Note: I will be updating all my stories when my site is finished with the update. I have someone who is helping me with that at the moment. I would love for someone to help make a picture for this story so when I post it I can put it with this story. :) August
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Buffy sat up straight in her bed. She trembled uncontrollably as she saw the images flash before her eyes. The dream. It was all just a dream. It had not been real. It would never be real again. Sitting up she pulled her legs close to her chest as she clung to them with her head buried in her knees. Tears began to stream down her face. She hoped that her mother would not hear her sobs. This damn dream had started from the night she had discovered that Angel had been lost to her forever. Now the true demon lived in his body. Angelus. A monster. A cruel, sick, and perverted monster was all she had left of her beloved soul mate Angel.

Buffy bit down hard on her lower lip to try and prevent the screams that were kept silent in her chest. Wiping away her tears she glance at the clock. It was once again five thirty in the morning. The precise time that she had woke up and Angel had left her side. The exact moment her fairy tale had exploded in her face. Buffy clench her fists as she felt the pain seeping through her veins.

Buffy was trying to fight the images away in her head. She could not stand the torment a second longer. The dream was always the same.

Angel, her beloved, Angel was touching her face with his soft gentle hands. He would caress her with such tenderness that her body cried out for release. He would say her name with a voice hoarse with passion. She would smile softly as his lips would brush over hers and together their mouths would entwine in such a fiery action that she felt like she might burst into flames.

Then releasing her lips so she could breathe he would place soft kisses on her neck and down her chest until she would beg him to make love to her. Her hands would run through his hair on his head as she tug and pulled at him, moving him around until she found herself spiraling in ecstasy. Then it started. The nightmare began. Just as he would enter her body and she felt as if she couldn't breathe would the pressure she would feel him shift his weight so that the pain was not as harsh. Then the pleasure began until she open her eyes. The face above hers was not that of Angels. It was Angelus. He was looking at her with mocking eyes. The sarcasm dripping from his wicked smile.

She would try to push him off of her but he wouldn't even budge. She felt pure panic soaring through her head and soul. With all her strength she tried to push him, hit him, claw at him but nothing worked. He just continues to laugh and smile down at her.

It was horrible. Pure hell. Then she felt him grip her hair in his fist as he attacks her neck with his sharp deadly fangs. She felt her skin tearing as his fangs broke the skin away. Buffy began to cry and beg for her life. All she could hear was his laughter and the sound of him sucking her blood. Then just as she though it was over he would look into her eyes and speak to her.

"I'm not Angel. He never existed. I'm Angelus your master, your God, your lover, and you are my slave." Angelus spoke with her blood dripping down his chin.

"NOOOO!" Buffy screamed as loud as she could.

Then she would awake. Her first thoughts were always of the passionate moments she had with Angel and then the memory of the cruelty of Angelus was soon followed. It was horrible. Pure hell.

Lying back in her bed she told herself that it was JUST a dream. Her imagination. Nothing like that would ever happen to her. She would never allow Angelus to touch her any intimate form or fashion. Nor did she think he would want her in that way either. Feeling her pain lessen and her heart grow calmer she was able to slip back into sleep with out anymore-troublesome dreams.

Angelus sat in the tree next to Buffy's window. Smiling to him self as he imagines the pain that she was experiencing from the loss of her pitiful Angel. Angelus had a plan. A plan to keep Angel from ever coming back again. Buffy was the key player. The Slayer. The Chosen One. He was about to choose her for a mission she never could imagine nor would he a few hundred years ago. Still, in order to survive one had to make sacrifices.

Buffy ached as she watched her watcher mourn for his loss. She could relate to his pain. She too had lost her soul mate.

"I say we find him and kill him before he gets anyone else." Xander said with anger glaring from his eyes.

"Xander!" Willow shot him a warning look.

"No, he is right Willow. I plan on finding him and I will kill him." Buffy vowed to her friends as she pick up her stake and walked out of the library.

Willow ran after her.

"Buffy, are you sure your ready for this? I mean we might be able to restore his soul once we find the curse." Willow reminded her of plan A.

"It might be too late Willow. I can't afford to loose someone else that I care about. We all have lost too much already. I love Angel. I will always love him but the thing I'm about to kill is not Angel. It's the very thing that causes Angel so much guilt and misery all these years. I'm putting Angel out of his own pain." Buffy said with a calm expression.

"I'm sure you hear the words coming out of your mouth but what about your heart? What does your instincts tell you?" Willow looked at her with sad eyes.

"It tells me that hope is a very dangerous emotion to have. I can't hope anymore. I have to face reality. The reality is that Angelus has plans to suck this world into hell. Maybe before or after he torments and kills all those I love." Buffy sighed heavily.

"Oh." Willow gulped hard.

"Thanks Willow." Buffy smiled weakly at her friends last attempt to stop her from doing the one thing that she was sure was going to cost her a lifetime of pain.

"We are here for you Buffy." Willow reach out and embrace her best friend.

"I know. I'm doing this for all of us." Buffy squeeze Willow tightly before releasing her and heading out of the school.

Willow watch her walk away with her head up high. Willow wondered what it must feel like to carry the weight of the world on ones shoulders? Did Buffy ever grow tired of it? Did she ever want to say "to hell with it all" and only look out for herself? If she did Willow was the last person to blame her for it.

Why was Buffy always the one who had to sacrifice everything in order to keep evil out of this world, Willow ask herself?

"Willow have you seen Buffy?" Giles ask as he walked toward the library.

"She just went patrolling. She says she is going to find Angelus and kill him." Willow replied with a heartbreaking gaze.

"Oh. I see." Giles push his glasses back up his nose.

"Why?" Willow ask curiously

"I might have learn of away to restore Angel's soul." Giles confessed.

"What? Where? How?" Willow exclaimed with a hopeful smile.

"I said might." Giles stated with a frustrated shake of his head.

"We need to tell Buffy then. I mean..she might not have to kill him." Willow cried out.

"NO, we will not tell her. I could be wrong. If she is given the chance to kill the bastard then let her." Giles growled in disgust.

Willow turn as white as a marble statue as the words and tone that Giles had just spoken to her sunk into her head. Giles was always so strong, smart, and compassionate. Why would he allow Buffy to kill her true love if it was possible to save him? Was revenge really worth watching his slayer die slowly every day until grief took over the girl they once knew and loved?

"Giles?" Willow frown at him with disappointment.

"I'm sorry Willow. The truth is this Angelus is a vampire. Angel is a vampire. Good or bad he is still the enemy. Buffy must learn to face the truth. Neither her and Angel or Angelus would ever have had a chance at a future together. They would slip up somehow and manage to bring Angelus back into this realm. I cannot chance that. No, not as her watcher and teacher can I encourage such a deed even in the name of love." Giles spoke sternly.

Willow's lips twisted as she thought about what he had just stated to her. Although his words held some wisdom in them she still could not rule out that his intentions were base on revenge. Willow's gut screamed out that they were making a huge mistake by allowing Buffy to kill Angelus now.

"Fine." Willow swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.

***

Angelus sniffed the air. She was coming closer. Smiling to himself as he thought about Spike and Dru sitting at the mansion waiting for him to return with the secret of waking up Acathla. He felt smug and arrogant at the moment. He felt so good that he almost felt alive. He wondered if this was how Angel felt moments before he was sent back to hell where he belonged?

He heard the attacks begin. Angelus touches the needle in his pocket. He was about to take Buffy on a trip of a lifetime. He anticipated the moment when she woke up to discover that she was no longer in Sunnydale. He was about to take her to a world where no mortal had ever gone and lived to tell the tale.

Angelus heard the whistle. It was his sign to step in before she killed them all. Angelus rolled his eyes as he thought about how weak these vampires were.

Stepping into the middle of the battle Angelus caught the sight of momentarily fear flash across her face as she saw he was there now.

"All of you leave now." Angelus ordered the imbeciles to leave. With out any hesitation the others fled from the scene leaving Angelus and Buffy alone.

"What you don't want to have a party?" Buffy ask with a sarcastic smile.

"I didn't know you were into orgies Buffy?" Angel snapped back with his own cocky smile.

"Fuck you!" Buffy growled.

"OH baby you will have time for that later." Angelus warns her with a victorious smile plastered on his face.

"Why are you smiling?" Buffy ask as she glance around the area.

"Because baby I'm about to make you my slave." Angelus informed her as he stepped closer with his hands in his pockets.

