Notes: Ok, this happens in the Wicked Willow universe, in between
Wicked Willow, and Wicked Willow in the City. A few new characters are
being introduced, so please bear with us.
Also, I can’t take credit for this lovely idea. It’s Rayven’s plot, she
owns
Onyx, Kalig and Tony. I’m just making them play nice with each other.
Most of the ideas in this fic are hers, I’m just elaborating on them.
**So send her LOTS of feedback!!**

<> Onyx’s thoughts
(( )) Kalig’s thoughts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prologue

On top of a roof sitting like a nightmare gargoyle, a pair of strange
eyes
watched the couple walking down the moonlit street, her hatred burning
inside her like a living thing. Unknowingly her muscles had started to
tense for a savage attack on the handsome dark haired man and his lovely

red haired companion. Glancing quickly over the red head, she dismissed
her as unimportant. She was young, barely a year old, and too cocky.
Most
likely from being at the side of a Master vampire.

A stray lock of ebony hair, streaked with white, fell from the Chinese
picks that held it back, brushing her face, tenderly and reassuringly
as if it
had a mind of its own. This brought the girl out of her rage; calming
her.
Her eyes stopped glowing their yellow heat and her human mask fell back
into place. But that didn't change her left eye which was still the
feral
yellow of the vampire while her other eye was the soft blue of a spring
sky.

((Soon my precious....Soon vengeance will be yours against the one who
did you wrong.))

< Why must I wait? I have waited one hundred and five years for this! He
turned me and left me, Kalig. Alone! With no idea of what to do and only
you to guide me! Without you I would have been lost. > The vampiress
whispered in her mind, red tears of frustration and anger tracking down
her face.

((And have I ever steered you wrong my precious one? I have been with
you since you tasted his blood the first time and I will never, NEVER
leave you! We are one you and I... Forever...))

< I know Kalig. I know. >

She withdrew from Kalig's mental embrace and opened her eyes. It had
begun to rain, and the two she had been tracking were gone but she
reached out with her and Kalig’s senses combined and found them, two
blocks away heading east.

She rose, her sleeveless black duster billowing out behind her lean
form.
The moon, not quite hidden behind the clouds, shone down on her white
poets shirt that she had tied under her full breasts and on her leather
pants
that were a dark brown. Her thigh high black leather boots griped the
rooftops perfectly as she began to run over the roofs of the city. Soundless
as a phantom breeze, she followed her quarry to their lair and smiled to her
self as they entered.

Soon her cowardly and irresponsible Sire would pay for leaving her
alone.
She fingered the scar that ran through her eyebrow and down her cheek.
She had faced his other childe, William, long ago and he could tell her
nothing of where he was. She had left him alive, but not before giving
him
a little memento of her visit - a scar through his brow - to remind him
of
her. She had used a blessed knife to do the cutting and the scar would
remain until he was dust in the wind. She smiled. He had been no match
for her even though she was the younger, but he had been cocky and
defiant to the end so she had let him live. She wondered if her
remembered
her? She would soon find out.

As Onyx melted into the shadows she whispered "Soon My Fallen Angel
very soon."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 1

"We have a shadow." stated Willow as her and her mate entered their
newly acquired lair. They’d taken a tour around the city, learning their
way
around LA, and grabbing a snack or two. On their way back, they’d both
felt something, or someone, following them. Neither had been able to
place it, but it concerned them both. Their group had just recently left

Sunnydale, and the threat of the Slayer was very real.

Not that either of them were really worried about Buffy, but she could
end
up becoming an annoyance.

Hearing a crash from upstairs, Willow sighed, knowing that Spike was
carrying on, as he had done almost every night since they had arrived in

the City of Angels. Looking up into the face of her mate, she saw a
helpless anger there, for the pain his favorite childe was going
through.
He’d lost his love, and still had yet to deal with it.

"I’ll take care of it." said Willow, moving towards the stairs. Walking
along the long hallway, the red head didn’t bother to knock on the
blonde
vampire’s door, knowing he was most likely too drunk to hear it.

Entering the room, Willow took in the destroyed furniture, the shattered

glass, and the dead girl lying on the bed. The smell of cheap liquor
permeated the room, making her slightly nauseous. Several empty bottles
of alcohol littered the dark, carpeted floor, and Willow inwardly sighed
as
she realized they’d have to get the carpets cleaned. Again.

"Spike!" she said softly, in a firm but kind voice. She couldn’t bear to
see
him this way, and quite frankly, this routine was starting to wear thin.

Almost every night, the blonde vampire would go hunting, looking for
meals that looked like the bastards that had killed his beloved Dru.
Most
times, he would end up beating them to death, killing them before he’d
even had a chance to feed. He’d never got to really take out his anger
on
Dru’s killers, so settled for look-a-like’s. (Willow got personal
pleasure
out of sending the newspaper clippings of the victims, complete with
pictures and place names blacked-out, to the Scooby gang in Sunnydale.)
After beating his dinner to a bloody pulp, Spike would set off in search
of
someone to ‘spend the time with’. Which was a polite way of saying he
was looking for a good ‘suck-n-fuck’. Most of the girls he would bring
back, looked like the late Drusilla, but every once in awhile, they
would be
blonde. Those were the ones that just got ‘sucked’. But needless to say,
the
blonde vampire got them all stinking drunk before hand, giving their
blood
a ‘proof’. He said that the alcohol wore off to quickly in his system,
if he
drank straight from the bottle, yet if his dinner was nicely trashed,
then he
stayed plastered longer. Willow hadn’t tried it yet, and didn’t plan on
it
anytime soon.

In short, William the Bloody had turned into a pathetic shell of a
vampire.

"Spike! It’s time you quit moping over her, and get on with your
unlife!"
snapped Willow upon receiving no response from the drunken vampire.

"You bitch!" he snarled, taking a drunken lunge for the red haired
beauty.
Easily dodging his staggered attempt, Willow brought her booted foot up,

kicking him squarely in the temple, sending him off balance, and into
the
deep sleep of the drunk.

"Oh, Spike." she whispered sadly, before grabbing one of his arms, and
dragging his drunken ass down the hallway to a spare bedroom. "What are
we gonna do with you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Antony O’Neill sat near the entrance to the beach house on the edge of
the
city tormenting a stray cat. He was so bored, that if he was not already

dead he would probably die from it. That and the sexual energy in the
house was driving him nuts! Spike moped at the loss of his lady,
Drusilla.
And his master, Angelus, spent most of his time with his mate, Willow.
AND when _they_ weren’t shagging, the sexual tension around them was
so strong that it was all he could do to stay sane.

The red headed vampire thought back, over the years of his unlife. He
didn’t have any room for regret, though he did have secrets. Even from
his
master. He’d seen Masters come and go, and yet none had ever been as
strong and powerful as Angelus was, with his mate by his side. Tony was
one of the oddities in the vampire underworld. He had seen more
centuries
than even Angelus, yet he had no thirst for power. He was strong, true,
but
the vampire saw no reason for him to risk his life, for something so
fleeting as the rule of a city. He’d found that those who tried to
control the
vampire population, were doomed to a short lifespan, as there were
always
younger undead, ready and willing to take their place.

So Tony contented himself with watching the rise and fall of numerous
leaders. Some strong. Some deadly. Some downright sadistic. Yet they all

fell, at one time or another. But this pair, Angelus and Willow, they
had a
chance to be the greatest and most feared vampires in history.

They were a couple that intrigued him immensely. Most of the previous
Masters he’d seen, and served under, who had taken a mate, had even
shorter lifespans than expected. Their mate’s were often perceived as a
weakness, used to gain power in the clan through blackmail. Used to
further some lowly fledgling’s ambition. And more often than not, it
worked. For when vampires love, they love completely, and with their
entire being.

