Nocturnal

Author: Nova

E-mail: SuperNova@slayerworld.com

Rating: PG-16 at the most.

Summery: Darla arrives late season 1 and turns Willow.

Spoilers: “Invisible girl” for the prologue and “I only have eyes for you” for the rest.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine but the plot.

Pairing: Vampire Willow/Angelus, Vampire Willow/ Darla.

Feedback: Gives me a happy... but in a good, non-evil way, which is more then I can say about Angel in this story...

Notes:
1. This is my very first attempt at fanfiction.
2. I thought Angel was Spike’s sire when I wrote this, so he is here.

<> Indicates thoughts

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~Prologue~

1997

Darla was looking at the redheaded girl as she parted from the slayer and her friend, starting her walk home. She had turned down the blonde’s offer to walk her home, saying that it wasn’t so far and that she could handle it.

Darla had been watching the girl ever since she had arrived in Sunnydale, two months before. She was infuriated when she saw her favorite childe with the slayer. He was the only reason she had come to the small town in the first place. It had been so long since she had had a true companion.

And then she had noticed the redhead.

There was something about her, a hidden strength Darla had only come across a few times in her long existence. It was there in her first true childe, it was there in Angelus when she first saw him, and it was definitely there in that fragile young woman sitting but several feet away from her in the crowded club.

After studying her for some time now Darla had reached the end of her patience. Tonight was the night she will be alone no longer.

Tonight she will turn Willow.

*~*~*

“Buffy, I’ll be fine.” Willow said for the third time since she had announced that she was tired and wanted to go home. “How do you think I’ve managed to stay alive for 15 years without you?”

“Umm... luck?” the petit blonde answered jokingly.

“Come on, Buffy. I have my trusty cross and stake, there is no new demonic activity going on and my house is not that far from here.” Willow thought for a few moments before adding, “Besides, you can go on patrol with Angel instead...”

When Buffy’s eyes lit up Willow knew this was one argument she had won.

“Fine,” answered the slayer after considering Willow’s latest words. “But be careful, ‘k? “

“Bye Buffy, have fun... ‘Patrolling’... “

Buffy only smiled as Willow turned and walked away.

*~*~*

Willow turned around as she heard yet another twig snap behind her and just like all of the last times she had, no one was there.

<Paranoid... I’m just being paranoid... > she took a deep breath and resumed her walking. It was the same odd feeling that has been haunting her for the past few weeks, as if someone was watching her.

<Just a few more blocks and it’s ‘Home Sweet Home’... > Willow was getting closer to her house and feeling safer with every step she was taking, that is, until someone pulled her into a patch of trees. There was a sharp pain in her neck, and then darkness.

Willow was drowning in the black void at the back of her mind as she felt something dripping into her mouth and making it’s way quickly down her throat. She didn’t fight it; she was too tiered to. All she did, all she wanted to do, was give in to the drowning sensation as she fell into a deep, dead sleep.

~Part: 1~

1998

Willow looked around her at the dark houses and empty streets; she was standing on the sidewalk, observing the deserted town around her.

She was in Sunnydale.

Looking down at her leather boots, there was a pool of blood surrounding them. She started walking toward its source. Everything around her was silent, the only sound coming from her boots as she followed the red path that was leading her to the Sunnydale high-school building.

As Willow neared the lawn she could clearly see a body lying on it, Miss Calendar. Her neck was broken and Giles was at her side, completely oblivious to the redhead’s presence.

She walked pass the front doors and into the school. By his locker, she could see Xander and Cordelia making out.

Pushing through the library doors, she entered, the sweet sound of pain-filled sobs greeting her ears. Buffy was sitting in a chair, crying. A white sheet wrapped around her nude form.

<Now, where is Angel? > Willow asked herself, knowing he was the last one she was supposed to see.

Lifting her gaze up to the library’s second level she saw him... or, at least, someone who looked like him. He was staring down at the still weeping Buffy, a smirk settled upon his handsome features.

Behind him were a dark hared woman, her big eyes wide with something akin to madness, and a peroxide blond man in a wheelchair, a bored expression on his face.

As Angel’s smirk widened into a grin Willow started drifting back to consciousness, the images passing through her mind blurring and fading. Her world darkened as the thick sound of Angel’s cruel laughter dimmed into a faraway murmur.

She saw nothing, heard nothing and felt nothing.

