almost-witch from Miss Edith. But the doll was still insisting that Drusilla must leave the tree alone, or Angelus would use her branches to stake his Princess. Drusilla couldn't understand why her dolly was protecting the bad tree. She could only assume that the almost-witch had very powerful magick at her disposal and had used it to bend Miss Edith and the stars to her will, forcing them to help her steal Drusilla's Daddy.
But perhaps her dolly had helped her after all. Drusilla seized on Miss Edith's warning about the branches. Of course! She remembered a spell one night that had tricked her into believing she loved a human boy. And she now recalled that that boy was a friend of the tree. The tree had other friends around her as well, the Slayer, her Watcher, a werewolf, and a pretty dark-haired girl. They would be looking for the tree. They would certainly want to get the tree away from Daddy. That nasty Slayer would be jealous of the almost-witch and Angel and might even punish the tree herself. If Drusilla could somehow get them to help her, together they could find where her Daddy was keeping his human.and everything could go back to the way it was supposed to be.
Spike had come to some important realizations this day. And he had made up his mind about whom he would pledge his allegiance to. The blinders were off. Drusilla had never loved him, never appreciated him. And she never would. If there was any hope for him to get out of the damned wheelchair and resume his position as a feared Master vampire, it would come from Angelus. When he next saw the dark vampire, Spike would submit to him.
And perhaps it would help things along if he had some idea of what plots his insane Sire was hatching against Angelus' new human pet. Spike was no fool. He knew what Dru was up to. And he resolved to play along with his Sire and find out just what her plans entailed. After all, his grand-Sire was a man of hearty appetites that no human could fully satisfy. By playing his cards right and proving his loyalty and devotion, he was sure he'd find a permanent place by Angelus' side.and in his bed.
Drusilla smiled to herself as she opened her door and went to find Spike, her glee at her own cleverness left her feeling generous. Besides, she might need his help in deceiving her Daddy while she was completing her mission to destroy the almost-witch who had him under her spell. Taking Spike into her bed again would surely ensure his loyalty. Her crippled childe was so easily won over, Drusilla thought contemptuously. But she had needs. And she had to admit, even in a wheelchair, her fair-haired boy had talents. Talents Drusilla would be putting to good use until sundown. Then she was off to find the little tree's friends. And use the tree's branches to chop the tree down.
~Part: 9~
It was less than an hour after sundown when Angelus entered the factory to find that everything was going according to plan. The minions were gathering all of the items that would be moved to the new location Angelus had arranged for them all to live in, a lovely old mansion on Crawford Street.
The modern world was a wonderful place, Angelus thought. All a vampire like him needed was a phone, a credit card or two, a healthy bank account and presto, real estate transactions could be made during the day, furniture delivered, et cetera, all without leaving the comfort of the curtained hotel suite he shared with his lovely Willow. While Willow slept, Angelus made all the arrangements for new living quarters. A home he fully intended Willow to occupy with him soon. After all, Dru would surely attempt to betray him soon. Then he could stake her and move Willow in. Spike might be somewhat upset at the loss of his lunatic Sire, but, Angelus thought smugly, he was sure he could heal Spike's pain.
As he strode into the main room of the factory, Angelus caught a look in Spike's eye. So, his crippled blond grand-Childe wanted to talk, eh? Well, they'd just have to arrange that. And he was pretty sure Spike was going to create an excuse for them to have some 'alone time.'
"Well, Angelus, to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit? Thought you preferred the company of sweet, little humans these days." Spike snarked, hoping Angelus understood what he was up to. He didn't fancy being on the receiving end of Angelus' wrath tonight. He already felt weak from his exertions with Dru that afternoon. Exertions she failed to reward him for with even a drop of her blood, beating him when he morphed and made ready to bite her at the moment of climax as he had always done in the past.
At that moment, Dru had made his decision for him, he thought. He was casting his lot with his grand-Sire. And he already had something to give him. Dru never did know how to keep her mouth shut. And she had obviously forgotten how good Spike was at deciphering her cryptic ramblings. Either that or she thought a barely satisfying pity-fuck was enough to keep 'her Spike' mindlessly devoted to her. Oh, how he was going to enjoy seeing her reaction when she discovered just how wrong she was.
"That's it, boy. I've had enough disrespect from you. Since Dru can't seem to teach you to keep a civil tongue in your head and respect your betters, that task has fallen to me." Angelus turned to Dru and the minions and barked out orders to them, "Dru, go hunt. Avoid the Slayer and her cronies. They're mine, remember that! The rest of you, move everything to the mansion. You do remember where it is, Dru? Because that's where you're to go after you've fed. Leave now!"