But Angelus and Willow were different, Tony found. They were true
mates, and unlike in the past, the female was not a liability. Angelus
did
not have to fear anyone taking his mate, and using her against him, for
Willow would take down any who dared to harm either her or her mate, or
anyone else she perceived as family. So far, that included Spike, and
the
late vampiress, Drusilla. The entire clan had witnessed her rage at the
death of the insane beauty, and hid in fear for days, until her temper
had
cooled somewhat. The fact that Angelus and Spike shared her sentiments,
didn’t exactly help.

So, here he was. One of the oldest vampire’s on this side of the
Atlantic,
and he was brooding like his master’s counterpart - Angel - used to do.
He
was truly pathetic.

A slight movement brought him out of his stupor. As he looked
up he felt a zing of energy, that seemed to burn through his entire
body. A
pull so strong he felt like he was being torn apart from within drew him
to
his feet, as he peered deep into the dark recesses of the grove of trees
surrounding the beach house. There in the dark, half shrouded by
shadows,
was a girl. A vampire girl and the pull was coming from HER! She looked

as startled as he did, and as he started toward her she turned her back
and
ran as fast as a gazelle....AWAY from him! The shock of that movement
brought him to his knees, as he felt as if part of himself was being
torn
away. As if someone had ripped his non-existent soul away from his dead
body, leaving a gaping hole of despair in it’s place. Anger boiled up in
him.

"You are mine, Little One. I WILL find you! That’s a promise." whispered

Tony to himself. It was a promise he intended to keep, for soon, he
vowed,
the little minx would be by his side to stay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Onyx ran as fast as she could away from the large beach house, her heart
pounding in terror.

She had a Mate! And her mate was in her enemy’s house! Part of his
clan!

((Onyx what is wrong? Talk to me !!!! I can feel your distress so
strongly
it is almost my own ! Onyx!!!!!! Answer me!))

Onyx, now far away from the beach house sunk down in the sand and
howled her rage to the sky. She did not want a mate and by rejecting him
she had probably signed her death warrant.

<< Kalig help me....>> was all she managed to get out, before her
despair
encompassed her entire being. Grief welled up in her chest, forcing the
young-looking girl to take unneeded breaths, as the enormity of what had
just occurred hit her. She had rejected her mate!

Onyx didn’t know what it was about him that had drawn her to him, but
whatever it was, it was strong. There had been something about the red
haired vampire, that she couldn’t quite place, and it had made her
curiouser. She should have listened to her damn instincts! Then maybe
she
wouldn’t be in this mess. For she knew he would be looking for her.
She’d
felt the connection being made, and despaired of ever feeling totally
whole
again.

Curling into a tight ball, Onyx let the loneliness take her over, and
for the
first time in 105 years, shut her mind to the presence of Kalig - her
demon
- briefly wondering why Kalig hadn’t felt her mate, before collapsing
into
a deep unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 2

Images flashed before her mind. Misty and vaguely familiar.

Dark shapes floated about her vision, glossing over long forgotten
memories, solidifying into one frightening image after another.

Hearing screams of pain, and cries of mercy. Running along a dark
hallway to a familiar door. Rushing inside to a sight that will forever
haunt her.

Blood. So much blood. Pooling on the cheap, muslin sheets. Dripping into

puddles on the rough, wooden floor. And standing over the dying,
bleeding
form, tied to the bed, was evil incarnate. Someone familiar, yet
frightening
at the same time.

"Well, well. The next generation of whores." said the raspy, chilly
voice.
Waves of fear washed over her numb body, paralyzing her.

A cold hand griping her. Ropes burning at her arms and legs as she tried

to free herself, only to be met with the evilness of his cold and
calculating
laughter.

Then suddenly......a sharp crack, followed by a searing pain. Then
another. And another. Again and again. The sound of braided leather
lashing tender, young flesh was interspersed with screams of help.
Echoing along the hallway outside. Her cries of pain and outrage and
sorrow falling on deaf ears.

All too soon, it ended. Then came the devastating reality of her life
was
doomed to be.

Her pale, young, bloodied form, lying prone on the bed. Traces of
familiar
blood staining the sheets, mingling with her own. Then the figure that
has
forever haunted her nightmares, roughly pushing into her. Enjoying her
screams of pain and horror. Enjoying the sensation of being lodged where
no one had ever been before. Thrilling in the tight flesh surrounding
him,
as his way became lubricated with her own blood.

Then....it was over - for a time. Over and over again, the evil
penetrated
her mind, body and soul.

Screaming in remembered pain, her voice full of anguish, Onyx woke up.
Bolting upright, she was awake instantly. Her body trembling still from
one of her many nightmares.

((Shhh, my little one.)) came the soothing voice of her demon. It, too,
had
been bombarded with the images and emotions from her dream. ((It’s all
in
the past. He can no longer harm you.)) reminded Kalig. ((Remember
that.))

< Yes… I remember… > said Onyx in her mind, her body calming as other
memories came to the surface.

She remembered coming back for the bastard, after she’d been turned.
Both her and her demon gloried in the fact that now _he_ was the one
screaming in terror and pain. _He_ was the one feeling pain and begging
for mercy he wouldn’t receive. It had been one of the most satisfying
moments in her young life, as she gloried in the power of her new life.
In
the abilities she now had.

< That is, until that damn priest interrupted… > thought Onyx, her
thoughts
turning darker.

((Think not of that, dear one.)) came Kalig’s voice in her mind, as she
absently traced the scar that raced along her face.

Pushing the memories aside, the young girl realized it was close to
sunrise.
Standing up, she let the feeling of the early morning surround her. The
light mist in the ocean air leaving a fine sheen on her pale, cold skin.

Pushing aside thoughts of her mate, she cast one last glance into the
dark
infinite of the ocean ahead of her, before turning, and taking off for
home.
Her own personal lair.

She had plans to make.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 3

They emanated power as they walked down the street. Even mortals knew
enough to avoid them, sensing the danger, and barely controlled violence

in their steps. They made a striking couple. One so dark and handsome,
he
could easily break the hearts of millions at the same time. And the
woman....red hair fell in waves down her back, making a striking
contrast
with her pale skin. She clung possessively to his side, claiming him as
hers
to the world, and any female who thought they could take him. Not that
it
wasn’t mutual. The possessive arm around her waist proclaimed to all
that
the gorgeous red head at his side was taken.

The couple turned onto a deserted street in downtown LA. It was the time

of night which people, no matter the social standing, stayed inside.
Even
the gangs of teen-agers with semi-automatic weapons, and a grudge
against the world, knew better than to be roaming the streets at this
time of
night.

But their shadow obviously didn’t. Whoever they were, had remained
faithful in their trailing of the two, following them as they hunted and

organized their new town. They’d been aware of the shadow for some
time, and after a few days of testing it, found out that it followed
Angelus,
and not Willow, when the couple separated.

That gave them an advantage.

As the couple separated, going in seemingly opposite directions, the
shadow was true to form, and continued to trail the dark vampire.
Whoever they were, they underestimated Willow.

Back-tracking, the red head easily picked up their shadow’s trail,
following them as they followed her mate. Closing in on her prey, she
found that it was a young girl, who looked no older than 17 or 18. But
the
way that she almost flew across the tops of the buildings, confirmed a
theory for Willow. Whoever this girl was, she was obviously a vampire.
And a fairly old one at that.

Seeing her chance, Willow advanced upon the dark haired vampire.

********
Onyx was so absorbed in her pursuit of her wayward sire, that she didn’t

hear Willow until it was too late. She only had time to take in a blur
of red
and black, before she was sailing off the roof, down towards the ground.