*~*~*

“Willow...” the soft voice called to her through the thick sleep-induced fog surrounding her. “... Dove... wake up... “ She opened her eyes lazily and stared into her sire’s blue ones.

Darla lifted her hand up to Willow’s pale face, moving a stray strand of crimson hair from her beloved childe’s forehead.

It had been nearly a year since Darla had turned the redhead. Willow had become her favorite after a few short weeks, just as she envisioned. The younger vampire was a very fast learner, and acted more like Darla did in her four hundred years of unlife than like fledges around her own age, a fact that had truly made the elder vampire proud.

One thing Darla loved most about the girl was her love of torture. It had also made her quite sad at times, reminding her of her last childe, lost to her by the power of the Rome’s curse.

“Mommy... sleep well?” Willow smiled sweetly to her sire. She had never taken another lover in all the time since she had become one of the undead, unwilling to part with the blonde. She didn’t feel the need to be with anyone else, nor did she want to.

“Very well, dear. Have you?” Darla inquired; knowing there was something behind Willow’s playful expression.

“I had a... dream... “

Hearing these words, a grin spread upon the blonde’s face. “ What kind of dream, dearest? “ She questioned, knowing her strong witch of a daughter’s dreams were never of the fictive kind.

“Sunnydale. Everything had changed... we should go back.”

Darla frowned, “Back? Why? There isn’t anything for us there.” Her dislike of Willow’s suggestion was beyond obvious. The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of Angelus’s betrayal.

Willow only smiled and moved closer to Darla. “But mommy... I saw everyone. It was so beautiful. The slayer was crying, the watcher heart broken... “ The redhead knew what a delicate issue Angel was to her sire. She also knew that the man in her dream was far from being the soulful, guilt ridden vampire she knew. Embracing Darla, Willow moved her mouth to whisper in her ear. “It seems everything is different... everyone had changed.” After kissing her earlobe Willow pulled back from the elder vampire to look into her face.

Darla’s eyes showed her disbelief. She looked at her childe’s bright smile “Are you sure?”

“As sure as I am dead.” Came the reply.

Darla kissed Willow, her mind racing as she realized she would get her family back, with the addition of Willow and she did not want to waste any moment. “Pack your things, Dove. We’re gone.” With that said Darla put her silk robe on and hurried out of the room to inform her minions of her intentions.

Inside the bedroom, Willow leaned back, smiling a contempt smile. “Good, I was getting homesick anyway.”

~Part: 2~

Devon was walking down the dark street, drunk and depressed. His girlfriend dumped him right before the Dingoes’ gig, which had resorted to his singing off tune and the rest of the band wanting his head on a pole, so, obviously, he drank himself silly.

<Could this day possibly get any worse? > He wandered as he staggered along the road. Looking down the street, he could see people. He started walking closer to them, so that they won’t be as blurry as they seemed.

Willow stared at the drunken young man moving toward her and Marcos, Darla’s most loyal minion as of the past three hundred years. The boy seemed familiar, not that it mattered much weather she had ever met him or not, either way he was dinner.

Darla had sent them out to the town, just to make sure Willow had dreamt everything correctly. She did not want to be disappointed once more, nor did Willow wish to upset her.

She walked over to him, asking him if he as well, all he did was stare back at her, practically drooling over her leather corset-encased breasts. She was getting irritated. Not wanting to waste time over the smashed teen she looked around them, making sure no one but Marcos was there, and bit the dazed boy, drinking slowly, so that the alcohol-induced blood won’t have much of an affect.

Marcos looked at Willow, slightly disappointed that she didn’t want to play with this one. Ever since she had arrived in their soon-to-be-expanded family his respect for her was growing, quickly turning into adoration. "Where to, Red?” he asked as she dropped Devon’s body to the ground.

Willow looked at him, “Find the slayer.”

*~*~*

Buffy was really having a bad day. She showed up late at school that morning only to find out there was a French quiz which she probably failed, due to the simple fact that she didn’t study. Giles was in a bad mood; not a big surprise considering his girlfriend was murdered only a week before. <By my boyfri... ex- boyfriend> She thought miserably. As much as she loved Angel she knew Angelus, he’s soulless counterpart, must die. Jenny’s death was quite the incentive.