"A slave? A slave to what?" Buffy stood in fight stance.

"A slave to pain. You are going to live the rest of your life in misery." Angelus remarked as he walked straight up in front of her.

Buffy could not believe just how arrogant and stupid he was.

"Are we going to talk bull shit or are we going to fight?" Buffy challenged as she took a step back.

"Why did you back up? Does being this close to me drive you mad with passion?" Angelus taunts her.

"NO! I'm repulsed by even the image of you." Buffy lied.

"Why? I still have the same face as Angel. I have the same body that you enjoyed touching, grabbing, sucking and all the other things that keep coming to mind." Angelus shook his head in disgust.

"That was not you I enjoyed it was Angel. He is dead and soon you will be joining him." Buffy tilted her chin so she could keep eye contact with him. She didn't want him to see the fear or panic that was racing up and down her spine.

Angelus lunge for her and like he had expected she flung her arm to block his hit and with his other free hand he drove the needle into her arm. Buffy froze. With her arm still in the air she saw the needle sticking in her arm.

"What have you done?" Buffy yanked the needle out of her and threw it away from her. She took a step back and felt as if the earth was tilting beneath her. She looked at Angelus with confusion as darkness consumed her.

Angelus counted to ten and out like a light she went. Angelus smiled proudly at himself. Scooping her up in arms like a bag of potatoes he took his slayer and headed toward the parked car. Opening the trunk he threw her limp body inside and then jump into the front seat.

"L.A. here I come." Angelus howled at the moon as he started the car and headed toward Buffy's house.

Angelus slipped inside of her bedroom easily. Laying the letter on her pillow he grabbed a suitcase and put some things inside of it. Once he felt he got enough stuff to make it look as if she really ran away he slipped back out of the house as quietly as he came in. Throwing the suitcase in the car he headed toward their next destination. L.A. A place he knew they would go unnoticed. A place where he would show the underworld how HE Angelus took down the amazing slayer. He would make her crawl at his feet while everyone watches in awe of his great power.

****

Joyce woke up from the sound of her alarm ringing in her ear. Punching the snooze button she laid back down for five more minutes. Once that buzzer went off she force herself to get out of bed and head to the bathroom. After performing her morning routine she started down stairs and began to make coffee for her and Buffy. She waited for the sound of Buffy's alarm to start blaring. Nothing came. Frowning she put two pieces of toast in the toaster. The toast popped up. Still no alarm.

Joyce yawned as she marches up the stairs to wake up her forgetful daughter.

"Buffy you need to…" Joyce opens the door and the first thing she noticed was the made up bed.

Joyce knew there was no way that Buffy was already up and had made up her bed. Joyce glared angrily around the room. Marching over to the bed she noticed a white envelope sticking out from underneath the quilt.

Opening it up she read the letter inside.

Mom,
I'm sorry but things have been crazy and I could not stay around to explain. I hope you will forgive me for what I have done. I love you and I will always love you.

Please let Giles, Willow, and Xander know that I have left town. I do not know when or if I will ever return.

Love Always Buffy

Joyce dropped the piece of paper and sat down on the side of the bed. Her mind was reeling with questions and fears. What was going on? Why did Buffy run away? It did not make any sense? Was this about that damn boy who had broken her heart? Angel. That was his name. Did she have away to contact him? NO. Buffy had never allowed her in that part of her life. She didn't even know if he lived in town or on campus? What was she going to do? Should she call the police?

Giles? The librarian. He was like a father to Buffy. Picking up the phone beside the bed she searched through Buffy's phone book and found his number.

"Hello." Giles pick up the phone.

"Giles." Joyce gulped hard.

"Yes, is this Joyce?" Giles frown at the semi familiar voice on the other end.

"Yes it is. I just came into my daughter's room and found a letter from her. She has run away. Why would she run away?" Joyce's voice began to rise in volume as her maternal instincts began to kick in. Something was wrong with her baby.

"She did what?" Giles asked. He wasn't sure if his ears heard Ms. Summers correctly or not.

"You heard me. She ran away. Why? Why would Buffy be so upset that she thought running away would solve it? What in the hell is going on?" Joyce demanded.

"I..I can't imagine what happen. I will be over. Give me ten minutes." Giles hung up the phone before allowing her to response further.

Giles heart began to race. Something bad had happen. It was not like Buffy to run away from her problems. What could have caused Buffy to feel the need to leave town, now? She knew there was grave danger here in Sunnydale she would never flee from her responsibilities. Especially not while Angelus was free to murder those she loved the most in the world. What in blazes was going on?

Giles was about to walk out the door when he stopped in his tracks. Willow. Willow might know what has happen. Giles dialed the number.

"Willow have you heard from Buffy?" Giles asked.

"No, what's wrong Giles." Willow ask with concern.

"She has ran away according to her mother." Giles explains.

"What? NO WAY!" Willow cries out defensively. She knows that Buffy would never leave them when things were so dangerous.

"Apparently she left a letter for her mother stating that she has ran away. I think you better get dressed and head over to Buffy's house. I fear her mother will have some questions and I might need you there to help me answer them." Giles ordered.

"Okay. I'm on my way." Willow agrees as she hangs up the phone.

Both Giles and Willow race out of their homes and head straight to the Summer's residence wondering if this could be true. Could Buffy have truly abandoned them?

***

Buffy could hear sounds but couldn't open her eyes. Something was forcing her eyes to stay shut. She began to moan. Tossing her head from side to side she couldn't seem to fight off this strange feeling that she was drugged. Why else could she not wake up?

"Good morning Sunshine." Angelus's voice rang in her ears.

Buffy felt a sudden chill run up and down her spine. Was she dreaming? Why couldn't she wake up? Buffy told her eyes to open up. She felt one eyelid obey. It was then she caught sight of a strange looking room around her. Fighting against what ever was causing her stay drowsy she was able to open her second eye. With both eyes open she was still having a hard time seeing.

Then she saw his face about an inch from her own.

"Yep, I drugged you. I had to. It was the only way I could make his plan work. I had hoped to knock you out with my bare fist but that would have taken so much time. I figured this was much quicker and efficient. God knows you are hard headed." Angelus chuckled.

"What have you done?" Buffy ask as she felt her body growing warmer. The numbness was starting to wear off.

"I haven't killed you. No. That would be just too easy." Angelus explained as he tied her arms tighter to the bedpost. He wasn't about to risk her getting away now.

"Angel?" Buffy swallowed hard. Her mouth and throat were as dry as sandpaper.

"Wrong." Angelus snickered. He was going to have to break her from that nasty habit.

Buffy felt a soaring pain creep into her head as the drug began to wear off and leave a nasty hang over affect in its place.

"I see it's starting to wear off. The witch said that you might hurt like hell afterwards. I paid double to make sure of it." Angelus said as he set his chair next to the bed so he could watch her pain.

"Where am I?" Buffy's eyes began to function better as she looked at the dark blue wall in front of her. Moving her head to the side she saw that her hands were tied above her head. She tried to move her legs but found they were also restrained.

"Does it matter? The only thing that will matter from now on is whether or not you can make me happy." Angelus informed her.

"Your out of your mind." Buffy answered groggily.

"Perhaps I am. I mean come on what over reason would I have to allow you to live at all?" Angelus thought out loud.

"Why are you doing this?" Buffy ask as the pain began to beat in her head.

"I'm going to keep you and your meddling little friends away from Angel. I knew if I killed you they would just continue their little mission in honor of your memory. So I told myself how else could I assure that I am never locked away. Then it hit me. I mean why not kidnapped her and make everyone believe that Angelus was killed by Buffy. I mean, it would make sense. You were so in love with Angel that you could not bare to go on with out him. Yep, sounds like a plan to me." Angelus slaps his thigh.

"They will figure it out." Buffy glared at him as the pain grew worse by the second.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Either way I win. Cause you see if they do figure it out. I'm going to kill you and all of them." Angelus warns her with a wicked grin on his face.

Buffy wanted to say something witty back but she was just too weak. Her eyes hurt. She closed her eyes and felt the pain lessen. She was going to have to go back to sleep. Maybe if she slept some more and then woke up again she wouldn't feel so lousy. She needed to gain her strength in order to get free from Angelus. There was no way she was going to let him keep her there a day more than necessary. She wondered if her friends knew she was missing yet? Would they believe Angelus's lies? Would they think that she had truly left them because of a broken heart?