Landing with a hard thud, Onyx felt several bones break, which the
searing
pain traveling through her body confirmed. Angry that she’d been taken
off guard, she moved to get up, but found that she couldn’t. The
movement
to rise only caused more pain, a blackness beginning to crowd her
vision.
Hearing soft footfalls coming towards her, she raised her head, staring
through pain-filled eyes at a pair of black boots, topped with black,
leather
pants. Stifling a groan of pain, Onyx raised her head, able to catch
only the
sight of her sire’s enraged face before the blackness overtook her
completely.

**************
Angelus looked up from the form of the badly injured vampire at his
feet,
to his mate who was standing at the edge of the roof, looking down upon
the two of them. Her smirk of satisfaction was clearly visible to his
vampiric eyesight. He watched as Willow gracefully made her way down
the fire escape bolted to the side of the building, landing with barely
a
sound next to her mate.

"Do you recognize her?" asked Willow, wondering why this girl would be
stalking her mate.

"No." replied Angelus. "But then again, she was only conscious for about

2 seconds." he told her, a wry expression on his handsome face.

"And you’re complaining?" she asked, crouching down next to the still
form of the vampire. Turning her over, Willow examined their ‘friend’.
"A
shame to mare such a beautiful face." murmured the red head, her fingers

lightly tracing the scar that ran from the girl’s eyebrow, down her
cheek, to
the edge of her jaw.

"She looks vaguely familiar...."trailed off Angelus, as he searched his
mind for where he’d seen this girl before. True, she had become an
annoyance in the past few days, but he had to admire her boldness. In
some ways, she reminded him of his Willow. But still, he wouldn’t mind
killing the little bitch.

NO ONE messed with Angelus!

"Let’s bring her home." suggested Willow, not turning to look at her
mate.
Instead, she kept studying the face of their ‘shadow’.

"What?!" cried out Angelus, not understanding her reasons for making
such a suggestion.

Turning to look at him, Willow let her eyes roam over his incredible
body.
Looking him in the eye, she answered him. "If we bring her home, we can
find out more information from her, than if we just staked her here.
Don’t
you want to know why she was following you?"

Snorting in disgust at her logic, Angelus hauled the unconscious girl
over
his shoulder, and began the trek back to their lair. A smug Willow
following close behind.
 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 4

She awoke to a blinding headache, in a strange room. All she could
remember was trailing Angelus........

((My dear child.)) intoned Kalig’s comforting voice. It was something
familiar, in a world of strangeness. ((Are you alright?))

she asked, confused at her present situation.

Then it hit her.

"That bitch!" hissed out Onyx, remembering her plummet from the roof.
She’d only caught a glimpse of her attacker, but knew who it was. The
red
head.

Closing her eyes for a moment, Onyx pushed the pain to the back of her
mind. Opening them again, this time it was to a clearer, less hazy
world.
Searching the room with her gaze, the young vampiress realized that she
was in a bedroom. A lavishly decorated bedroom, at that. There was red
satin and gold trim everywhere. Ornately framed pictures graced the red
and gold striped walls, clashing with the deep red satin sheets she was
currently laying on. Pulling herself upright, she took one last glance
around the garishly decorated room, before heading for the door on the
other side of the room. Twisting the gold-plated door knob, she
discovered
it was locked. With a little effort, however, that same knob popped off,

garnering her the freedom she craved.

Making her way down the silent hallway, she stretched out with her
senses, picking up various vampires in the many rooms lining the
hallway.
Moving down the stairs, her senses told her that she had a clear path to
the
doorway. Swiftly bolting to the door, to escape to the freedom of the
outside world, Onyx was halted by a voice off to the side.

"Well, well, well. Look who’s finally awake." drawled Angelus, stepping
out from the shadows. Panicking, the dark haired girl turned and was
about
to sprint for the door, when another figure moved, blocking her way.

"Going somewhere, pet?" asked Spike, watching the girl look like she was

a deer in headlights. His amusement lasted only a second, before he
really
looked at her.

And recognized her.

"YOU!" he growled, advancing upon the startled girl. She hadn’t expected

to face so many of her past ghosts all at once, and she was decidedly
unprepared.

"Spike?" came Angelus’ query, watching as his voice halted his advancing

childe.

"That’s the bloody bitch that gave me this." he spat out, his hand going
to
the scar that marred his chiseled features. Angelus had always wondered
where the blonde had acquired that scar, because before he’d developed a

soul, his childe’s face had been perfection.

"Well, the surprises just keep on coming, don’t they?" he asked the girl
in
a menacing tone. She deserved to die, if for no other reason than to pay
for
marking one of his favorite childer.

"There’s something about her, Angelus. I don’t know what, but she feels
familiar for some reason." said Willow from the top of the stairs. This
girl
vampire just radiated power, almost like Drusilla had. Yet hers wasn’t
tinged with madness, but with something else. Something different and
unnatural.

Spinning around, Onyx glared at the approaching figure of the red head.
((Don’t let them get to you. You’re stronger than they are, child.))
whispered Kalig in her mind.

When she was close enough, Onyx looked into a pair of green eyes, and
did something she didn’t know she was able to do. She pulled the red
head
into her mind.

Angelus and Spike just watched in fascination as the two females seemed
to be involved in some kind of staring contest. But they knew what was
really happening. They’d seen Willow do the same thing with Drusilla.
And they didn’t expect this unknown girl to far any better than the
insane
vampiress had, nearly a year ago.

*****
"So, this is your mind. Interesting landscape." commented Willow,
turning
her back on Onyx.

What she saw there, gave Willow a look into the workings of the other
girl’s mind. It was a truly beautiful and colourful world. The sun was
shining, trees and flowers in full bloom. A stream running beside them,
so
clear you could see clear to the bottom. Yet at the same time, it was a
strange place, for everywhere you looked, it was smeared. Colours looked

like they had melted, and pooled into each other, giving the entire
landscape the feeling of standing in a wet water-colour.

Turning back to the girl, Willow smiled in appreciation. "I’ve got to
admit.
You are an interesting little thing."

"‘Interesting little thing’?!" repeated Onyx, offended at that comment.
"I’m easily ten times your age, and could take you down in a second!"
she
boasted.

"Better than you have tried, girl. And failed." replied the red head. If
this
girl wanted a fight, then that’s what she’d get.

"This is my world. My mind." reminded Onyx. "I control everything
here."

"I’m sure you believe that." said Willow in a patronizing tone. "But I
have
more experience in other people’s minds. So don’t think for even a
second
that I couldn’t take you out. I could break your mind in an instant!"
growled the red head..

And the battle began.
 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 5

Willow had thought she was ready for what Onyx could do.... But she was
very, very wrong. The images that assailed her made what she had seen in

Dru's mind pale in comparison. Willow's demon trembled and for the first

time since she was turned Willow knew true fear, as the images flew
threw
her mind in a hideous symphony of fear and hate and anger. Then she saw
the things she was looking for...

Willow saw through Onyx’s eyes as the girl opened the door to her
mother’s room in the whorehouse, worried and scared by the screams of
real fear she’d heard coming from there. Willow felt her pain, horror
and
fear as she saw her mother’s battered and bloodied body, her killer
standing over her lifeless body, smiling in evil glee. Then she felt the

ropes
burning her wrists and ankles as the man dragged her paralyzed body into

the room, tying her to the same bed her mother had just died on. She
went
through the torture that Onyx had gone through, being beaten and raped
by
this madman, well into the morning. Her screams only urging him on.

Then came something that changed the young girl’s life forever, in a way

that her recent ordeal never could. After crawling out of the room, the
dark
haired girl had made it to the alley, before losing all strength.
Through the
pain haze of the memories she saw HER Angelus - her mate - feed on the
helpless, bloodied body of this young girl. Then she saw guilt flood his

handsome features, and that’s when it hit her.

