Friday
Willow was in the kitchen making a sandwich when Spike came out of bedroom. He walked into the kitchen and quietly watched the red head for a moment. The bruises were almost gone. She was starting to act like the girl he knew again. She did still have nightmares though. Whenever he left her alone sleeping she would start having nightmares again. He knew he couldn't make the pain go away, but at least he could make sure it never happened again. In a few hours he would be meeting Darla.
"Hi, Pet." Spike said walking over to the refrigerator.
"Hey." Willow said smiling at the vampire.
Spike retrieved a bag filled with blood and grabbed a mug out of the cupboard. As his blood warmed in the microwave he decided he better tell her he was going out tonight.
"Red, about tonight." He began.
"What about it?" Willow asked sitting down to eat her sandwich.
"I have to go out." Spike said simply.
"Out?" Willow asked fear creeping into her voice.
"I have to Luv. I shouldn't be more than a few hours but I have to go alone."
"W-why can't I come with you?" Willow asked nervously.
"I have to get blood for one thing. I'm running low. You must have noticed." Spike explained.
"I could go with."
"No. You can't go there. Its dangerous and not necessarily legal." Spike said.
"I should be back before your ready for bed." Spike said, "I promise."
"Okay. Just please not to long." Willow said.
"I won't be. Your safe here Red, you're the only one that even knows it exists." Spike said trying to relax some of her fears, "No one can get into this building with out passing security in the front. If anyone tries to come up here they would call and ask you first."
"Okay." Willow said.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Willow was in the shower when Spike left the apartment, locking the door behind him. He hated leaving her alone. She would be okay though, he knew that, but the fear in her eyes was killing him. <Funny I used to like the look and smell of fear> he thought as he entered the elevator. He only had fifteen minutes to get to Darla's apartment. He had to be there before Ryan arrived; otherwise he would never find them since Darla didn't know where they were going.
Spike hid in the shadows outside the apartment building waiting for the couple to exit. He had watched Ryan enter the building. Soon he heard Darla's laughter echo in the night air as they emerged from the building. He watched as they headed down the street, toward the downtown area. He waited until they were far enough ahead that he wouldn't be spotted before moving from the shadows to follow behind. He followed them to the movie theater, stood a few people behind them in line and purchased a ticket for the same movie. He hid in the shadows inside the theater while they purchased popcorn and sodas. He sat down a couple rows behind them so he could hear their conversation before the movie started.
"Oh, I'm new in town. I just transferred here this semester." Darla said quietly to her date.
"Really so you don't have any friends or anything yet?" Ryan responded.
"No, just pretty much alone right now." Darla said smiling him.
Spike watched smiling. Obviously Darla was the perfect choice for his
plan. She has the dumb blonde routine down so perfectly, plays innocence
really well too. Ryan would never expect what she really is. The lights
started to dim and he watched as Ryan reached over taking her hand.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After the movie Spike followed the couple down the street toward a small restaurant. He watched from outside as they ate their meal, making small talk again. Spike couldn't hear what they were saying, and part of him was glad. He didn't think he could take much more of Darla's dumb, innocent college girl act without laughing out loud. This was all going so much better than he had planned.
Spike waited until their meal had been served then walked across the street to the payphone to call Willow. He had promised he would call and check on her if he was going to be late.
"Hello." Willow said answering on the first ring.
"Hello Red." Spike said.
"Spike. Thank God." Willow said
"I'm sorry Pet, but I'm running later than expected. I'm going to be a few more hours." Spike said.
"I'm okay. It's good for me right? I mean I can't live here with you forever." Willow said trying to sound calmer than she felt.
"Right." Spike said. "Want me to bring anything home with me?"
"Coffee ice cream would be great." Willow said brightening.
"Ice cream it is then. I'll see you in a few hours." Spike said before hanging up the phone.
He walked back across the street to continue his watch over the couple. They were just finishing their meal. They sat talking for a little longer before leaving the restaurant. Ryan started walking them toward the park. Spike followed at a safe distance, staying in the shadows but close enough to hear their conversation.
"Ryan, this is kind of a long way to take to my place isn't it?" Darla asked.
"I just like the park and wanted to cut through it." He responded.
After they entered the park Ryan began walking her toward the spot where Spike had found Willow a week ago. <Not even a little original is he> Spike thought as he followed. When Ryan had pulled Darla into the darkness of the trees he turned and pulled her against him.
Ryan lowered his head to try and kiss Darla who immediately pretended to struggle against him. Turning her head away she pushed at his shoulders. He said something to her that Spike couldn't hear. Ryan reached for the buttons on Darla's shirt trying to release them. When her struggling prevented him from unbuttoning the shirt he ripped it. Pushing her down to the grass he grabbed her arms with one hand and began pushing at her skirt with the other. Spike began moving closer, Darla wasn't going to let this go much further and he needed to be ready.
When Ryan lowered his head again to kiss her, he looked at her face and screamed.
"What the hell?" Ryan shouted letting go of her arms.
Grabbing Ryan's throat as she sat up Darla flipped him over so she was on top of him.
"What's the matter boy? Don't like girls that fight back?" Darla said smiling at him as her game face receded.
"What was that? You aren't."
"No I'm not. What I am going to do though is teach you a lesson you should have learned a long time ago." Darla responded.