Once, as my heart remembers,
all the stars were fallen embers,
once, when night seemed forever
I was with you.

Joyce felt her knees grow weak underneath her. Sitting down on the couch she looked at the teenager and then back at the librarian. Was it possible that they were telling her the truth? On one hand it made so much more sense. Things had been happening that she just could not explain even to herself. Was this the big secret that Buffy had been keeping from her parents?

"How could you keep such a secret from me?" Joyce demanded as she glared at Giles.

"I'm afraid that the council believes in absolute secrecy about the identity of a slayer. Normally a slayer is taken away from her parents and trained. They believe that she should be totally focused on the mission. Parents, friends, and even school are a distraction from her true calling." Giles explained. His eyes showed his guilt and embarrassment for with holding such an important detail from the mother of the child that he had been training.

"So let me get this straight. You are a watcher and Buffy is a vampire slayer. You train her to go out at night to kill demons from hell. You sit back while my daughter puts her life in grave danger. Is this correct?" Joyce asks.

"It's not that simple. I guess it is but I make sure that her safety is always on the top of my priorities." Giles replied as he looked down at the floor with shame.

"How do you and these..damn councilmen just sit back while my seventeen-year-old daughter does your job? Who in the hell would create such nonsense? I mean come on if there are vampires why would you put a girl in charge of killing them? Why can't you grown men do the job instead?" Joyce shook her head in disgust.

"Joyce Buffy is ..well she is incredibly strong. I think you are unaware of how strong your daughter is. Not just mature wise I mean physically." Giles tried to explain.

"This is ridiculous. I need to call the police." Joyce threw her hands up in the air.

"NO." Willow and Giles both shouted.

"Why not?" Joyce glared at them both.

"Because it will only look bad on her. What ever is going on we can figure it out with out adding more problems with the police." Willow thought quickly.

"I want my daughter home." Joyce began to tremble as she thought of her poor daughter hurt and alone.

"We will do everything in our power to find her and bring her safely home to you. I promise you that Joyce. Buffy has become like the daughter I never dreamed of having. I know this doesn't give you much comfort but as her watcher I am responsible for her. I also feel responsible for her because I sincerely care about her." Giles replied with his own worries in the back of his mind.

"I will give you twenty-four hours to figure out where she has gone too or why. If you have nothing by then, then I'm going to the police." Joyce warned them.

"Very well." Giles nodded in agreement as he walked toward the door. Willow follows him.

"Mrs. Summers we will find her." Willow said with a weak smile.

"Fine." Joyce swallowed hard.

Willow and Giles walked out the door both wondering if the other had any clue as to where to start on this mystery?

***

Drusilla was starting to work up an appetite when she felt the cold chill running up and down her spine. Dru knew that this meant she was about to have another prediction. Smiling to herself she waited for it to consume her. Yet as she closed her eyes the images that crossed her mind were too disturbing for her to even believe. Letting out a painful scream she fell to her knees covering her eyes with her hands.

"What is wrong pet?" Spike came around the corner in his wheel chair.

"It's that it's… It can not be!" Dru shook her head like a mad woman.

"What?" Spike rolled his eyes as he suspected that Dru was making more drama than necessary with her new prediction.

"Angelus. He has abandoned us. He has left with her." Dru snarled.

"Who did he leave with?" Spike ask with a curious smile.

"The slayer. She has broken up our happy home again." Dru gritted her teeth together.

"Peaches has gone back to his beloved slayer. I knew the whole soul thing would come back to bite him in the ass." Spike clapped his hands together with a triumphant smile on his face.

"NO! Angelus has done this. Not Angel. Angelus still exists. He has taken the girl and he has horrible plans for her." Dru crawled toward Spike.

"Wait a minute the bloke has taken the slayer and he is going to kill her. Why didn't he come and gloat to us?" Spike asked suspiciously.

"Maybe Daddy will send for us once he is safe." Dru thought out loud as she licked her lips.

"I don't think so darling. I think Daddy has set us up to take the fall." Spike warned her with a sarcastic laugh.

"Daddy wouldn't let anyone hurt us." Dru pouted at her lover.

"Oh yeah. Daddy wouldn't just abandon us. No, not your lover. Dru I'm sick and tired of the way you worship that dumbass." Spike stood up from his wheel chair.

Dru's eyes nearly pop out of her sockets when she saw Spike standing up.

"That's right darling I have been able to walk for some time now." Spike kicked the miserable wheel chair across the room. Putting his hands on his hips he cluck his tongue as he tried to figure out how to get them out of this mess.

"Why? Why did you lie to me?" Dru stood up with a fierce look in her eyes.

"Because chit. You were so far up Angelus's ass I couldn't stand it." Spike walked over to her. He reach out and circled his hand around her skinny neck.

"Spppikke." She tried to speak but he was tightening his grip too hard.

"Yeah baby. I'm back. Now it's up to me to get us out of this shit." Spike lifted her up off her feet and threw her across the room.

"I hate you! Your mean!" Dru crouch in the corner where she landed. Her voice reminded Spike of a five year old who had been reprimanded for being naughty.

"Get over it. Start packing your things. We need to get out of here tonight." Spike rolled his eyes in disgust.

"Fine." Dru began to sob as she tiptoed out of the room.

Spike stared up at the ceiling wondering how he could have missed the signs. How did the bastard pull it off he asked himself? Most importantly where was the bastard? He had a score to settle with him. Once and for all he was going to show that arrogant asshole who was on top.

***

Angelus checked the work twice before he let the handyman leave.

"Remember you breathe a word of this to anyone and I will kill you." Angelus warns him as he place the money in his hand.

"I won't." The wrinkled old man fled from the hotel.

Angelus looked around the room and smiled to himself. He had installed a video camera in the room to assure that Buffy did not get away from him. If she did he would know how and how long she had been gone. He wasn't about to spend twenty-four hours in this house. He had to go eat sometime.

"Wake up, wake up sleepy head." Angelus whispered as he knelt down next to Buffy.

Buffy open her eyes. Frowning she tried to remember where she was. Then it hit her like a bucket of cold water.

"No." Buffy moaned.

"Oh yes." Angelus smiled down at her.

Buffy began to wiggle to test how tight her restraints were placed.

"You're not getting away." Angelus wiggled his finger in front her face.

Buffy was tempted to bite it off. Instead she lied there still.

"Just kill me and get it over with." Buffy rolled her eyes.

"I'm not killing you at. Where would the fun be in that? I didn't go through all this trouble just to end it like that." Angelus walked across the room and picked up a big knife.

Walking back to her he showed her the knife. Buffy gulped hard. She knew that particular knife could do some severe damage and pain before she died.

"Let's get you out of those clothes." Angelus smirked as he watched her wiggle.

Angelus knew that she was feeling panic sink in. He loved it when they were squirmy and crying. It made the torture so much more fun for him.

"What are you doing?" Buffy ask her voice sounded near pleading.

"You heard me." Angelus grabbed her shirt and began to shred it off of her body.

"OH God." Buffy closed her eyes tightly as she felt the cold metal against her skin.

"Nope, wrong again. I'm not God and I sure as hell am not Angel." Angelus informed her as he yank the torn material off of her.

Angelus stared down at the lacey black bra she wore underneath her blouse. It was rather cute he thought to himself. But cute wasn't what he wanted.

Angelus knelt back down by her side and began to cut her pants. Buffy tried to keep her breathing steady as she heard the material tearing. Why was he doing this she kept asking herself? Why couldn't he just kill her?

"There we go." Angelus stood up over her and yanked the pants away. He wasn't surprised to see she wore matching underwear. The girl might fight like a man but she was still a girl underneath all those clothes.

Buffy was panting as the cool air touch her nearly naked body.

"Cute. Real cute." Angelus admired her body. Buffy's face turn three shades of red.

"Why are you so red? Come on I have seen you inside and out." Angelus reminded her.

"Go to hell." Buffy growled as she force her eyes open and glared straight into his.

"Been there, done that." Angelus sat the knife down next to the bed.

"This is stupid." Buffy stared up at the ceiling.

"Perhaps but it will get interesting. Give me a few minutes. Don't go anywhere." Angelus laughed as he left the room.

Buffy tried to lift her head up but only was able to pull up about an inch. She turns her head around to see what was in the room to help her figure out where they were. She knew they were definitely not at the warehouse. This was actually a lovely room.