It was ANGEL!! NOT ANGELUS!!

Seeing him rip open his wrist, the souled vampire let the girl feed.
What
came next shocked her even more and made everything crystal clear as to
why the girl had been following her and her mate. Angel had made her,
then abandoned her before she awoke.

Willow felt the fledgling’s desolation upon awaking alone, the pain of
not
being wanted.......

Angelus - even at his worst - had NEVER abandoned a childe of his
without SOME instruction! But Angel had ... ((Now you see)) a deep voice

said echoing around her mind.

That voice startled her even more, as she didn’t know where it came
from,
or why there would be another voice in the girl’s head.

"Who are you?" demanded Willow. Standing back up, she realized she
was back in Onyx’s mind, no longer caught up in the painful memories of
her past. Looking around the dripping landscape, her attention became
focused on a large dark area. It encompassed a large part of her mind,
pictured as a dark forest off to the side, yet very prominent.

"That’s Kalig." replied Onyx, walking towards the confused red head. "My

demon." Willow looked confused for a moment, turning her head to scan
around the landscape again, her gaze resting on a small wooden shack. It

would have just been part of the scenery, except it was surrounded by
all
forms of chains and locks, keeping trespassers out.

Or keeping something in.

"Well, if that’s your demon," began Willow, shaking her head in the
direction of the dark forest where Onyx’s ‘demon’ was. "Then what’s
that?" she asked the girl, her eyes still locked on the small shed. Even
as
she spoke, the shack began to shake, as if there was something trying to

break free.

As if suddenly realizing that something was wrong, Onyx turned to look.

((NO!!)) cried out Kalig, attacking the red head with all the power it
possessed, pushing her out of Onyx’s mind.

Never before having been thrown out of someone’s mind, Willow was
unprepared for the force behind the shove, both physical and mental. She

was thrown backwards in the real world, landing on her back, her head
cracking against the stone floor.

"Willow!" cried out her mate, fury in his voice. Willow sat up quickly,
in
time to see Angelus rushing over to her side. She also caught sight the
black haired girl - also dazed - turn and head for the door.

"Stop her!" yelled Willow, startling the two older vampires, but neither
of
them would be able to stop her from reaching the door.

Just as Onyx was reaching the door, it flew open, stopping her in her
tracks.

"No." whimpered the black haired vampire, backing up several steps, her
eyes widening in fear. Her worst nightmare was standing in the doorway.

It was Tony. Her mate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 6

A smile of evil satisfaction was her only response, as Tony entered the
lair,
advancing upon his mate.

"Well, well. Look who I found." he said to no one in particular, his
larger
strides no match for her quick retreat. Panic flared in Onyx’s eyes,
realizing that things had just gone from bad to worse. Spinning quickly,

the vampire raced away from her mate, terrified by the turn of events.
She
got no further than a few feet, when a strong arm wrapped itself around
her
waist, yanking her struggling body back against his solid form.

"Where do you think you’re going, Little One?" he asked, his lips so
close
that they brushed the delicate shell of her ear. Shivering in response,
Onyx
fought her betraying body, fighting to free herself from a fate she
deemed
worse than death.

"Tony!" came Willow’s commanding voice. Turning to face his mistress,
his mate still struggling in his arms, Tony looked into three sets of
golden
eyes. "Put her down."

"I don’t think so." he argued, knowing that she’d bolt the second he
released his hold on the black haired girl. He was so close, and nothing
-
NOTHING - was going to keep him from his mate. Seeing the anger rise
in Willow’s yellow eyes, he explained his reasoning. "I put her down,
and
she takes off. I’m not losing her. Not again." said the red head,
tightening
his hold on Onyx.

"What do you mean?" demanded Angelus, reigning in his temper at this
defiance from one of his minions.

"She’s mine." was all he would say, daring any of them to challenge him.

"Please.." came Onyx’s choked cry, her eyes pleading with the red headed

vampiress as she ceased her struggles. "Please." she repeated, tears of
helplessness spilling out of her eyes.

Feeling his mate go limp in his embrace, Tony relaxed some, lowering her

form until her feet touched the ground, supporting her slim body.

"Explain." demanded Angelus, becoming annoyed with his minions
disobedience.

"She’s my mate." said the red headed male vampire at last, shocking the
undead in the room. Seeing he had their complete attention, Tony
continued. "Tell me what you would do," he began, his eyes burning into
those of his master, "if your mate ran away, seconds after you’d found
her?" Hazel eyes met startled brown ones, as what Tony had said sunk in.

Onyx has run away from her mate. Denying him.

Then another thought took precedence. "I thought only older vampires got

mates?" asked Angelus, suspicion colouring his voice.

"I’m older than you think, Angelus." stated Tony, his eyes taking on a
hard
gleam. He’d rarely used his age and strength for his own gain, but this
was
a special situation. His mate was at stake.

The dark haired vampire’s eyebrows quirked at the use of his name. "Is
that so?" he asked in a casual, but deadly, way.

"I’ve seen masters rise and fall, and don’t intend to be one of them."
was
all he said.

None in the room could fault his logic. Self-preservation warred with
the
craving for power in most vampires. Tony had obviously chosen self-
preservation, by remaining as a minion, and not rising to the status of
a
Master.

Nodding in acceptance, Angelus turned his attention to the wet-faced
girl,
limp in her mate’s arms.

"Why did you run?" asked Angelus, curious and slightly shocked that
_any_ vampire would try and reject their mate. Finding a true mate was
one of the most spectacular experiences for any vampire.

"Please....Don’t...." was all she said, sobbing. At this, Angelus looked

even more confused.

Willow had regained her feet, and was watching this girl with the silver

streaked hair, pleading for help from her sire - who didn’t know he was
her
sire. Walking up to the pair of newly mated vampires, Willow gently
lifted
the girl’s face with one pale hand, looking deep into her eyes. One
golden,
another sky blue, both red rimmed from her blood tears.

"If I’d been through what you had experienced, I would have felt the
same
way." began Willow by way of explanation. A glimmer of hope sparked in
the girl’s eyes, only to be crushed out seconds later by the same red
head
who had started it. "You have nothing to be scared of, Onyx. Everything
will be clearer after." with that, the red headed mate of the master,
turned
her back on Onyx, blocking out her scream of rage.

"Tony." she called out over her shoulder, halting the red head as he
carried
the squirming vampire up the stairs. "You have your work cut out for
you." she said, looking over her shoulder at him, amusement dancing
across her green eyes.

Her only response was his answering grin, before heading up to his room,

intent on claiming his mate the way he had longed to do when he’d first
seen her, several nights before.

Once the odd couple had gone upstairs, Angelus turned to his mate,
drawing her into his arms, claiming her mouth with his own. His hands
came up to frame her face, keeping her head locked in place as he
ravaged
her mouth.

Spike’s disgusted snort broke them apart, each mate glaring at the
bleach
blonde.

"What did you see, Willow?" asked Angelus after a minute. He knew
something important had happened when she’d been drawn into Onyx’s
mind, and he wanted to know what it was.

"That she has a very disturbing past, even for a vampire. I’m surprised
she
stayed sane." she said, trying to think of the best way to break it to
Angelus that Onyx was his childe - one that he couldn’t remember.

So she decided to start with something else she’d discovered while in
the
girl’s mind, before being thrown out.

"Oh, she also has two demons." she said in a casual way, as if saying
something mundane, such as ‘and I’ll take the gum, too.’.

Both vampires in the room with her froze on the spot, going over what
she’d said in their minds. Angelus was the first to speak.

"What!?!?!"
 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 7

He’d lived more centuries than he cared to remember, but this last one
was
the best. This girl - Onyx - had been luck incarnate for him. After his
last
body had died, he’d only had a short amount of time to find another
suitable one. Luck was with him, for he found the body of a young girl,
covered in blood, but not dead. Not anymore.