To top everything, Xander was nowhere to be found. <Probably locked himself up with Cordelia in a broom closet somewhere... >. So she was left alone <again>. Ever since Xander started dating Cordy she found herself on her own more and more often.

Catching a drift of red hair in the corner of her eye Buffy turned, only to find nothing. She was doing that a lot lately. Ever since Willow had disappeared it seemed she ‘saw’ her everywhere she looked. When she realized Willow was gone she had turned to Angel, getting closer and closer to him until her birthday-disaster. Xander turned to alcohol, then to Cordelia <yeah, big difference. > She thought gravely.

She was patrolling and having a really hard time remembering the last time she went to the Bronze. She used to go with Xander and Cordelia but got tired being the fifth wheel.

“Hello, lover.” Came a voice from behind her. Buffy turned around, already knowing who it was. “Angel”, she whispered.

“You never learn, do you Buff? Angel doesn’t live here anymore. I thought I made that clear when I snapped the gypsy’s neck.” He smirked; knowing how hard it was for her to accept that fact.

“Go to hell. “ She replied, glaring at him.

“I’d rather you do, but we don’t always get everything we want, now do we?”

“So... why did you come here? To gloat?“ Buffy asked, wondering why he hadn’t attacked her yet.

“Well, actually... “ He said as if he was thinking it over. “Yeah” and before she could say anything he added “Oh, and I wanted to give you something.” He took something out of his pocket and threw it at her.

Buffy caught he small, silver ring she knew all too well, a lump forming in her throat.

“You dropped it during our last fight... just thought you’d want it back.” He walked away, smiling at her pained expression.

When Buffy looked back up from the jewel Angel was gone <Angelus> she corrected herself, trying to stop the tears from falling.

*~*~*

Smiling, Marcos watched as his old friend walked away from the scene, glad that he had good news for his mistress.

Next to him Willow was also smiling, but from a different reason. She had known about Angel’s soulless status since the moment she had awoken from her dream. No, the smile on her face was not of contempt but of pure joy. The scene that had unfolded before her had been to her like what a Christmas present is for a child and seeing the strong, powerful slayer sobbing over her lost love had been the most entertaining sight.

“We’re gone.” She said, following Marcos to the car, her time in Sunnydale was definitely looking up.

~Part: 3~

Darla was looking at the three vampires in irritation. She had been thrilled when Willow and Marcos in formed her of Angelus’s return. The next night she took them and eight more vampires- “Just to be on the safe side” as she had told Willow, who had quickly reworded her with a ‘you’re-getting-paranoid-in-your-old-age’ look and a fang revealing grin- to pay a visit to her childe and his two creations.

Now, as she was staring into the old mansion through one of the large windows, which had the heavy black curtain off it for the duration of the night- she was getting angry with her childe’s behavior. He was deliberately upsetting his own- once favorite- childe by flaunting his so-called ‘relationship’ with said childe’s love.

Darla knew better then to believe Angelus’s ‘I-still-want-Dru’ act. Although she had been an obsession of his, Drusilla was hardly the kind of woman that could hold his interest for very long. She glanced at the redhead standing beside her. <Willow, on the other hand, would be perfect with my Angelus. > She thought. < They are so much alike, yet so different. >

Looking back into the house she frowned. This would stop. She did not come all the way to the Hellmouth from Rome just to find out that her family members were all acting like grown babies. It was time to put an end to it.

Motioning her companions to follow her, she entered the mansion quietly, leaving the eight fledges to guard the entrance, Marcos staying with them and Willow walking into the building with her.

*~*~*

Drusilla was watching Angelus and Spike’s verbal fight with glee. <Silly boys... always fighting... wont last long, though, Miss Edith told me all about granny and her red angel coming to stay with us. We will play, and dance and have lots and lots of... > Dru came out of her... thoughts... when she felt a prickling sensation at the back of her neck. Giggling lightly she turned to look at the entrance.

She walked over to the two bickering vampires, laying one hand on Angelus’s shoulder and the other one on Spike’s. “Shhh... we’ve got company... “ She sing-sang.

A second after the words were uttered a blonde woman walked into the room, looking around as she entered.

“Darla” Angelus whispered with a small grin. He was shocked and pleased at the sight of his sire. She looked the same as she did a century ago, walking into the room as if she was the mistress of the house, which, in a way, she was. And then he saw a sight he sure did not expect.

