Willow watched with growing curiosity as Spike and an
unfamiliar minion
talked in hushed tones. After several minutes, Spike
dismissed the
recently-made vampire and returned to Willow.
"What was that all about?" she wanted to know.
"Just making plans," he told her.
"What kind of plans?" she pressed.
Spike lowered himself into an arm chair and pulled Willow
down on his
lap. He settled her against him and cupped her breast
in his hand,
brushing his thumb over the nipple. Her lips parted slightly
as his
mouth found hers, and he drew her tongue inside.
She fought against the desire that was building inside
her and pushed
herself away from him.
"What are you up to?" she asked.
Spike laughed and pulled her back for another kiss.
"Patience, little one," he said. "You'll find out all
about it soon
enough."
"I'd rather know now. Your little secrets tend to reveal
themselves
amidst major explosions," she told him.
"I promise to keep you clear of the fallout," he replied.
"Oh, well, I feel much better now," she said sarcastically.
"I thought you wanted the slayer and her losers out of
your life," Spike
said.
"And you've found a way to accomplish that?"
"I think so. I just want to play with them first," he grinned.
"I want to play, too!" she protested.
"You sure about that, baby?" he asked.
"Look, I'm the one they dragged away--twice! I'm the one
who sat around
for days believing you were gone. I'm the one who finds
their faces in
mine everytime I turn around."
"Calm down, luv," he said. "I know what they've put you through."
"Then let me help," she pleaded. "I won't let you down."
"It was never a question of that," he spoke softly. "I
just don't want
you getting hurt again."
"It's your game, your rules. What's to hurt?" she argued.
"You're not indestructible, Willow," he cautioned her.
"I am when I'm with you," she smiled.
Spike moaned softly and kissed her again.
"Can I play, too? Please?" she begged.
"As long as you do what I tell you," he surrendered with a sigh.
"Don't I always?" she replied sweetly.
***
Angel met up with Buffy, Xander, and Oz at the Bronze.
He pulled a chair
up close to the slayer and at down.
"I've talked to everyone who might have been able to help.
No one's
heard anything about Willow," he told them.
"She can't have just vanished. She must be somewhere," Xander spoke.
"You found her clothes at the cemetary?" Angel asked Buffy.
"Yes, near the crypt," she nodded.
"Let's check it out," he suggested.
***
The dark minion had informed Spike of the slayer's movements,
and the
two of them took Willow to the cemetary.
"You just do it like I told you," Spike said to Willow.
"I'll have to
move out of the slayer's range. I won't be far, though."
"Alright," she nodded.
Spike kissed her and moved into the shadows.
The minion stepped around the crypt as the slayer and
her vampire
approached, with Xander and Oz following a few feet behind.
Spike's
minion positioned himself in front of Willow, hiding
her from their
view.
The small group stopped a short distance from the minion.
Buffy gave
Angel a questioning look.
"I don't know," Angel answered. "I've never seen him before."
Four more of Spike's boys moved in from behind, and Buffy
whirled around
to face them. The vampires circled around the slayer
and Angel.
Willow waited until they began their attack. Then she
stepped out from
behind the vampire. She caught Xander's eye and grinned
as she saw his
mouth gape open. Willow turned and ran into the darkness.
Xander looked
frantically at his three companions, but their attentions
were
concentrated on the vampires' assault. He took off in
the direction in
which Willow had fled.
He hurdled the hedge that separated the cemetary from
the sidewalk on
the other side. He paused and looked around. The coppery
sheen of
Willow's hair caught his eye, and he ran down the street
after her. She
turned the corner, and Xander pushed himself to catch
up with her. He
skidded around the corner and ran smack into Spike.
Xander felt Spike's fist as it slammed into his jaw, and
everything went
black.
End.