He’d felt her beginning to wake from her sleep, being born again into
the
form of a vampire. It was rare that a newly made fledgling was found,
with
no sign of their sire around.

And it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Only once before had he
ever taken the body of a vampire, and that was when his host had died at

the hands of that very same vampire. It had been difficult to control
the
beast, as the undead had their own demons, so his stay had been very
temporary.

But this girl...she had yet to awaken to feel the presence of her demon.
So
he took over the body, locking the vampire’s demon away, where it could
not break free from, and took over the role as her demon.

And for over 100 years, he’d been with her. Teaching her, guiding her,
encouraging her. And loving her. If he played his cards right, he could
remain in this body for an eternity.

But he hadn’t counted on vampiric mates. It was the single thing that
could
break his hold over the girl, and it was too late to do anything about
it.
Ever since that night on the beach, where Onyx had run for reasons she
would not share, Kalig had been worried. She had blocked him out of her
mind, with a power he was unaware she knew how to use. And since that
night, he’d found himself behind a brick wall he could not break, more
and
more.

He’d only had glimpses of what was going on around him, but what he had
seen, scared him. Realizing that Onyx had found a mate, he’d used her
own painful memories against her, trying in vain to maintain control.

It was useless. Kalig could feel it.

The chains and ropes binding Onyx’s demons began to loosen and break,
one by one, as she was claimed by her mate. Nothing he could do seemed
to stop, or even slow down the chained demon. Being held captive for
over
a century had made it quite restless, and it was more than ready to
fight
whatever had locked it away.

So Kalig watched in helplessness, as Onyx uselessly fought her vampiric
instincts. Yet even as she weakened, her demon grew stronger, drawn to
it’s mate. Her true demon knew what was happening - probably had
known when it had first happened - and was glorying in the fact that
soon
it would be free and with it’s mate.

And suddenly, it _was_ free. It was like a great, black beast, rejoicing
in
it’s freedom, and looking for the cause of it’s imprisonment.

Seeing Kalig, it walked over to a river in the landscape of Onyx’s mind.

The water of the river glowed white with the approach of the demon, and
Kalig tried one last attempt to halt the inevitable. He threw everything
he
had at the demon, and it did nothing.

The demon just kept advancing, walking into the glowing white water that

was Onyx’s being. Completing the merging Kalig had prevented over a
century beforehand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Onyx couldn’t believe the sensations and feeling coursing through her
body. She felt electrified, nerve endings twitching in response to the
actions of her mate. But still she fought. She’d only been with one man
in
her entire existence, and she still had nightmares about it. But that
didn’t
stop her body from responding to this vampire’s touch. She thought it
may
have something to do with the fact that they were mates, but she didn’t
care.

Onyx just wanted the fear to go away. She didn’t want to see _his_ face
ever again. But Tony wouldn’t let her get away. He’d quickly divested
both of them of their clothing, and gotten right down to the claiming.

Feeling him deep inside her released feelings she’d never known before -

in both her mind and body. Said-body was tensing up with her
approaching climax, while something in her mind was raging to get out.

< Kalig! Help me! What’s happening to me? she cried out in her mind,
trying to make sense of the situation.

((My dear, girl...)) was all she managed to hear, before her attention
was
drawn to the sudden piercing pain in her neck. With the bite from her
mate, came her release, her entire body shuddering in wondrous ecstacy,
at
the same time she felt a snap in her mind.

Rage and the joy of freedom, mixed with unparalleled fear in her head,
until suddenly there was only a blackness, as she became whole. Opening
her eyes, Onyx lifted her head, her razor-sharp teeth slicing into her
mate’s
flesh. And as his blood slid down her throat, she became aware of all
that
had happened - Kalig, especially.

she asked desperately, as she struggled to reject the foreign
presence from her mind.

((It is my way.)) was all the demon would say, as he fought Onyx for
possession of her mind and body. The demon fought a losing battle, and
he
knew it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tony could barely contain his joy, when he felt her fangs in his neck.
Finally, she had accepted him, as he had accepted her. He felt whole and

alive, for the first time in centuries.

Moving off her still-spasming body, Tony pulled her slight frame tight
against his, enjoying the feeling of her flesh next to his. Looking down

into her eyes, he saw confusion and acceptance, both warring with panic,

before they went red. Startled, Tony reared up, his eyes never leaving
hers
as he watched her fight some inner battle.

She closed her eyes tightly, her head thrashing back and forth as if
trying
to shove something away from her, that no one else could see. Her eyes
opened wide, panic clearly visible in their golden depths, her vampiric
ridges fully prominent.

Onyx screamed like a frightened animal, for that was essentially what
she
had become. An animal fighting for its right to survive. Struggling in
Tony's tight grip she fought with all her strength. Finally she gained a
little
leeway and freed herself from his binding hold, but as she hit the floor
she
realized that she hadn’t escaped at all, he had let her go. They were in
a
bedroom tastefully decorated in aqua and forest green, a large circular
bed
dominated the room, drawing the eye to it. A soft looking cotton
comforter covered it, and Onyx realized with a stab of horror so deep it

pierced her demons heart, that the sheets were muslin. With a feral cry
she
bolted to a corner and took a defensive position. She began to chant.

" Arhok et dominus, Mortus averius intreus.
Berok ate manoh, KALIG MAHREH ENTREUS !!!

(Translation: I am the dominent , I call to my death -demon, Come to
my
world , Kalig come now!)

The air in front of her began to shimmer and a portal opened and the
biggest damn demon that Tony had ever seen emerged. A deep blue and at
least 9 feet tall with bat-like wings caped around its shoulders, the
demon
that was Kalig took corporeal form. The wings had to be at least twenty
feet across, Tony thought, noticing that two ram like horns came from
its
skull, and black hair cascaded down it's back, it's face was
surprisingly
handsome. Four fingered hands with thick sharp talons and a tail that
looked like a dragons with a bone tip shaped like an arrow drew the red
haired vampire’s attention next. HUGE feet, three toed with taloned
nails
scraped grooves into the hard wood floor, as it balanced on the balls of
it's
feet. The demon wore only a loincloth and was overall the scariest god
damn thing Tony had ever seen.

Suddenly, the demon saw the very naked Onyx huddled in the corner
sobbing like a child. It got down on it's spurred knees and picked her
up
in its arms, his huge deadly hands smoothing her hair like a concerned
parent. And startlingly enough, she leaned into it's touch causing
sparks of
jealousy to ignite in Tony.

Help
me, help me help me ...... those words went on in a terrified litany in

Kalig’s head, before Onyx went into shock.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER??!!!!!!!!!!!" Kalig Roared enraged that
any one would hurt his ‘Kerima’ (or Precious in demon tongue).

"She is my MATE! It is my right!" Tony roared back.

"She was MINE first!" Kalig thundered, "Were you there to help her piece

together her broken body and mind? I WAS ! Did you live through her
nightmares day after day? I DID! And did you hold her when she cried at

night because her thrice damned sire left her so alone and helpless that
her
very soul latched on to a evil demon for comfort? I WAS THERE AND I
WON’T LET HER BE RAPED AGAIN.....EVER!!!"

"I couldn’t stop it the first time but I can NOW!" finished the demon.
All
this time Onyx had lain limply in Kalig’s huge arms but now she started
to
fight and scream, and beg and cry, Kalig just held her tighter.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY MATE?!" Tony yelled.

"You did this!" Kalig growled back in a deadly tone. "She is
reliving her rape and turning! Are you happy now? That she is in pain?"
Blood tears ran down Kalig’s cheeks as he rocked Onyx. "Even I can’t
help her now. All I can do is pray to every god and goddess I know of
that
she comes out of this sane. You had best pray, too, little man, because
if
she doesn’t the whole world will pay."