She heard his footsteps drawing near. Buffy began to tug at the restraint on her arms. She felt a tear. Feeling hopeful she tried again but nothing. Angelus opens the door.

"Here we go now." Angelus walked in the room with a silver tray in his hands.

Buffy couldn't see what exactly he had on it but she sensed it wasn't food or water. Which she really needed both.

"When are you going to let me go to the bathroom?" Buffy ask hoping for a chance to get away.

"Sorry. Let me go find that pan." Angelus started toward the opposite corner of the room.

"A pan?" Buffy cried out in disbelief.

"Yep. I'm not stupid Buffy. I know your hoping for a chance to knock me down and run." Angelus rolled his eyes as he showed her the silver pan.

"Forget it." Buffy shouted.

Angelus smiled from ear to ear.

"Now this is going to hurt a little bit. No just kidding it's going to a lot." Angelus sat down next to the bed.

Buffy felt her heart starting to race as she caught sight of one of the mysterious items that he had brought in with him.

***

Willow and Giles called the others in for the meeting. It took them a few hours to pinpoint where Buffy had last been seen. Time was running out for them. They knew that Joyce was going follow through with her demands if they were not able to give her an answer about her daughter's sudden disappearance.

"She went after Angelus, right." Giles thought out loud.

"Right. She said she could not allow him to hurt anyone else." Willow confirmed.

Giles looked around the graveyard hoping to find a clue as to what might have happen.

"Spike and Dru." Xander thought out loud.

"Uh?" Giles stared at the young man with his usual puzzled frown.

"Spike and Dru. They had to be in on this. Why not go to the warehouse and ask them?" Xander suggested with a serious face.

"Because they might eat us." Cordelia offered with a sarcastic blink of her eyes.

"No they won't." Oz replied.

"Uh?" Giles glanced at the quiet red headed young man.

"If Buffy ran away then she must have done something that she is either ashamed of or regrets." Oz gave his point of view.

"Like killing Angelus." Willow's eyes were wide with amazement toward her new boyfriend.

"Exactly." Xander agreed.

"So you think she is mourning the loss of Angel?" Giles stated. Giles felt that was a possibility under the circumstances. He just didn't see Buffy doing anything that might have caused her any more shame than when everyone learn that she had shared a intimate and private evening with Angel.

"It would make sense." Cordelia agreed with the others.

"So she kills Angelus she goes home and writes a letter to her mother and then flees." Giles thinks out loud.

"She knows that now Angelus is out of the picture we are not in grave danger." Willow offers.

"Poor Buffy." Oz frowns.

"What?" Xander exclaims.

"Come on Xander she killed her first true love. Even if he turned evil he was still once Angel. The very man she loved with all her heart." Willow reminds him.

"I still say hooray!" Xander shrugs his shoulders with out any remorse.

"You would." Cordelia rolls her eyes.

"Come on are we all forgetting the people he has killed. Giles?" Xander looks over at Angelus's latest victim.

"NO. I haven't forgotten about it but still it was a sacrifice that Buffy was force to make in order to save the world. It could not be an easy task rather or not it was the right choice." Giles scolded the selfish boy.

"Okay." Xander's eyes soften slightly. He was only considering the pain that Buffy was experiencing not the loss of one dead boy.

"I still think we should go see Dru and Spike to be sure of it." Willow suggested.

"Very well. Let's get a few weapons and then head there." Giles agreed.

The gang headed back to Giles place where they loaded up on any form of weapon they could get their hands on. All of them hoping they would solve this mystery before Joyce called in the police.

***

Buffy wasn't sure how many times she had passed out from the severe pain in the past few hours. Opening her eyes she feared that if he saw she was awake the torture would begin again. She wasn't sure which hurt more her body or her heart. This cruel demon was wearing the face of her soul mate. Angel would never have even dreamed of such sick torture.

"I think we can call it a day." Angelus said out loud.

Buffy stayed silent. She wasn't sure if he was just testing her strength or not.

"I know your awake. I can hear you thinking." Angelus informed her.

"I..I..need water." Buffy cried out.

"I guess you deserve that much. You were a real trooper." Angelus complimented her as he wipe the blood from the whip.

"Thanks." Buffy sobbed.

Angelus pick up a pitcher of water and pour a small glass full. Holding her head up so she could swallow he gave her the water. Then he placed the empty glass down and took the pitcher of cold water and douses her entire body with .

Buffy screamed from the sudden attack of ice water over her burning and stinging body. Angelus had just spent his sweet ass time beating her with a whip and then he put honey on her body. Once the honey was coated thick he put fire ants on her body. Buffy had to endure the stinging from the insects. She wasn't sure if the water was meant to hurt her or clean her up?

"I would have thought you would say thank you for the water." Angelus looked at her as if she was rude.

"Screw you." Buffy said as her teeth began to chatter.

"You know you had sex just once and already your addicted to it." Angelus wagged his finger at her as he clucks his tongue.

Buffy wanted so badly to get loose and slap the holy shit out of his smug face. Buffy knew he couldn't hold her there forever. She would get free and when she did she was going to return the favor. She was going to torture him before she shoves the stake right through his heart.

"I had to go and eat now. You can really work up an appetite in a man." Angelus unrolled his sleeves.

"Your not a man." Buffy remarked.

"Buffy you made Angel feel like a man. That was the key to releasing me." Angelus pointed out.

"It's rather ironic don't you think. That Angel who has been filled with guilt for my wrong doings finally found happiness. He has worked so hard toward his redemption you would think that he would be granted that one moment of pure happiness. Instead he is punished and sent away, releasing me to do what I do best." Angelus smiles.

"I will kill you." Buffy states.

"Not if I kill you first." He reminds her.

"Gotta run. Don't go anywhere." Angelus chuckles as he shuts the door behind him.

Buffy listens for a lock but doesn't hear anything but his footsteps walking away. She forces her body to get hurting so her head can think. She has to figure out away out of these restraints before Angelus got back. If not she feared what else he had planned to do to her.

***

Spike and Dru were just about to sneak out of the warehouse when they found themselves being pinned to the wall with crosses.

"What in the bloody hell now?" Spike growled with his game face on.

"What happen to Buffy? Where is Angelus?" Giles demanded as he placed his cross right up against Dru's nose.

"It burns." Dru whimpers as the cross grazes her flesh.

"We didn't do anything." Spike snarls.

"Is Angelus alive or dead." Willow asks.

Dru turns her head slightly to look at Spike. Spike suspects that if they won't to get out alive they best tell them what they wanted to hear.

"He must be dead. We haven't seen him." Spike half lies.

"Let's kill them." Xander cries out.

"Wait a second. I haven't done anything to you." Spike cries out defensively.

"No but you will hurt someone." Xander reminds the gang.

"I wish we could stick around and argue this point but we were on our way out of town." Spike offers a truce.

"Very well. Get out of town and never return again." Giles steps back slightly with his cross still in the air to protect him.

Dru just smiles at them like a lunatic.

"Why does she grin like that. It reminds me of the joker." Xander frowns at the ugly vampire.

"She is just a happy sort." Spike says as he takes Dru's hand and leads her out of the warehouse.

"Why did we let them go again?" Xander demands.

"The odds are one or all of us would have ended up getting killed by them. It was smarter to just let them leave." Giles replies as he takes off his glasses and cleans them.

"So Angelus is dead." Willow looks down at the ground.

"Well, now we know why she left." Cordelia notes.

"Now we just have to explain to Joyce how her daughter had a relationship with a vampire who turn evil and she was force to kill him." Xander reminds the group.

"No problem." Oz chuckles.

"It will be like taking a walk in the park." Willow grumbles under her breathe.

"Pretty much." Giles agrees with the others as they head back to the Summer's house.

***

Angelus had gone to several hot spots for demons. He had enjoyed a few drinks with some old pals. It was like coming home again. He was back where he belonged. He was gloating over the fact that he had been smart enough to have the owner of the old Mayfield mansion sign over the deed into his name before he killed him and his entire family. Now he owned property. He was a wise investor he told himself.

Angelus had killed a few young women before deciding to return home. Home? It was a strange word to him. It was something that Angel would think. Home where Angel's true love laid chain up in a bed. His bed. Not Angel's. Angelus's. Angelus was normally not into the slayer thing but this time around he had a point to make. At least with this slayer. He wanted her to know that he was not a slave to her or to love. In fact he was going to show her what it felt like to be a slave to pain.

