Sorry *again* for disappearing... My stupid internet
is at it again... Sometime this week *hopefully* I'm
going to switch providers and I'll be back...
*~*~*~
Tearin it back unveiling me
I'm takin a step back so I can breathe
Hear the silence about to break
Fear resistance when I'm awake
-Godsmack-
"Awake"
*~*~*~
*~ The dark haired vampire looked down at the girl
he'd come to cherish more than his very own existence.
He had never, even when he had his soul, loved another
being the way he'd loved this woman. He'd planned to
take her from the slayer, but not this way. He'd
wanted the girl for himself, while turning the
slayer's life into hell. But someone else had already
beaten him to it. The girl was dead. Completely.
*~ He lovingly stroked a strand of blood red hair back
away from the paleness of her face. Even now, she was
lovely, even more beautiful in death than she was in
life. He sat back in his chair and drew the charcoal
across the thick sketch pad, drawing the lines of her
body, the shape of her face. A drop of clear fluid
dropped onto the page and he stopped, surprised. He
touched his face and sure enough, there was moisture.
He was weeping for the first time since he'd lost his
soul... again.
*~*~*~
*~ The first sensation that stirred in her body was
that of cold. Then an intense tingling that was almost
painful. Then she was flying upward with a huge gasp
of breath that was let out in a loud, peircing scream.
Her green eyes were wild and uncomprehending as they
flew around the room, lighting finally on an oddy
familiar face... a face she knew she should know, but
the knoweledge was just beyond her reach...
*~*~*~
*~ The vampire nearly fell out of his chair when
Willow sat up, opened her eyes, and screamed. When her
green eyes focused on him, he was sure his unbeating
heart gave a leap in his chest. They were wide and
frightened and... confused. She didn't know who he
was.
*~ Her mouth opened and he figuratively held his
breath. "I..." her voice was hoarse and unused, and
she coughed, looking around for something and he moved
in with a wastebasket. She spit something dark, like
blood. "I should be dead," she said, her voice still
hoarse, but it was clearer than a few seconds ago.
*~ "Yes," his answer was low and awe-filled, and he
didn't care. How the hell had she managed this? His
next thought was more like himself; And how can I use
this to my own benefit? She blinked at him, her pale
face showing no emotion, but her eyes were curious. No
doubt her quick mind was working furiously to figure
this one out.
*~ Her head cocked to one side and she asked in an
emotionless, curious tone, "Why am I not dead?" She
stopped, her face going blank. She got to her feet and
was rushing for the door faster than he'd ever seen a
human move. But he was faster, barely, and caught her
around the waist. She struggled with a strength he
*knew* she hadn't had before.
*~ She caught him in the face with her elbow, sending
him flying back against the bed. But she didn't run
like he thought she would. She turned and looked at
him, sudden tears falling from her eyes, mingling with
the blood still dried into her milky skin. "Who are
you?" she demanded. "And what happened to me?"
*~ "Do you remember who you are?" Angelus asked,
getting to his feet slowly to stand a safe distance
away from her.
*~ Her head cocked at an angle again as she pondered
the question. Her eyebrows lowered and she bit her lip
in concentration. It was a gesture Angelus had seen
her do many times. Finally, she shook her head. "No,"
her voice was lost, almost childlike. "Who am I?"
*~ Angelus had to bite back a grin of triumph. Damn,
can this get any better? He reached over and pulled
her to sit beside him on the bed. She looked at him
with curious yet empty eyes, waiting for his
explanation. She trusted him. He reached over and
kissed her lips softly, unable to resist. Her eyebrows
furrowed again. "What did you do that for?" There was
no stammering, no blushing, just curiosity. Oddly, he
missed that about her old self. But she wasn't
cowering away from him, and she wasn't angry, and she
wasn't looking at him with loathing in the depths of
her beautiful green... eyes.
*~ "You're name is Willow," Angelus started before he
got too distracted. "You used to be best friends with
the Slayer, until she betrayed you because of your
involvement with me ..." He stared into her empty,
trusting eyes, and told her exactly what he wanted her
to hear...
*~*~*~*