Before Tony could respond, an enraged Willow and Angelus ran into the
room, braking down the door. What they found there shocked them
beyond anything else, rendering them both speechless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 8

"You would be Kalig." stated Willow, not really surprised to see him.
She
knew that Onyx had power, and wouldn’t let him simply be banished into
‘thin air’, but the red head hadn’t expected _this_. This creature was
strong
and beautiful (for a demon), and was carefully holding the sobbing girl
in
his monstrous arms. "I didn’t think she’d let you go that easily."
continued
the red head, her green eyes never leaving the gigantic, blue creature.

"What do you know of it?" asked Kalig, his piercing red eyes taking in
the
red head. He was impressed. This tiny ‘girl’ had taken down his Onyx, no

small feat, considering that Willow was young by anyone’s standards. She

exuded an aura of menace and confidence, yet her projections of danger
were nothing compared to those of her mate. His glance sliding to the
dark
vampire behind the red head, Kalig had to hold back a growl of anger and

hate, as he took in the commanding presence of Angelus. Onyx’ sire.

"I know you’ve been a part of her since the beginning, locking her true
demon away. Controlling her for over a century." replied Willow in a
calm, matter-of-fact voice.

"I was protecting her. From memories of her life before, and of _HIM_."
spat the large demon, his sneer leaving no doubt as to who he was
referring to, as his gaze remained locked on the dark, soulless vampire.

"Protecting her?" repeated the incredulous red head. "You were harming
her, keeping her unaware of who you were!" retorted Willow. She had no
sympathy for this creature, who had taken control of the girl’s mind,
pretending to be her demon, when all along he was doing nothing more
than using her body. "She wouldn’t be in this pain right now if you
hadn’t
interfered." she stated hotly.

"I am not the cause of her pain!" said Kalig harshly, trying not to
disturb
the vampire, quietly sobbing in his large, leathery arms. "HE IS!" he
said,
his head motioning to the furious Tony, who was regarding the situation
with very little calm. He didn’t care what was going on, but he did know

that his mate was in pain, and he was being prevented from helping her,
by
this demon.

"She’s merging with her demon. It’s going through all her memories,
incorporating them into itself. She wouldn’t be going through it all, if
you
hadn’t interfered with the process the first time!" explained Willow,
her
anger evident in her flashing green eyes.

"What do you mean?" demanded Kalig, trying in vain to ignore her words
and accusations.

"It’s a normal process, that happens when someone becomes a vampire.
Only it happens before they wake up, after being turned. It allows for
the
personalities to meld together, as the demon takes over completely." she

explained, but in a calmer tone this time. "When you took possession of
her body, you halted this merging, forcing her to go through it all
now."

Slowly, she began approaching the hulking demon who was still craddling
the slight form of Angelus’ childe. "But she’s stuck. Her mind can’t
seem
to get past the single most traumatic experience of her life." Crouching

down in front of the pair, Willow slowly reached out a hand, touching
the
girl’s forehead. Onyx jerked at the contact, causing both Tony and Kalig
to
growl in response, but they let her continue, knowing she could aid the
dark haired girl they both cared deeply about.

"Shhh." murmured Willow, her hand resting on Onyx’s silver streaked
hair, letting her mind reach out. But she had only briefly touched upon
her
turbulent thoughts, before she was thrust out, Onyx’s mind rejecting any

interference, familiar or not.

"Tony." she said, her gaze never leaving the trembling, sobbing girl. As

her former minion approached the trio, Kalig began to growl quietly, not

liking this rival for his Onyx’ affections. She’d been his too long for
him
to give up quietly.

"You hush!" Willow ordered sternly at hearing the blue demon’s growl.
"He’s the only one who can help her right now. Her demon will recognize
it’s mate, and let him in."

Standing, she turned to face Onyx’s mate as she explained what to do.

"Make her look into your eyes. She should instinctively draw you in."

"What do I do?" asked Tony, still confused as to what to do.

"Just help her through her memories. Once she’s passed them, she’ll be
fine."

Kneeling in front of his mate, who was still being held by Kalig, he
placed
a hand on her shoulder. When she didn’t immediately respond, Tony
reached out, turning her face gently with a strong hand. "Look at me."
he
said softly but firmly. A pair of red rimmed golden eyes blinked up at
him,
from the mountains and valleys that were her demonic ridges. Even with
her tear stained face, he couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was.

And she was _his_.

Gently caressing her face with his hand, he felt himself pulled into her

eyes. Even in this condition, she instinctively knew who he was, and
that
he could help her.

The room at large watched as Tony and Onyx seemed to immerse
themselves in their own private world. They waited with baited breath,
hoping that the red haired vampire could aid his mate, for they all knew

what Willow had left unspoken.

Insanity wasn’t too far away for Onyx, and as her mate, Tony would soon
follow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 9

She awoke feeling completely at peace for once. It took a minute for
Onyx to acclimate herself to her surroundings. She was in a bedroom
tastefully decorated in aqua and forest green. A large circular bed
dominated the room, drawing your eye to it, covered in a soft
looking
cotton comforter. Then the vampire realized she was curled up against
a cold, hard body. Moving her head slightly, she looked up into the
dark eyes of her mate.

"Hi." came her shy comment. Onyx didn't know how to react around this
vampire who was her mate. One minute he was the most terrifying thing
she'd ever seen, making her tremble in fear, and the next, he was
caring and gentle with her, making her feel cherished beyond words.
Onyx didn't know what to do or say to this vampire. Neither of them
had been aware of Willow, Angelus or Kalig leaving, but they'd soon
found themselves alone. And put it to good use. Tony had calmed her
fears and battered down her defenses, until the both of them were so
intertwined, Onyx would never want to leave. They'd eventually ended
up in the bed, putting the interestingly shaped bed to good use for
several hours on end, as Tony taught her that there was immense
pleasure to be had in bed, especially with a mate.

"Hello, Little One." he said, his voice sending tendrils of pleasure
down her spine, the words sounding more like a caress than a
greeting.
But these feelings were still too new to her, and she was uncertain.
What did she say to the one person who had gotten past all her
defenses, and claimed her body, mind and demon, in ways she'd never
imagined possible? Should she get up and ask if he wanted any
coffee?
Tea? Blood? What??

"I-" began Onyx, only to stop as she realized she was at a loss for
words.

Dark eyes bore into her own, seemingly stripping her bare. She truly
did intrigue him, this creature he was mated with. She was the
frightened young vampire and black haired temptress at the same time,
all of which was involuntary. This creature in his arms truly had no
idea of her power over him. Tightening his hold around her slightly,
Tony hoped to ease her body into a more relaxed state. At the moment,
she was as tense as a high tension wire holding up an acrobat.

Lifting a hand, he brushed away the stray tendrils of ebony hair from
her pale face, his strong fingers absently stroking down her cheek.
Tracing the long scar that resided there. His brow wrinkling in
question, he asked her about the injury.

His intent was to calm her down, but his query had the opposite
effect. If anything, she grew more tense, but in anger not fear.
"What
happened?" Tony demanded, his voice growing harder by the second.
Someone had dared to mark his mate, and he wanted to know why.

And then he wanted to enjoy their slow deaths. But the red head had a
pretty good idea that it was already taken care of. He was more than
certain that she'd seen to it already.

"I was about a month old." she began, her eyes going glassy as her
mind brought her back to the events surrounding her 'injury'. "I was
in the middle of some...._unfinished_ business when I was knocked
out.
I was young and foolish, thinking that with my new improved hearing,
I'd be able to hear any attacker approaching. I was wrong." Onyx
paused a moment, forcing herself to calm down. She was more angry
with
herself for being taken by surprise, than anything else, even after
all these years.