Pain. That was a concept he could relate to. It was something he had felt many times before he had been changed. He wanted Buffy to feel what he felt being locked up inside of Angel while he did all his good deeds. He wanted her to see what it was like for him to sit back and suffer for years after years. He was going to make her beg him for death.

Angelus just hadn't made up his mind rather or not he would change her or just plain kill her. The concept of a slayer-gone vampire was tempting. Hell, she would definitely be a worthy mate. She would have strength unlike any other vampire. It was a tempting thought. How ever could he really forget all the times she spent with Angel? All those endearing moments they shared? Could he ever believe that she was truly on his side?

Angelus entered the house. Walking over to the alarm he turn it off. Then he began to walk up the stairs. Something moved in the house. Angelus stood still and listens closely. It was probably just a mouse or rat. He wasn't taking any chances. He began to take a few more steps up and heard the sound once again.

"Great." He whispered to himself.

He debated on whether he should search the first floor first. Then he heard a louder sound and was positive it came from upstairs. Taking two steps at a time he prepared himself for an intruder or for the possibility that Buffy had found away to get loose. Angelus smiled hoping that she indeed freed herself. It would make for an interesting time.

Angelus slipped into the room next door and turns the monitor on. He turns the camera toward the bed. It was empty. Buffy had indeed found away to escape. Angelus licked his lips with an evil smile.

"Let the games begin." Angelus clapped his hands as he jump to his feet and prepared to play a little game of hide and seek. He would seek and he would find. When he caught his naughty slayer he was going to have to spank her.

***

Buffy had finally found the strength to pull the chain from the wall. Once she got one arm free it was easy to pull the other chains off of her. She glances around the room for something to cover her body with. Nothing. Not even a sheet.

"Damn him!" Buffy said as she grinded her teeth together.

Buffy goes to the door and listens closely. Nothing. She figured he was out of the house catching a bite or two. Buffy pulled on the doorknob and it open. She looked to her left then her right. Nothing. She didn't want to take any chances that he had laid a trap for her. Buffy rubbed her bare arms as the cold air slid over her half naked body.

Buffy walked to the next room and opening the door she found that it was unoccupied. Feeling some relief she began to search the room for any form of clothing. If she got out of this miserable house she didn't want to be caught naked.

She finally found a shirt. It appeared to be a man's shirt. Plain white button up. Buttoning it up she looked down to see it ended right above her knees. Who ever once it own it had been rather tall she noted. Feeling less cold she began to search around the other rooms for away out. All the windows and been nail up and bar up. She was going to have to go down stairs and hopefully be able to walk out of the front door.

Something in the back of her head told her that was not going to happen. Buffy shut the door and was about to head back downstairs when she heard a beeping sound. Buffy raced back into the room and slid under the bed. She knew it was a stupid place to hide but she wasn't sure who was coming in the house.

She heard a door open and close. Then a few minutes later she heard the door shut and footsteps began down the hall toward the room where she was hiding. Buffy gulped hard as her heart began to race with panic. She wasn't ready for this now. She just wanted to get the hell out of there. She didn't care about killing Angelus at this point. She just wanted to be safe back home. Home. Home was where things made sense. Home was where she first fell in love. Home was where she would find away to get her beloved Angel back before she was forced to kill Angelus. She knew she had been wrong to go after Angelus. She had been dead wrong.

***

Giles sat at his desk with a glass of scotch next to his hand. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this sudden disappearance of his slayer. Something just didn't fit or was it as simple as everything fitting too right? Giles knew that the death of Angel would be devastating to Buffy but somehow he couldn't picture her not at least leaving a note saying those exact words.

Buffy would want them to know they had no need to worry. Giles couldn't stand this game of waiting about. Picking up the phone he dialed a number that he had not thought about in ages. He knew of at least one person who had the capabilities to find Buffy. How ever he was going to owe her a great debt for this favor. Giles stared at the phone contemplated if the cost was worth it.

An image of Joyce's tearstain face came to mind. He knew he had to do it. He owed Joyce this much. He felt like shit ever since he revealed the truth to Joyce. He had always been quite fond of Buffy's mother and seeing the pain and betrayal in her eyes at hurt him more than he thought it would.

He remembers looking at Jenny the same way when they learn of her true purpose for coming to Sunnydale. He had to do this. He had to find his slayer and bring her home safely to her mother. From that point on he would do what ever he could to help soothe Joyce's fears about her daughter's secret destiny.

***

Spike pulled into the driveway.

"Come on love we need to get in the house before the sun comes up." Spike whispered gently to his lover.

"I'm hungry." She complained.

"We will have to wait until this evening." Spike informed her.

"Where are we?" Dru looked open the door and stared at the trees.

"We are in New Orleans." Spike stated.

"Why are we here?" Dru asked curiously.

"If I know Angelus he is here. He probably has her held up at the Mayfield Mansion. I'm still not sure what his plan is but if I know the bastard he has brought her to show her off to the underworld." Spike rolled his eyes in disgust.

"Goodie." Dru slapped her hands together with a dreamy smile on her face.

"What is so damn good about it?" Spike snapped at her.

"He will kill her with an audience." Dru licked her lips with a sparkle in her eyes.

"I doubt it. She will probably find away out of this hell hole and kill anyone near her." Spike sighed heavily.

"Oh don't be such a spoiled sport." Dru walked over to his side and slid her hands up and down his chest.

"I'm not. Who are we kidding? Buffy might be a slayer but she is the strongest I have ever come up against." Spike reminded her.

"Angelus will dominate her. He will drive her mad. Then just as she pleas for death he will give her eternal life. She will be with our family." Dru predicted.

Spike wasn't sure if he liked the thought of Buffy as a vampire. It just didn't appeal to him. How ever he knew that if that was Angelus's decision nothing could stop him. Taking Dru's hand he led her to their temporary residence.

***

It had not taken Angelus long to figure out which room she was hiding in. He could hear her heart beating rapidly a mile away. Not to mention the scent of her sweet blood that seems to float in the air. Once he walked in the room he went straight for the bed with the old sodden mattress. Flinging it up in the air he grabbed Buffy's hair and pulled her straight up on her feet.

"OHHHHH!" Buffy screamed as she felt as if he had pulled a handful of hair straight out of her head.

"You stupid bitch!" Angelus slapped her across the face. He saw the blood fling out of her lower lip and onto the floor.

"I'm going to kill you." Buffy moaned as she grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder.

Buffy raced toward the door but Angelus was right behind her. His hand reach out and circled around her neck. Buffy felt his hand tighten. She was gulping for air as he pulled her back toward his chest.

"I was hoping you would force me to do this." Angelus said as he pulled a collar out of his pocket.

Buffy struggle to get free from his hands but he had manage to pin her up against the wall as he place the silver metal collar around her neck.

Angelus released her and stepped back.

Buffy turns toward him with a puzzled look.

"You must be stupid." Buffy growled as she charge at him. Angelus pulled out a black switch with a red button. Buffy was grabbing his shirt when he push the button. Buffy felt volts of electricity shoot into her body. Her hands released the shirt and she fell to her knees. The pain was excruciating.

Angelus looked down at her as she clawed at the metal collar.

"It won't come off." Angelus pulled out a key from his back pocket swinging it back and forth in front of her face.

"You sonabitch." She gurgled as her throat ached from the voltage.

"Now, now that is not a nice thing to say. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Angelus taunted her.

Buffy grabbed his legs and flung him off the floor. She smiled victoriously as he landed straight on his back with a loud thud. Angelus push the button again causing Buffy to bow down in pain.

"I like that position." Angelus noted gleefully at her own her knees bowing down to him.

Buffy gulp hard as the spasm eased up and she was able to breathe again.

"Now get up and go back to your room." Angelus ordered her.

"You are sick." Buffy growled at him as she stood up.

"You will be if you don't get any clothes on." Angelus noted the white shirt on her. He couldn't help but note how muscular her tan legs look. In fact it made him remember the night she had spent with Angel. She had been such a willing pupil in bed. Angelus began to consider tutoring her how a real demon liked to have sex.

Angelus reach out and pulled her toward him. Buffy looked away until he grabbed her hair forcing her head back so he could look into her eyes.

"You're turning me on." Angelus warns her as he bent down and ravish her lips.

Buffy was shocked at the intimate gesture he was sharing with her. In fact she was so shocked that she didn't even resist. It wasn't until she felt prick of his fangs on her lip and the coppery taste of her own blood filled her mouth that she remembered WHO exactly she was kissing. Buffy jerk her head away from his grip.