"Yes, Daddy," Drusilla cooed, dancing over and planting a kiss on Angelus' cheek and bestowing a glance of mock-pity on Spike before gliding out into the night.
The minions all scattered out of the room, tending to their tasks in the rest of the factory. They knew better than to be around their Master when he was angry and about to punish his grand-Childe.
"And now my boy," Angelus smoothly intoned, "Whatever shall I do with you?"
With that, Angelus strode to Spike's wheelchair, and took his boy's face in his hands, kissing him roughly.
"It's been too long, me boy," Angelus purred, a hint of his old brogue creeping into his voice. "You're lucky you caught my eye before you pulled that little stunt tonight. Or we wouldn't be spending this time half so pleasurably. Did you think about what we discussed earlier? Are you ready to submit to me?"
Spike's eyes were glazed with passion when Angelus broke their kiss. He was right, it had been too long. Far too long since he had been intimate with the vampire who was his true Sire. Dru may have given him her blood and turned him. But it had been Angelus who had taught him the ways of the undead, who had trained him and molded him into the fierce demon he had become. And it was Angelus who would help him become that feared creature again.
"Yes, Angelus," Spike choked out, a part of him still afraid that it was all a trick to humiliate him. And that Angelus would never really be his again.
"Say the words, William," Angelus commanded.
Spike knew that Angelus would demand this of him. But it didn't make it any easier for him to say the words. Spike had been a Master in his own right for nearly a century. Now he was helpless and confined to a wheelchair. That made the notion of submission even more difficult than it would have been before. But Spike knew that this was the path to what he wanted most... to be strong again, to be back at Angelus' right hand, and to share the dark vampire's bed once more.
"I submit myself to you, Angelus. Body, blood, and demon. I belong to you completely. I forsake all other ties and give myself to you."
With that, Spike bared his neck to the elder vampire and Angelus sank his fangs in and drank deeply.
"Did you miss me, me boy?" Angelus asked.
"Yes," Spike gasped, the pleasure of Angelus' fangs in his neck still resonating even after they were removed.
"Then drink," Angelus said, baring his own neck to the younger vampire and moaning when he felt Spike's teeth sink in and begin to draw forth his blood. It had been too long since he had enjoyed his fair-haired boy. Well, no longer. He withdrew from Spike's mouth and stood up, unzipping his fly.
"You're mine now, William. Show me how grateful you are."
With that, the blond pushed Angelus' trousers down enough to free his erection and took it completely into his mouth, groaning in pleasure as he did so. Spike had always loved the taste of the dark vampire and he relished the flavor of his precum as he licked and sucked Angelus with enthusiastic abandon. He couldn't believe he finally had his grand-Sire's cock in his mouth again and he wanted to make this the best blow job Angelus had ever experienced, all the better to ensure that Spike would always be welcome in his bed from now on. As he felt Angelus' fingers entwine in his hair while his grand-Sire thrust deep into his throat, Spike knew he had done the right thing by submitting. After he was finished sucking Angelus off, he would tell him all about what he had learned from his batty Sire that day. He knew that her 'Daddy' would punish, perhaps even stake her, after Spike told him what he knew of Dru's plans. But sacrificing the Sire he had once called his Dark Goddess didn't seem such a terrible thing now, not after the way she had been treating him. And Spike knew he wouldn't mind sharing Angelus with the human chit. After all, she could never do the things he could do for his dark-haired master. She had to breathe.
~Part: 10~
Drusilla skipped happily out of the factory. Daddy was going to be busy punishing Spike tonight. That was a good thing for two reasons. It meant that Spike would hate Angelus more than ever and thus would be easy to manipulate into helping her. And it would keep her Sire busy tonight so he wouldn't know what she was up to. For Drusilla had a plan.a plan that would take her right to the little tree's garden.
As she approached Sunnydale High, Drusilla slowed down and stepped back into the shadows. She watched as the Slayer and three other young people left the building. One she recognized as the boy she had thought she loved the night of the spell. Another was the werewolf. And last came the pretty brunette, who was bickering with the boy. Drusilla watched as they made their way off into the night, obviously out to patrol the cemeteries. She overheard them say they wanted to see if they could find any information about Willow. Good. That meant the Watcher would be more than ready to accept her 'help' in finding the little tree.
Entering the library, Drusilla heard the heartbeat of the Watcher as she walked into the book-lined room. She saw him, with his back to her, as he pored over a large leather-bound volume.
"Looking for something you've lost?" Drusilla sing-songed.