"I woke up chained to an altar in a church, with some weird guy
chanting and waving stinky herbs. After a few minutes of this, he
picked up a knife and...." she trailed off, but Tony understood.

"But why did it scar?" he asked. She had already been turned, so it
should have healed with nothing visible left for anyone to notice.

"The knife he used was blessed and had been soaking in holy water for
awhile. The combination of the two must have left my face unable to
heal properly." she said without any real emotion.

Silence reigned for a few moments as Tony digested that information,
pulled in his formidable temper. While Angelus may be murderous in a
rage, he was nothing compared to what Tony was like. The red headed
vampire was slow to anger, but explosive when he finally did blow.
"Why?" he asked, the suddenness of his voice startling Onyx out of
her
revery.

"He needed the blood of a vampire, and I was the first one he came
across whom he was able to nab." explained the vampiress, settling
back into the bed, her eyes closing in contentment as Tony ran a hand
through her loose hair, mixing the strands of silver with the black.
"He wanted immortality, but on his own terms. Thought that if he did
the ritual right, he'd get all the strengths of a vampire, with none
of the weaknesses."

"So he took your blood for some demented ritual that never would have
worked in the first place." summarized Tony, clarifying what she had
said. At her nod of agreement, he asked "But why did he go for your
face? Why not the arm or the leg?"

"He had some strange idea that the heart was the core of our
weakness,
but the head was the core of our strengths." At his look of
incredulous disbelief, a small amused look overcame her face - the
closest he'd seen her smile, ever. "I told you he was insane." was
all
she said, her voice wry with amusement.

A few more moments of silence went by, before Tony broke the
stillness
yet again. "So you got free. Killed him _very_ slowly. And then went
to finish your 'unfinished business'." he guessed fairly accurately.
A
slight sound of agreement emerged from her throat as she closed her
eyes, a self-satisfied smile curving her lips.

"So, what's your name?" he asked, realizing that he didn't even know
the name of this woman who was his mate.

Smiling slightly at the humour behind that question she answered him.
Then, Onyx did what she'd just learned only a few hours ago.

She drew Tony into her mind, apologizing to him for her actions in
the
best way she could.

By showing him her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

Part 10

(The Next Night)

He sat in a large, wind-backed chair by the fire, engrossed in one
particular
book. Seemingly unaware of the bi-coloured eyes that regarded him from
the shadowed doorway.

She’d paused just outside of the door-way, watching this stranger who
was
her sire. He was truly a picture of the predator at ease, his dark frame

fitting perfectly into the dark cushions of the chair. The light of the
fire
illuminated only a small portion of the room, not nearly enough for a
human to be able to read, yet with his vampiric sight, it was just
enough.

The orange glow from the flames shadowed his figure, the only evidence
of his being in the room were the legs and book she could make out,
disturbing the natural flow of the chair’s outline. One ankle resting
atop
his knee, epitomized his casual pose.

she asked herself incredulously, trying to
quell
the nervous anticipation rising in her stomach. After everything that
had
happened recently, to confront her sire, who had abandoned her before
she
was fully awake, was wreaking havoc with her emotions. Kalig had helped
her out when she was newly-made, but still......there was a sense of
abandonment and curiosity in her. Added to the raw feeling she had after

allowing Tony into her mind, and it made for one tired, and vulnerable
feeling vampire. Not to mention blinding, furious rage. She’d exposed
her
entire being to the red headed vampire, things she’d not even shared
with
Kalig.

"Are you going to stand out there all night?" drawled a smooth voice
from
the confines of the chair by the fire, amusement tinging the deep tone.

"I was thinking about it." came back Onyx’s sharp retort. Her anger over

his comment gave her the courage to step over the threshold, and into
the
dark study.

"So, where’s Big Blue?" asked Angelus, his eyes still not leaving the
book
in front of him. Asked in an almost casual tone, it took Onyx a second
to
realize that he’d been insulting Kalig. Her friend for over a century.

"Where’s the red headed bitch?" came Onyx’s reply in defense to her
friend. Out of all the reactions she was preparing herself for - anger,
outrage, some violent reaction in response to an insult against his mate
-
the deep, amused chuckle coming from her sire was not one of them.

Putting his book away, he turned his head, and took the time to actually

look over the figure that was standing before him. His childe. That in
itself
amazed him to no end, and for the millionth time, wished Angel was
another physical being, just so he could torture the soul right out of
him.

Angelus had done many brutal things in his un-life - torture, maiming,
stalking, even driving several of his potential offspring insane - but
none
of those deeds instilled in him the horror and shame that this young-
looking girl did. She was his childe. Created by his souled counterpart,

true, but still his blood. And she’d been abandoned before she was fully

turned.

One thing that Angelus prided himself on, was the fact that he taught
all
his childer to survive. Taught them how to fight, to hunt, to kill, and
to
enjoy it all. But most of all, he taught them how to _be_. But this
one....she
had been left to her own devices too long. He would have to see about
that.

"You are a clever one, I’ll give you that." replied the older vampire
with a
slight smirk. "In some ways, you remind me of Drusilla, only with a
stronger will." he added, looking over her young body. He had to admit,
Angel did have taste, when it came to the female form. She was truly
breath-taking, standing before him, defiance glittering in her eyes,
trying to
control the sneer attempting to curve her pink lips.

If he didn’t already have a partner who matched him in every way - and
would kill him slowly if he even tried - he would be tempted to take her

under his control, as he did with all his childer.

Scoffing slightly at his comment on his recently deceased insane childe,

Onyx turned her body slightly, away from her sire’s penetrating and
wracking gaze. With a single look, he managed to make her feel
something she swore she never would again. Uncomfortable and
vulnerable.

"Why?!" she blurted out after a moment, changing the thread of the
conversation.

"Why what?" he asked, confused for a moment.

"Why did you leave me? Why didn’t you want me?" clarified the black
haired vampire, turning her face away from his gaze, hoping he wouldn’t
see the slight watering of her eyes. Or hear the deep tremble in her
voice.

Sighing deeply, Angelus once again cursed his souled self to damnation
as
he looked deeply into the orange flames of the fire. What she asked was
not easy to explain, especially as he still had deep feelings about the
whole
‘cursed with a soul’ bit.

"You don’t know what you’re asking of me." he replied quietly. Angelus
knew he would have to explain everything to this girl. Willow had said
as
much, but he’d been hoping to avoid it.

"Yes, I do. I’m asking you to tell me what happened. What did I do to
drive you away?" she asked shakily. It was then that Angelus understood.

She was looking for something from him, that she had only ever gotten
from who she thought was her demon - Kalig. As a pair of red-rimmed
golden eyes met his chocolate ones, he knew what it was.

Acceptance.

Rising from his chair, Angelus approached his new-found childe. With
each twitch of unease, each flash of fear that he could see in her eyes,
he
cursed those damned gypsies for giving him his soul.

Finally reaching the terrified vampire, he felt pride in his progeny as
he
noted that even though she was scared of him, she held her ground. She
would go down fighting, in the end.

Just like him.

Cupping her pale cheeks in his large hands, he held her face still, and
placed a gently kiss on her forehead, noting with more than a little
amusement that she’d closed her eyes in anticipation of an attack. Some
form of punishment.

Dropping his hands, Angelus stepped away from the not-quite-shaking
body of his childe, looking her over appreciatively.

"Come." he said, surprising her into opening eyes that saw too much, yet

at times, didn’t see enough.

Brushing past her stunned form, Angelus didn’t wait to see if she
followed. He knew she would. She was too curious by half, and wouldn’t
let this chance slip by her.