*~*~*

Willow looked around her; the mansion was quite large, though too empty and hollow for her taste. She liked feeling at home weather she stayed in a house for eight weeks or for eight months. She looked at Darla as she made her appearance before her ‘family’, saw the men’s shocked stares, though it seemed as if the woman already knew of their arrival. Willow could feel the aura of power that surrounded her and tensed, wandering if she might become a threat in some way.

The man next to her was sitting in a wheelchair. He was quite handsome. Now that he wasn’t just some blurry figure in one of her dreams she could study his appearance much better. Bleached blond hair that brought out a pair of blue eyes, cheekbones that seemed sharp enough to cut steel. As her eyes wandered down his body she noticed something that peaked her curiosity: One of his legs moved slightly. <Well, well, what do you know? This should prove interesting. >

Last, her eyes moved to settle on the main reason she was back on the Hellmouth in the first place. Angel. Her gaze locked with his, knowing he was looking at her the whole time that she was looking at Spike. She could see no remorse, nor did she see the guild and sadness that plagued those intense brown eyes merely a year earlier. His expression turned quickly from surprise to wonder. She smiled brightly at him and walked over to her <our> sire, leaning her head on the blonde’s shoulder as Darla started playing with her hair.

Angelus took in the little redhead; barely believing it was Willow. She was wearing leather, mostly; boots, pants and a mid-thigh coat along with a blood red tube top, the cloths clinging to her slender form like a second skin and showing every curve she used to hide as a human. Her long, red hair, ending at her lower back, caused her fair skin to appear even paler. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise. “ He spoke, not averting his gaze from the redhead, who, at the moment, seemed very much engrossed in a staring contest with Drusilla.

Darla smiled, noting the way that Angelus was staring at her newest childe and the way that Willow was making a point of avoiding his intense glare. Brushing her fingers across the girl’s cheek she turned to the rest of the room’s occupants. “Aren’t you going to introduce yourselves?” she asked with mock-hurt.

Drusilla was the first to respond. “Do you want to come and see my dollies? I have so many beautiful dollies... “

Willow’s suspicious attitude towards the dark-headed vampiress dissipated the moment the woman had spoke. <She sounds so much like a child... > she thought in wonder. But before she could answer the odd request Angelus spoke up.

“Now, now, Drusilla. Darla and Willow had just gotten here. I’m sure they would like to get a bit more... comfortable... first.” He emphasized the word ‘comfortable’ as Willow smiled at him.

“Actually, I don’t mind. ‘Drusilla’, was it?” She knew Darla wished to talk to her older childe in privet. Though slightly jealous, she was happy to comply. <As long as it makes her happy... > with that thought she walked over to the insane woman, Dru taking her hand and leading her out of the main room.

Darla smiled at her childe’s retreating form, than turned to Angelus and Spike. The younger vampire gave her a confused look. “Spike, could you go join the girls? I’d like to her a word with Angelus... in privet.”

“Fine.” He said, a bit annoyed at being ordered out of the room. No matter how polite Darla’s so-called request sounded it was nothing short of just that- an order. “Knowing your past ‘discussions’, I wouldn’t want to be here anyway... “ With that he turned and steered his wheelchair in the direction of Drusilla’s room. “... When the cloths start dropping... “. Entering the large bedroom he looked at the two women. Drusilla was introducing her dolls to a very amused Willow. The redhead was a stranger to him and Dru, yet he saw recognition in Angelus’s eyes when he had looked at her. He could also see some resemblance between them. The way Willow carried herself, like a tiger on the prowl, seductive grace. The look in her eyes that meant that she was constantly up to something, the arrogance, it was all there, though, unlike Angelus, she made the first impression of an innocent. If she truly was one before she certainly wasn’t any longer.

After proudly presenting Miss Edith, Drusilla walked over to Spike and sat in his lap, one of his arms automatically going around her waist. Willow eyes the couple. She could feel tension coming off of him in waves earlier but he seemed quite relaxed now, unlike Willow herself. “What do you think their talking about?” she asked, her mind returning to her sire and... her brother? Is that what he is?

“How come Angelus knows you?”

Her head turned to him, her mind leaving thought of Darla and Angelus behind for a moment. “What?”

“How come Angelus knows you, red?”

Willow frowned, “Do you always answer questions with a question?”

“Do you?” he replied with a smirk.