"B-but." Ryan stammered.
"Spike, Darling. You ready?" Darla called out.
Spike stepped out of the shadows and moved over next to the couple.
"Absolutely." Spike said looking at the man beneath Darla. "Let's get him out of here."
Darla stood up pulling the boy with her. Spike grabbed his other arm and the trio started walking toward his crypt.
"Let me go first." Darla said after Spike had finished securing the chains around Ryan's arms and ankles.
"All right Luv. But save some for me." Spike said stepping away.
Ryan stood staring at the two blondes in front of him. Obviously they were crazy but they were also really strong and in the park her face had changed, he didn't know how but it did.
"W-what do you want?" Ryan asked nervously.
"You tried to rape me and you ask what I want?" Darla said moving closer.
"I-I was just. I mean." Ryan stammered.
"I think he's afraid Spike." Darla said watching the boy in front of her closely. "Actually I know he is, I smell the fear."
"Me to Pet. Always liked that scent."
"You can't smell fear can you?" Darla said running a finger along Ryan's jaw.
"Smell?" Ryan said.
"That's what I missed the most when that law firm made me human." Darla said moving her hand down Ryan's chest. "I couldn't smell things anymore."
"W-why are you doing this?" Ryan asked.
"Because you see we are evil. We are vampires. Yet what you do is disgusting even to us." Darla said.
"Let's not forget pathetic." Spike said.
Darla turned to look at the younger vampire raising an eyebrow.
"Think about how pathetic you would have to be, human or vampire, to have to force sex on someone." Spike said calmly, "But really enough talking now don't you think."
Darla smiled Spike and turned back to Ryan.
"Spike says I get to torture you. He wants a chance to but he says I get to go first as long as I don't kill you." Darla said.
Darla moved around across the crypt to a table with an assortment of weapons on it. She moved several of them around picking up a couple and setting them back down before picking a small dagger and holding it up to examine it.
"How many times do you suppose a young man like yourself could be stabbed with this before they died?" Darla asked running the dagger across Ryan's chest.
Ryan stood watching Darla, afraid to move or answer. Spike stood leaning on the wall watching a few feet away.
"I wish we could put a damn chip in his head." Spike said smiling, "But your way works too."
"I hate to waste the blood though." Darla said, "But I guess it can't be helped."
Darla moved the dagger across his chest again just hard enough to break the skin; she smiled calmly as she watched the blood flow from the wound. She moved the dagger down the length of his shirt cutting it open as she went but still pushing hard enough to break through his skin. She continued moving the weapon along his upper body causing shallow cuts as she moved. She smiled slightly every time she heard his gasps of pain.
"Are we going to kill him Spike?" She asked eying her handy work.
"Not sure yet." Spike responded.
She turned her attention back to Ryan who was now crying from the pain of the cuts she had inflicted. She ran her fingers along his face softly.
"Such a pretty face, too bad it won't stay that way." She whispered in his ear before lifting the dagger and running it along his cheekbones.
Darla lowered her weapon again and moved toward his head again. As she neared his neck she opened her mouth and lowered her fangs into his neck, drinking deeply as she inhaled the smell of fear. Spike stood watching for a moment, before moving forward.
"Stop, Pet. I haven't had my turn yet." Spike said calmly.
"I want him when you're done." Darla said moving away from Ryan.
Spike looked at the boy he had passed out. Darla really hadn't drunk enough for that so it must have been the fear. Spike waited patiently until his eyes had opened again.
"Hi, nice to see you're still with us." Spike said. "Question though. Do you know why you're here?"
"N-no." The boy stammered.
"Let me help you then. I would hate for you to die not understanding the reason." Spike said quietly. " Remember Willow Rosenberg?"
"Y-yes." Ryan answered.
"Okay, see she is a friend of mine. I don't have a lot of friends so I hate when one of them is hurting. You hurt her. You have to pay for that." Spike said.
Spike moved back raising his fist, he punched Ryan in the face. Spike ignored the pain radiating in his head as he watched the boys neck snap back and then forward again. Spike raised his fist and punched again, and again. Ignoring the pain each time Spike continued to punch until the boy was whimpering for him to stop.
"Begging? Is that what she did? Did she beg you to stop?" Spike asked angrily grabbing the boy by the throat and lifting him slightly. The pain in his head was getting worse but he didn't want to allow it to stop him from hurting this man.
Spike picked up the dagger that Darla had discarded and thrust it into Ryan's thigh, pulling it out again he thrust again in the other thigh. The pain was becoming worse but Spike's anger was overpowering it as he raised the dagger to plunge it into the boy's chest.
As Ryan screamed one last time, Spike fell to the floor. Darla ran to the younger vampire's side. Rolling him toward her she saw the blood in his eyes, she shook him trying to wake him.
"Spike." Darla said shaking him softly.
"Spike!" She said shaking harder.
"Damn it Spike wake up." She shouted at him.
She stood up and reached for the unconscious vampire. She needed to get him back to his apartment; maybe he just needed to heal. Hopefully this Willow that he was so fond of would know how to help him. She knew he would be safe with this girl, for him to be willing to risk this for her; he had to have really strong feelings for her. She picked him up bracing him on her shoulder and headed for the door. She had seen a car parked not far from here. If she could get to the car she could get him home.
read the sequal 'Healing'