The master vampire walked out of the house, with Onyx hot on his heels,
not willing to miss this chance to talk with her sire. No matter what
she
said or felt, deep down Onyx knew one thing for sure.

She would rather have his acceptance, than his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The two red heads watched their mates leave the house. One with a gentle

smile on her face, at seeing the beginnings of the childe/sire bond
forming.
The other with no small amount of fear in his heart. Fear that Angelus
would do something to harm his mate. He started to follow them, when a
slim but strong hand clamped down on his arm, halting him in mid-step.

"Let them go." said Willow, her voice low and authoratative.

"But what if-" he began, before the red head cut him off.

"No!" she snapped, her voice firm. "If he’d wanted her dead, she would
be. They need time together to develop their bond." Willow explained.

"But-" Again he was cut off by the commanding red head.

"She needs a sire’s guidance, Tony. And as much as you would like, you
can’t fill that role." seeing that he was about to argue again, Willow
interrupted his objections yet again. "You’re her mate. That’s a totally

different relationship. If you try to fill both roles in her life,
you’ll only end
up confusing her, and yourself."

Sagging in defeat, Tony slumped back against the wall. "He won’t hurt
her, will he?" he asked quietly. He understood why Angelus had to bond
with his childe. He could guide her in a way that Tony never could. The
red head also understood why. The role a sire plays in their childe’s
life, is
that of teacher and mentor. As Onyx’s mate, they were equals, neither
more powerful or dominant over the other. A balance. Trying to be both a

sire and a mate, would only confuse them both.

But he also knew how a sire accomplished all that. Hell, he’d done it
several times with his own childer.

And that scared him, because it wasn’t a nice process. The sire used any

and all means to ensure loyalty and obedience, usually in the form of
violence and domination. Sexual domination.

Willow clearly saw what was going on in Tony’s mind, and set his mind at

ease as best she could.

"Don’t worry, Tony." she said, her voice as comforting as she could make

it, bringing into use a tone she hadn’t used since before she was
turned.
Hearing this, the red head moved his eyes to those of his mistress.
"Angelus and I had a discussion about this earlier. He sees this as a
challenge."

His mind at ease, Tony briefly smiled. "And we all know he never backs
down on a challenge."

"That’s right." agreed Willow, though still a little unsure herself.
What her
mate was trying had never been done successfully before.

Creating the bond between sire and childe, without the usual means of
force, violence and domination.

The future promised to be at least a little interesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 11

2 years later......

Willow sat in the back of the speeding limo, silently fuming. Her happy
home and family had been severely damaged by an attack. An attack that
they should have seen coming, yet hadn’t. True, it had been a lesson for

the clan - never, ever let your guard down, but it had come at too high
a
price.

They’d lost almost half their minions, as well as their lair, which had
been
burned down to flush the nest of vampires out. Not that the attack had
been entirely successful, either. That bitch slayer and her stake-happy
little
band of misfits had suffered serious injury. Willow had taken great
pleasure in the beating she’d handed out to her ex-boyfriend, Oz. None
of
them had come out unscathed, though Buffy was the worst. With an arm
broken in more than one place, as well as a dislocated shoulder, all on
the
same arm, the blonde Slayer was going to be in pain for some time to
come. That thought brought a quick smile to the red head’s face.

She owed Buffy so much more, but that would suffice for now. Besides,
Willow got in a slice along the blonde’s left cheek, before all hell
broke
loose. If she was lucky, it wouldn’t leave too bad of a scar. But,
thinking
of Buffy brought anger and rage to the surface. The Slayer and her gang
had cost them too much this night for them to go unpunished.

Angelus had already sent a message to Marcus, his childe who was
currently ruling the Hellmouth. When the Slayerette’s got back home,
they
were in for a surprise.

They no longer _had_ a home. Just shells of badly charred wood and
rubble. And a few corpses littering the town.

Which brought her thoughts back to the attack on their home.

Buffy had made a mistake that had ended up saving their unlives. The
blonde Slayer had been too impatient to wait until sunrise to burn the
vampires out of their beachside home, and instead attacked in the dead
of
night. Angelus never allowed the lair to be unguarded, but after 2 years

with no sign of the Slayer seeking them out, they’d become too lazy.
Well,
they had learned.

The Slayer and her friends systematically staked their way through the
minions running from the burning house, catching them all unawares. But
Angelus most of all.

It was as if she’d seen him, and lost all sense of reason. Buffy
attacked him
from behind, stake raised for the kill. The only thing stopping her, had

been Onyx. The vampire had developed a deep bond with her sire over the
last two years. So when the instinct to protect him had flared up at
seeing
the Slayer rushing towards his unprotected back, she’d embraced it,
throwing herself between the stake and Angelus’ back.

The wooden instrument had pierced her chest, missing her heart my mere
centimeters. Tony’s cry of rage attracted the attention of every single
vampire present, including Willow and Spike.

Angelus had caught his injured childe as she fell, spinning around at
the
last second to see her being staked by Buffy. Holding her in his arms,
he’d
lashed out with a foot, catching the blonde in the stomach. He’d passed
the
unconscious form of his childe to her mate, and proceeded to show the
Slayer _exactly_ what she was up against.

Buffy would have died that night, as well as the rest of the Scooby
gang, if
it hadn’t been for the sirens. Someone had apparently called the fire
department, and the police and fire trucks were on their way.

Unwilling to be caught, both groups had fled the scene, but not before
Willow had sliced at the Slayers face with Spike’s knife.

"Something to remember us by." she’d taunted the Slayer before
disappearing into the shadows.

So, here they were. The five of them were flying down the freeway at
five
in the morning, going anywhere but back to the beach house.

"How is she?" asked Spike, his concerned blue eyes flashing to the
still-
unconscious vampire in the back seat. In the past two years, Spike and
Onyx had formed a sort of sibling bond/rivalry. They fought, both
verbally
and physically, yet it was always playful, and they both enjoyed it.
Onyx
helped Willow to bring the blonde out of his despair over Dru’s death,
by
making him react. Willow would taunt him verbally, while Onyx was there
for whenever he needed a good fight.

\Tony met the blonde’s eyes with his own, a slightly wild look still
there.
The fear of almost losing his mate was only just starting to ebb.

"Getting better." was the red head’s reply before turning his attention
back
to his injured mate.

"So, where are we going, Angelus?" asked Willow, trying to turn her
murderous thoughts away from the inhabitants of Sunnydale.

"San Francisco." replied the dark vampire. At the questioning looks he
received, he explained a little further. "There’s a war brewing between
he
clans there. The Prince, I’ve heard, is losing power among the clans.
It’s a
good time to get back into Kindred politics."

"You’re just hoping that if you play your cards right, you’ll have the
city to
yourself in a few years." announced Willow, a smile curving her red
lips,
knowing how her mate’s mind worked. A slight smirk and quirk of his
dark eyebrows was his only answer to her statement.

"Who’s leading the Brujah?" asked Spike, his curiosity aroused.

"Some young idiot named Cameron, who can’t seem to do anything right."
answered Angelus. "You can run the clan better than he ever could,
Spike." teased the dark vampire.

"I see you’ve been thinking about this." stated Willow, wondering how
long he’d been thinking of taking over the San Francisco Brujah. So she
asked.

"Ever since Tony and Onyx announced they were heading over to Europe
for a few decades. It’s time for a change, and I feel like playing with
some
worthy opponents."

"Could be fun." granted Willow. She didn’t really know that much about
the vampires that referred to themselves as ‘Kindred’. True, she was the

same as them, but living on the Hellmouth skewered things. Something to
do with the energy the portal to Hell emitted altered some of the
characteristics. The Kindred that populated the planet, however, made it
a
point to blend into society. She was curious about this culture of which
she
was a part of, and like Angelus, couldn’t wait to play.

End

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