Buffy spit out the blood and taste of Angelus in her mouth.

"I must say you don't taste bad." Angelus took his finger and wipes the blood from his lip. Sucking on the finger he smiled at her.

"You will never taste me again." Buffy warned him.

"Is that a challenge? Oh come on Buffy you were so enjoying it." Angelus rolled his eyes at her act of repulsion.

"I WAS NOT!" Buffy exclaimed as she felt the tingling sensation in her stomach starting to relax.

"I bet I could make you beg for me to fuck you." Angelus thought out loud.

"I would rather die that beg you for anything." Buffy glared at him with loathing.

"That can be arrange but only when I feel it is time." Angelus reminded her he could kill her whenever he wished.

"Go to your room before I decide to taste more of you." Angelus ordered her.

Buffy exhaled deeply as she turn and walked out of the room. She was wondering how far the signal reached for the collar to activate? Angelus was right behind her. Buffy could hear him humming.

"I tell you what I will bring you some food up if you can stay in your room like a good puppy." Angelus offered her.

Buffy wanted to tell him to go to hell but her stomach was growling quite loudly. Besides she needed to keep up her strength in order to fight her away out of this damn house she told herself.

"What ever." Buffy rolled her eyes and walked in the room slamming the door behind her.

Angelus stared at the closed door and laughed. He had her right where he wanted her. He thought about what he had told Spike about this particular slayer. He still held to that conviction. To kill this slayer you had to love her to death. He had to admit she had spunk. He would have never believed a slayer would give her virginity up to a vampire even if that vampire had a soul. He was gloating to himself when he considered that only a man who looked as good as himself could seduce the enemy into his bed. Then he heard a faint sound in the back of his head telling him it wasn't him who slept with her but Angel. Angel's kindness and good deeds had managed to seduce the girl.

Angelus knew that Angel was still inside of him. Buried deep with in his mind. He wondered what it would do to Angel to see him making love to his girlfriend? How would he feel having to suffer through the ordeal? What would Angel think when he saw Buffy moaning his name for a change?

Angelus pick up the tray and took the food up to her room. When he open the door he half expected to find her behind it ready to pulverize him. Instead he found her laying down on the bed in fetal position. He listens closely and could hear the slow steadiness of her breathing. Angelus saw her shiver slightly from the cool air. He went to his room and opens the closet. Pulling out an old quilt he took back to the room and placed it gently on her. He told himself he was only doing it cause he didn't want her to die from pneumonia. Closing the door gently behind him he went to his room and fell fast asleep.

***

Buffy was walking through the graveyard on a usual sweep before she went home. She felt someone watching her. Smiling to herself she knew who that person was.

"Do you always stalk your girlfriends?" Buffy ask out loud to the night air.

"How did you know?" Angel asks with a crooked smile.

"Sometimes I can just feel you near me." Buffy confessed.

"How are you doing?" Angel asks as he walks up in front of her. His eyes showed her the depth of concern he feels for her.

"I will survive. This is really weird. Cause I didn't think I was dreaming but then I just somehow knew I was." Buffy looked around at the strange colors that created a common scene she was use to. She was amazed at how the old brain worked.

"I'm so sorry Buffy." Angel looked around guilty as he fidgeted with the ring on his finger.

"I know. I am too. It's all my fault." Buffy touch her own ring.

"NO. It's not your fault. How could you have known?" Angel grabs her hands and pulls her closer to him.

"I just.. I should have." Buffy sobs as she feels him squeezing her hands gently.

"Your not perfect Buffy." Angel chuckles slightly as he pushes a loose piece of hair away from her face.

Angel cups her chin and tilts it so he can look into her eyes.

"I love you. I do not regret what we did." Angel states firmly.

"I love you too. But now I have lost you." Buffy cries out as tears stream down her face.

"You can never loose me. I will always be right here." Angel touches her chest where her heart beats.

"What am I suppose to do? How can I kill you?" Buffy sobs louder.

"You will do what is right. If you feel that I am a threat then you must kill me." Angel replies.

"I CAN"T! I talk big but I don't think I can do it." Buffy shakes her head.

"It's okay." Angel pushes her head to his chest as he runs in hands up and down her back.

"I don't know what to do anymore. I feel as if half of me is dead. I need you Angel. I need you to come back to me. I have to find away to return you to me." Buffy cries into his chest.

Angel looks down at the golden hair lying across his chest and realizes he would do just about anything to get back to her.

Buffy looks up at him and her eyes glaze over with passion.

Angel leans down and wraps his lips around hers. Both enjoying the moment of sweet bliss in one another's arms.

"I have to go now." Angel sighs as he stops the kiss.

"Why?" Buffy cries.

"I will see you again." Angel promises as he blows her a kiss.

Buffy watches as he fades away in her arms.

"NOOOOOo! Come back!!!" Buffy screams out to the air that once contain Angel.

Buffy sits straight up panting for air. Buffy feels the foreign object on her neck. Feeling the cool metal around her neck she is reminded that Angelus is holding her hostage.

Buffy looks down at the blanket that was covering her body. Where had it come from? Had Angelus brought it to her? Why would he care if she were cold? Buffy also notices the tray of food sitting by the door. Why was he really keeping her alive? How was she going to escape with out having to kill him? She had to find away to bring Angel back. After the dream she just experience she was even surer of it. Everything inside of her screamed there was away to accomplish the task. She just had to be patient until it was found.

***

A week later:

Buffy sat at the dressing table that Angelus had produced from some area of the house for her. Buffy's hands shook as she placed the make up on like he had requested. She was still feeling uneasy about this sudden nicety that he seem to be putting on for her. It was just two days earlier that he had found her trying to loosen up a window when he had taken a whip to her. She still had the wounds from that incident.

All she knew for certain was that he wanted her to put on the red silk dress and dress up. She had a gut feeling there was to be an audience tonight. Buffy feared that this might be her last night on this planet. Closing her eyes she thought about the dream she had last night. Each dream she had was growing more and more vivid and somehow intoxicating to her. Angel. Angel came to her while she slept. Somehow, someway he had managed to find her in that realm. He was constantly assuring her that if she was force to kill him that he would understand. She would remind him that it wasn't him she would be killing but Angelus.

"Are you ready?" Angelus tapped on the door.

Buffy rolled her eyes. Why was he acting like a gentleman now? Her slayer senses were tingling off the radar.

"I guess." Buffy stood up and turn toward the door.

Angelus walked in. His eyes roamed up and down her entire body. His smile showed his approval.

"You don't look too bad when you dress up." He half complimented her.

"I wish I could say the same for you." Buffy said sarcastically.

Angelus fought back his demon side as an urge to reach out and slap her came over him. Angelus wanted this evening to go down as one that would be remember in history forever. He had set up a party for some of his old pals and enemies to show off his concubine. He had not only caught himself a slayer but she was at his mercy. This would be one his greatest victories in his lifetime.

"I was considering the blue shirt." Angelus smiled politely at her.

Buffy gulp hard as she remembered Angel smiling at her like that just before he kissed her good night in her dream.

"Let's go. Our guests are waiting for us." Angelus put out his arm.

Buffy looked at his arm and then back at him.

"I don't think so." Buffy laughed.

"You better do what I ask you to do." Angelus warn her as he showed her the remote to her collar.

"Fine." Buffy exhaled deeply as she accepted his arm.

They walked down the stairs and Buffy instantly could smell danger. Buffy started to realize what this evening was about. Angelus was going to show off. He was going to show his dead friends that he had capture the slayer. Buffy gulp hard as she considered what else he might have planned to show in front of them. Buffy said a silent prayer that she might live through this night.

Angelus felt her shiver. His lips curved into an enormous smile as they felt her fear soar through her body. He knew that she was scared about the events ahead. He was still reeling from the excitement when he heard his name being called out.

"Angelus!" A short blonde headed vampire drool as she watch their host come into the room with a mortal on his arm.

"Ah ¦Victoria. I'm glad you were able to make it tonight." Angelus smiled at the demon that he had spent a few nights with from time to time.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I must say you have me curious with the reason for this soire." Victoria's eyes stay glued on Buffy.

"I wanted everyone here to meet my guest. Buffy Summers this is Victoria. Victoria this is the chosen one." Angelus's smile was quite charming.

Buffy took a deep breath as she prepared herself for a battle.

Victoria licked her lips before producing a fake smile toward Buffy.