<He wants to change the subject? Fine, I’ll change the subject. I’ve never lost a game yet. > “Fine. Why are you still in that chair when you’re completely healthy?” she giggled at his surprised expression. <I win >.

Drusilla sat up and looked at Spike questioningly. With a sigh he urged her to get up and stood after her, smiling. The dark-headed vampiress squealed in joy before pouting. “Spike, you naughty boy. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well,” he started, moving to embrace Drusilla. “It was going to be a surprise.” She smiled and put her arms around his neck as he shot a furious look at Willow over her shoulder.

“Isn’t this a cozy moment.” Darla said from the doorway, grinning at the now kissing duo.

Spike pulled back from Drusilla. “Darla. I’ve known peaches to rush things before, but this is ridiculous.”

The blonde shook her head, used to his comments. “Willow, Dove, come. I’ll show you to your room.” The redhead went over to her and put her hand in Darla’s outstretched one.

<Rush what? > Willow silently asked herself, her brows furrowing, already knowing the answer. As much as she wanted to believe that her anger was coming from the fear of losing her sire, she knew better. The way Darla always looked a her, coupled by the obvious fact that she didn’t jump Angelus once Willow was out of sight proved that theory wrong. What she was truly afraid of was being left alone. Spike was with Drusilla and she was well aware of Darla and Angelus’s vast past together. Up until that day she had Darla all for herself. <Apparently becoming a vampire doesn’t make all of your human deficiencies disappear. Stupid, fucking fear of abandonment. >. She moved to sit on the queen-sized, four-poster bed, following Darla with her eyes as the blonde inspected the room.

“I suppose it would do. Do you like it?” the elder vampire questioned, looking at Willow.

“It’s... dark... I like dark.”

“Good. Sweet dreams, precious.”

Willow’s playful expression turned into one of displeasure as Darla turned to leave the room. She got up from the bed and rushed to her side. “You’re leaving?” the redhead asked in a near-pout.

Darla raised her hand to caress her soft cheek. “Don’t pout, you know how I hate that.” She then kissed her softly and turned to walk out of the room.

Willow closed the door behind, a low growl emanating from deep within her throat. She needed to hunt. She felt the walls closing in on her, increasing her frustration and anger. She didn’t even care for a good torturing session, something that had always served to calm her down. She snatched the coat from off the chair it was placed upon not three minutes ago and stormed out of the room.

*~*~*

Angelus stopped mid-yell as he saw red flashing by him. Turning his head he saw Willow rushing towards the entrance door and quickly moved to follow her.

Spike stared at his sire’s retreating form, somewhat surprised at his sudden action, yet relieved that something had distracted him enough to make him stop before he actually got around to punishing Spike for hiding his ability to walk.

He just hoped Angelus would take his anger out on some unsuspecting victim. <Hope he takes it out on red. It’s her fault he knew in the first place. Annoying chit. >

*~*~*

“What do you want?” Willow’s voice was filled with venom. She didn’t turn around, only let the body she was holding drop to the ground. Her hands were covered in the young girl’s blood, having beaten hr to near-unconsciousness before feeding.

“How did you know I was here?” Angelus moved out from under the darkness-encased trees and into the moonlit park.

“I could feel you.”

“Me in particular, or generally a vampire?” he started circling her slowly, her eyes following his every move.

“You.” Willow fought the urge to smile at his predatory behavior. A tiger circling his pray. Only she was far from being anyone’s pray.

“I wasn’t aware you were that powerful.”

“There are many things you are unaware of.” <Does he still see me as the week mortal I used to be? > The thought angered her even further. She was feared, she was respected and even though she was very young she was fast making a name for herself throughout the vampiric community.

Angelus stopped his walking and smiled. He knew she was angry. Darla was her sire and mentor, as she had been to him, of coarse she wouldn’t be happy at the notion of losing her to another vampire. But he wasn’t just any other vampire, and he wasn’t after Darla’s affections. Not this time. “Enlighten me.”

“What the hell do you think you’re playing at?” she didn’t back off when he started advancing towards her.

He smirked and closed the gap between them, lifting a strand of crimson hair and moving it between his fingers. “Fire.” She didn’t move away from him, just looked up into his face. The moon shone on both their faces, illuminating them in its dim glow. The late hour provided them with somewhat silent surroundings and they started walking back to the mansion together, not one word spoken.

next

back