Angel was staring at his hands, numbly, when he became aware of a pounding at the door. At first he ignored it, but then realized it was Xander shouting frantically on the other side. Angel stood moving towards the door, opening it.

Xander rushed inside. "Angel! You've got to help me, Buffy. She's in big trouble!"

Angel shook his head. "What are you talking about Xander?" His voice came out harsher then he intended it to.

Xander grabbed onto Angel's arm, all but hysterically. "Listen to be man, I'm telling you Jadon is a vampire and he's got plans, bad plans for Buffy. He's taking over her mind! Why else would she be ignoring you?"

Angel shook his head. "Look Xander, I appreciate you coming down here, trying to make me feel better. I know the truth though. Buffy loves Jadon, not me. That's fine, I hope there very happy together.

Xander, furious, shook Angel. Normally he might not have the courage to do something like that but Buffy's life was at stake. "Don't be so self centered! Buffy loves you Angel! And if you could get over yourself for one minute you would see how much danger she's in! Jadon is a vampire. An unusual vampire who can go out in the sunlight. He's taking over her mind!"

Angel glared down at Xander's hand, and jerked his arm away. "I know about those vampires Xander. Trust me, I would have known if Jadon had been a vampire. He's not. Buffy has just moved on."

"Angel, you're so wrapped up in your own jealousy that you can't see left from right! I've been there before, but listen to me, unless you want something really bad to happen to Buffy, you better clear your head and realize that this is not the real Buffy."

Angel stared for a beat down at Xander. "How do you know for sure?"

Xander glared angrily at Angel. "How could you not know? This isn't Buffy! Buffy loved you more then anything! She wouldn't just dump you for the first good looking guy that came along! Do you have such a low self concept about yourself?"

Angel closed his eyes briefly, before looking at Xander again. The deep pain in his eyes was very evident. "I don't know." he whispered.

"Please Angel, you've got to believe me, this isn't Buffy. Jadon's done something to her!"

For a moment Xander thought it was hopeless. Angel sat there staring at him an unreadable expression in his eyes. Then he spoke.

"I believe you."

Xander nodded. "Good, now are you going to just sit there or are you going to help?"

Something twisted in Angel's eyes. "I'll help."

The two left, walking into the bone chilling night. The moon shining down on them casting there flickering shadows upon the ground.

Buffy awoke once more to find herself being carried across the moon lit ground.

"Where-where am I?" She murmured.

Jadon hushed her. "Shhh, Buffy, don't worry I'm taking you to my favorite place."

Buffy was to out of it to respond. They finally arrived on a grassy field. She could vaguely make out what looked to be a cave. Suddenly, Buffy realized something was wrong, before she could gather her bearings Jadon's lips moved swiftly to hers. All rational thoughts flew out of Buffy's mind. She felt so strange. Some part of her knew that his kiss was nothing ordinary. That something was happening to her, but she didn't really care. She moaned softly tilting her head back feeling his kisses, like rain on her neck. She wasn't even aware of the danger until it was to late. Suddenly it felt like a knife was slicing through the side of her neck. She cried out, but nothing happened. She felt like she was in a vacuum. The world tilted and twisted. Her eyes swam in and out of focus. The earth dropped out from beneath her feet. She wasn't even aware at what point she faded into darkness. All she remembered were the stars; the red stars that grew by the minute consuming her vision, consuming her whole world...

Xander and Angel arrived just in time to see Buffy fall to the ground. It had taken them a while to find the place and arrive, but now that they did it was a crucial moment.

"Buffy!" Shouted Xander, instantly running to Buffy's side. He dropped to the ground picking up Buffy, cradling her in his arms.

Angel, a predator snarl on his face, rushed at Jadon. He leaped on his back, fangs bared, pounding his back. "I'll kill you!" Angel screamed, continuing to mercilessly slam his fists into Jadon. Jadon looking momentarily stunned fell to the ground. Angel took that opportunity to fall on top of Jadon going straight for the throat. Angel was hardly even aware of it when Xander began tugging at his arms.

"Angel, forget about him! Buffy needs your help right now!"

Angel shook Xander off angrily. "Get outta her Xander! This is between me and Jadon!" Angel leaned in for the kill again.

"Angel, I know your angry! But listen to me! This isn't helping Buffy, she's dying Angel, dying!"

Those words seemed to help a little, as Angel straightened up, some of the violence leaving his body. "Where is she?" Angel said hoarsely. Xander pointed at the fallen figure laying across the wet grass. Angel stumbled to his feet blindly running across the grass, falling beside Buffy. She lay as still as death. Her face so pale, it looked waxen. She was dying. Angel leaned in and felt Buffy's pulse. It fluttered very weakly. Blood ran down her neck like candle wax. Angel and Xander watched as Buffy took one last breath, as if to fight her death, before she was still.

"Buffy, no! Please God no!" Angel's voice sobbed desperately breaking the quiet stillness of the unforgiving night....

Want to read the next story, "The Darkness Within"? Go here.

Comments, complaints, flames, nice things to say? Send them to me at AutumnSun@aol.com

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