"I see you're speechless." Buffy remarks with a smug smile.

"I'm afraid I am still confused why a slayer would join us here tonight?" Victoria snapped.

"Trust me this isn't my ideal for a great night." Buffy sighs with a bored glance around the room.

Angelus was impressed with the way she showed little fear toward the others. He secretly knew she was frightened out of her mind.

"Yes, I'm afraid I had to kidnapped her and pretty much beat her to join us." Angelus admitted with a slight laugh.

Victoria frowns at the odd couple and took a step back. Victoria knew that Angelus was powerful but she was starting to think he might have gone mad over the centuries.

"I see." Victoria sipped her champagne glass that was served with blood in it.

"See darling I thought about you tonight." Angelus reaches over to the silver tray that held champagne in it.

Handing her glass of the champagne he picks up a glass for himself as he leads her further into the room. Eyes of all forms of demons stared at the couple with confusion and frustration.

"Good evening everyone. I wanted to bring you here to celebrate my release from hell. Angel is gone forever. Angelus is back." Angelus lifts his glass in the air.

Everyone cheers in the room except Buffy.

"I also wanted to prove that not only am I back but I am as strong as ever. I would like to introduce you all to my concubine. The slayer." Angelus lifts her hand up in the air.

Buffy tenses up as she feels the heated stares at her body. Buffy hopes they don't think she is the meal for the evening.

"The slayer?" One voice cried out in fear.

"Is he mad?" Another voice in the crowd whispers.

"Buffy is the reason that I am here today. Yep. You see the curse did not allow Angel any happiness. Unfortunately he met this slayer and fell in love. Spending one night in bed with the slayer cause the curse to be lifted. Isn't it ironic? Angel doing all that good deeds and feeling one moment of happiness was sentence to hell." Angelus announces to the room.

Buffy turns three shades of red as she realizes everyone understood his subtle way of exposing an intimate moment between her and Angel.

"I was going to kill her but then I thought to myself it wasn't fair to her. I mean she did release me." Angelus smiles down at her with fake affection.

Buffy wanted to vomit. This was all too bizarre. Why was he acting like this? What was he really up too? Buffy didn't like this at all. She was completely out numbered and under his control. If they attacked her how would she get out of it?

"Please everyone eat and drink. Let's celebrate my coming back and victory." Angelus shouted out.

The crowd cheered as they headed to the buffet table. Buffy looked around curiously to see what sort of food they were about to eat. It was then that she saw several humans were tied down to tables with gags in their mouths. Buffy felt her stomach hit the floor. Angelus caught her attention and smiled from ear to ear. Buffy wanted to scream and fight for these victims' lives but knew there was no possible way to do this.

"I swear to God I will kill you." Buffy growled at him.

"You keep saying that but I just don't hear your heart in it." Angelus remarked with a cocky smile.

Buffy heard the sounds of the humans struggling and choking as the demons began to feast on their live bodies. Buffy turn her head to keep from seeing the killing. Angelus knew he had taken the first step in showing her who was in charge. He had so many plans for her. In the end he had no doubt that he would conquer her.

***

Spike and Dru had arrive a few seconds after the announcement had begun. Spike had kept quiet in the back of the room. He was curious to hear what Angelus had been up too. He was even more curious when he saw Buffy walk willingly into the room. What sort of spell had he cast on the girl he wondered?

"Angelus!" Dru slapped her hands happily as she made her way through the feeding crowd to her sire.

"Dru! What are you doing here?" Angelus asks a bit surprised that she was still alive.

"Bad daddy! You left us again. I told Spike that you meant to bring us." Dru shook her finger at him like he was a naught child.

"Of course I did. Things just happen unexpectedly." Angelus lied.

"Sure they did." Spike walked with his head held high.

"I be damn you got your legs back." Angelus noted.

"He has had them back for sometime. He was lying to us." Dru told on her lover.

"Really. Well never thought you would lie to your family." Angelus pretended to be hurt by the deceit.

"Come on now Angelus. You knew you left us behind to take the fall when the Scooby gang discovered their slayer was missing. You knew they would come after us and we would tell them we hadn't seen you. So they would think that the slayer killed you. In their rage they would kill us." Spike's eyebrow shot up as it all came to him in that moments staring at his grand sire what Angelus had planned all along.

"You give me too much credit Spikey." Angelus chuckled.

Buffy had heard every word Spike has said. Buffy wondered if the gang knew she was still alive. Spike and Dru had known somehow which meant that the gang would find out too.

"See I told you Daddy still loves us." Dru snarled at the slayer.

Buffy rolled her eyes at the insane vampire.

"That's right Dru." Angelus wrapped his arms around Dru's shoulder and gave her a quick hug.

"Then you won't mind us staying here with you." Spike looked around the enormous house.

"Of course not." Angelus replied showing no signs of frustration that he would be stuck with the bothersome twosome.

"Good. When do we get to eat her?" Spike's eyes roamed over the half dressed slayer. The red dress left little to the imagination.

Buffy froze. Angelus saw the panic flash across her face for a fleeting second.

"Sorry chump. She is not to be touched. This is my trophy." Angelus steps behind Buffy and nips at her ear.

Buffy nearly jump a foot off the floor.

"I see your still a puppy to love." Spike challenged him.

"I swear I'm going to snap that scrawny little neck of yours someday." Angelus growled as his game face appeared.

"Then bite her. Prove to us that she doesn't mean anything to you." Spike's eyes flash with anger toward his grand sire. Spike had plenty of pent up anger toward the bastard who had taunted him for months and slept with his lover.

"Come one Angelus do it!" Dru clapped her hands and jump up and down as if it were a game they were playing.

Buffy took a step back.

"Lets not." Buffy commented.

Spike shot her look of hatred.

"Very well." Angelus reaches out and grabbed Buffy's neck pulling her closer to him.

Buffy feared she would faint from just his grip. Her heart pounding furiously.

"NO!" Buffy tried to fight him but it was useless when she felt the remote poking her backside.

Angelus yanked her neck to the side. Buffy blinked back the tears just as his fangs found it's way into her neck. Gulping hard she fought to stay conscience. The pain was severe but the sounds of his sucking her blood had turned her stomach upside down.. She knew it was over for her. She was dieing at last. She should have killed him. She had known over the past week that if she didn't kill him first he would kill her. Yet she had held off in hopes of finding away to recurse him. Now she was going to pay the price for her listening to her heart rather than her head. Blinking her eyes as tears slid down her face she allowed the darkness to take her away. Far away from the room of demons that were watching with anticipation to see if he killed the slayer or not.

Buffy knew she was dreaming but somehow this dream almost felt real.

She was in Angel's apartment. She sat down on the bed and rubbed the blanket that covered it. A sad smile came on her face as she remembered the monumental night she had spent between these sheets with the only man she would ever love.

"I use to lay there during the day and wonder what it would be like to hold you in that bed." Angel walked out of the shadow where her had stood watching her.

"Angelus?" Buffy asks with a guarded look in her eyes.

"No, it's me Angel." He said as he takes a step closer to her.

"How do I know the difference?" Buffy asks as she inhales deeply.

"He has already gotten to you." Angel sighed heavily as he sat down next to her. Taking her hand in his he looked into her eyes and the pain and guilt he felt showed.

Buffy gulped hard. She knew that only Angel would so openly show his emotions.

"Angel?" Buffy sobbed as she threw her arms around him. Pulling him as tight as she could she begin to weep like a child.

"Shh..shhh.." Angel rubbed her back with soothing strokes as his own tears surface.

"I'm so scared. I think I am dead." Buffy admitted as she wiped her tears away and sat back to look into his eyes.

"Your not dead. You're asleep. He drained quite a bit of blood from you." Angel explained as he curled his free hand into a fist.

"How do you know that?" Buffy asks with a suspicious glare.

"Because like Angelus I can see through his eyes and hear through his ears. Not all the time but mostly." Angel explained as wiped a loose tear from her cheek.

"So you mean he could see you with me and hear us?" Buffy asks.

"Pretty much." Angel nodded his head.

"How do we get you back?" Buffy cried out in pain.

"I don't know yet. I'm just surprised that I can actually see you and talk to you like this." Angel looked around the room and then back at her.

"Me too. But hey I'm not complaining." Buffy chuckled.

"Look, you need to get away from Angelus. Buffy, you must kill him." Angel warned her as his hands gripped her shoulders.