Giles jumped and turned around quickly, only to find himself confronted by one of the creatures who haunted his nightmares.Drusilla. He reached for the cross he always kept close at hand and raised it in front of him, hoping to ward her off until he could get to the book cage for a suitable weapon.
"What are you doing here? What is it you want?" Giles asked the insane vampiress, looking around for Angelus or Spike.
"I'm here to help you," Drusilla said. "I'm here to help you find the little tree."
Find the tree? What on Earth? Then it hit Giles like a thunderbolt. She was referring to Willow.
"What are you up to, Drusilla? Why would you want to help us find Willow?" Giles asked, not trusting the vampiress for a moment.
Drusilla debated whether to use her thrall on the Watcher, but decided against it. She would need his help beyond tonight and could not risk whether her powers would hold when he was out of her presence now that the tree had turned the stars against her. Better simply to try to convince the Watcher of her sincerity and purity of motive. She could do that. After all, she was a Master vampire who had lived for over a century and a half. Surely she could outwit a mere human, even if he was a Watcher.
"Daddy's hurting the little tree," Drusilla whined. "He wants to make the tree hurt like he hurt his Princess. She doesn't deserve to hurt like that. She's a good girl. She should be home with her mummy. We have to find her before Daddy breaks her into a million pieces and she can never be put right again."
The words nearly caught in Drusilla's throat, but she could see they were having the desired effect. The Watcher's eyes were softening. She could tell she was winning him over.
Giles' breath caught at Drusilla's words. Could he trust her? She was one of the most vicious and cruel vampires in history. Yet.what if she was being truthful? Perhaps Willow's plight had moved her, evoked memories of who she had been before Angelus had 'courted' and turned her. He would need to be exceedingly careful. This might be a trap concocted by Angelus. But if there was even the slightest chance that Drusilla could help them save Willow, then it was a chance Giles was willing to take.
"Say that I believe you wish to help," Giles said, keeping his cross in front of him and maneuvering nearer to the book cage, "Where is Willow being held? And why is Angelus keeping her?"
"Daddy wants a new toy to play with," Drusilla crooned, "A shiny new toy he can turn dirty and broken. He keeps her somewhere secret where he thinks no one can hear the screams. I can hear them though. But the stars won't tell me where to find her. Even they are afraid of Daddy. He wants so much to destroy the little tree, because she's so good and so pure. He plays with her all day, but she's still not broken. But I don't know how much longer she can stay a good girl. Daddy punishes good girls, makes them naughty and mean so they can never go home to their mummies again."
Giles was torn. On the one hand, a part of him screamed at him not to trust the insane Childe of Angelus. But another part of him thought she might well be sincere. After all, she claimed not to know where Willow was being kept. Surely, if this were a trap, she would have done so, leading them all to a location where they would be ambushed. And if Drusilla was telling the truth, Willow was enduring hideous torture and degradation at the hands of Angelus. Anything he could do to save her was something that had to be done. Even if it meant allying himself with one of the very creatures he was sworn to destroy.
Suddenly, the library doors were flung open and Buffy, Xander, Cordelia, and Oz burst in.
"Giles, there's a nasty new demon out there that we need to know how to kill cause."
Buffy's voice trailed off as she took stock of the occupants of the library. She assumed her fighting stance.
"Drusilla. Looking for some self-help books? Cause I don't think we have any here for loony vampires."
"Buffy!" Giles warned, motioning for her to stay back. "Drusilla is here to help us rescue Willow."
"You've got to be kidding, Giles," Buffy said. "This has to be a trick."
" I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Buffy, Giles. No way do I believe that the bride of Dracula here is ready to help us find Willow," Cordelia chimed in.
"Sit down for a moment, all of you," Giles ordered. "I've listened to what she has to say, and while I was highly suspicious at first, I don't see where we have much choice. Drusilla may be our only chance to save Willow. She doesn't know where Angelus is holding her. But she's willing to help us find out. Isn't that right, Drusilla?"
"I want to help save the little red tree, before Daddy turns her all
inside-out. Before he makes her his new Princess."
Drusilla didn't catch her own slip, but Giles did. So Drusilla was
jealous of Angelus' interest in Willow. That made everything crystal clear.
Well, that didn't mean he wouldn't take advantage of her help. Her motives
might be different than she had represented, but her goals were still compatible
with theirs.getting Willow away from Angelus. He caught the eyes of Xander
and Oz. They were with him on this. Time to get as much information from
Drusilla as they could. Then they could research and try to discover where
Willow was being kept. As far as Giles was concerned, Drusilla was welcome
to have her 'Daddy' back.as long as Willow was home with them where she
belonged.