"NO!" Buffy pulled away from his embrace and stood up with her hands on her hips firmly.

"Buffy, he has already marked you. Do you know what that means?" Angel asks as he stands up glaring at her with the identical willful look.

"I honestly don't know at this point. Hell, I still haven't read the vampire manual all the way through. Giles keeps harping on me to do that." Buffy replied with a sarcastic smile.

"It's not funny Buffy!" Angel growled as he began to pace back and forth. Angle ran his hands through his hair as he tried to think of away to explain it to her so that she would under the severity of the position she was now in.

"Buffy you are now and for ever more connected to Angelus. He will sense you a mile away. The longer you are with him the stronger the bond becomes. You are marked as that of a vampire concubine. Other demons will know that you belong to another. He now has access to your free will and hell even your thoughts if he tries hard enough. You will be defenseless around him." Angel slipped his hands in his pockets as he stopped pacing and stood before her.

"It is rare that a vampire marks a mortal and doesn't change them. They only mark those that they intend to keep as a slave. It's an insult baby. I can't stand the thought of others seeing you as his whore." Angel growled as his game face slipped on. Angel tried to fight back the demon side. He didn't want Buffy to see it so he turn and looked away.

Buffy had seen it though. She walked over to him and force him to look at her.

"Angel, I can't give up hope for you. If dying means bringing you back I would do it." Buffy vows.

"NO! Damn it Buffy you are worth more than my meaningless life. You are a champion. The world doesn't have enough of those. Do not ever do anything stupid to save me." Angel pleaded with her.

"I can't make any promise." Buffy answered as she smiled weakly at him.

"I love you so much." Angel stated as he pulled her into his arms.

"Kiss me." Buffy begged as she lean back.

His lips came down over hers, his arms drew her close against his lean , hard cold body, and for that moment all the danger in the world meant nothing to the both of them.

Buffy open her eyes. The room was dim. She felt his presence with in seconds of waking up. A soft sad smile on her face she push herself up on the bed. Running her hands through her hair she sighed heavily.

"That must have been one hell of a dream. I could have sworn I heard you orgasm." Angelus sneered.

"Go to hell." Buffy snapped at him as she ran her hand over her neck and felt the punctures.

"Been there done that." Angelus remarked as he walked toward her.

"Is the party over?" Buffy asks as she glances over the rest of her body checking for any other bites that might have occurred while she was out.

"Yeah. I fear you weren't much for fun after I marked you." Angelus knelt next to the bed and stared hard at her.

"I'm going to kill you for this." Buffy warned him.

Angelus felt a tinge of excitement run up and down his spine. He loved it when her eyes sparked with anger. He would never admit it to anyone else but she was quite beautiful when she was mad. There was something about this slayer that drew him to her. It wasn't the same attraction that Angel was drawn to but it was there. On one hand it disgusted him and on the other it intrigue him. He had never met a slayer that he had wanted to hurt so bad like this one. Perhaps it was because he had never had a personal vendetta against any of the others. Or it could be the fact that he had never thought of fucking a slayer.

"You kill me you kill Angel." Angelus reminded her.

Buffy hated that her enemy knew her one true weakness. If there were away to separate these two men and kill Angelus she would do it with out hesitation. This side of Angel was the thing that kept them apart. Angel was so torn with guilt over the things that this side of him had done that it hurt him to enjoy the good deeds he had accomplished. Buffy wanted to destroy the dark side of him so that he could never fear the threat of it slipping to the surface.

"Angel would want me to kill you if it meant saving the world from your horrible deeds." Buffy stated with an ache in her heart.

"But could you live with out him?" Angelus asks with a curious smile.

"I would survive." Buffy lied.

"You would survive but you would never be the same. The warmth would fade and all that would be left is a empty shell of the girl you once were." Angelus thought out loud as he stood up.

"What's it to you?" Buffy asks.

"Nothing. I don't give a damn about you. That mark should be proof enough." Angelus reminded her.

"Where is Spike and Dru?" Buffy glanced at the closed door.

"They are sleeping in one of the rooms. You have nothing to fear from them. Well, not yet." Angelus smirked.

"I do not fear them." Buffy answered with confidence.

"I bet you don't." Angelus said.

"Should I expect any more unexpected visitors or parties?" Buffy asks as she scratches her neck.

"Not for the time being." Angelus replied.

"Can I have something else to wear?" Buffy mumbles.

"I have an outfit for you in the drawer over there." Angelus pointed to the drawer.

"Well? What is are your plans now?" Buffy asks with an impatient sigh.

"I'm going to make you mine. I don't love you and I never will but you will be my mine." Angelus growls as he marches out of the room and slams the door hard.

Buffy rolls her eyes toward the close door and then waiting to be sure he wasn't' coming back she gets up and opens the drawer. She pulls out the outfit and feels rage fill her completely. He had given her a black silk floor length gown with a matching housecoat. She knew he did this to piss her off. Buffy was about to rip the outfit when she looked down at the dress that barely covered her body. At least this outfit had a slip to cover her up. Changing into the outfit she felt humiliated as she sat down on the bed. Staring at the stunning lingerie she wondered what Angel's reaction would be if he seen her in this? Would he be turned on or repulsed? It really didn't matter at this point she reminded herself.

Buffy walked to the door and turning the knob she was shocked to find it was left unlocked? Then her hand went to her neck. Of course he had put the remote chain on her. He knew that if she went to far he could push that damn remote and it would halt her from leaving. She took her fist and slammed it into the wall. Pulling it out she felt the pain but didn't care. Stepping out of the room she decided she needed to get familiar with the house so that when a chance did come she would know how to get out of here.

She had to get home to her friends and family so that they could find away to bring Angel back.

***

Angelus had recruited two vampires to keep an eye on Buffy while he slept. He had given them strict instructions not to try and touch her or she would kill them. If they somehow manage to let her escape he would personally kill them.

Angelus took a short nap. He wondered if Buffy had discovered her door was unlocked? He was sure she had. In fact if he knew her she was probably looking for away out of the house. Changing his clothes he headed down stairs. He could smell her. Following her scent he located her. She was in the kitchen. Angelus wondered if she was looking for a weapon?

"What are you doing?" Angelus asks.

Buffy turns toward him with a butter knife.

"Eating." Buffy reaches out and picks up a peanut butter sandwich she had manage to make.

"Oh." This threw Angelus. He had expected to see her with a sharper knife and prepared for battle. He had not predicted that she would be eating a sandwich with the look of someone who had no fear for their life.

"What is wrong with you?" Angelus asks with a curious glance.

"I'm hungry. Duh." Buffy rolls her eyes at him.

"If I'm going to be staying here I need some more food. If you plan on keeping me alive." Buffy remarked as she turn the faucet on and made herself a glass of water.

"I will see what I can do." Angelus frowned. Angelus glanced over the outfit that he picked out for her. He would have thought she would have been pissed off by it. Instead she acted as if she was born to wear the damn thing. He was not getting the reaction he had hoped for. This was causing alarms to go off in his head.

"Thanks." Buffy drank the water and then placed the glass down.

"Where are you going?" Angelus asks as she strolls past him.

"I thought I would go see if we have a TV. I'm bored." Buffy says casually.

Angelus's hands curl up in fists by his side. She was trying to piss him off, he was sure of it.

"Get back here." Angelus demanded.

Buffy kept walking.

"Buffy!" Angelus warned her as he pulled the remote out of his pocket.

"What?" Buffy snapped as she stops and looks at him.

"Come here." Angelus points to the floor in front of him.

Buffy walks toward him with a bored expression on her face.

Angelus decides to throw her off of her little game. He could only think of one way to scare her at this point.

"What?" Buffy snaps as she glares him.

Angelus pulls her up against him roughly. He can feel her chest heaving up against his. He feels her shivering as his cools hands slide up and down her arms.

"You didn't thank me for your clothes." Angelus states as his voice grows husky.

"I know." Buffy gulps hard as she feels her stomach tightening up. She reminds her body that this isn't Angel looking at her. This is not the man whom she would die for. This was just a shell of what she once had.

"If you can't be polite I will have to punish you." Angelus remarks as his eyes glance down at the opening of the nightgown. Her breast are exposed by the low cut of the gown. Angelus feels himself hardening at the sight of her standing before him half naked. Angelus knows he can take her if he wanted to but he is willing to wait it out. He will make her beg for him to take her.

Buffy licks her dry lips as she waits for his next move. She saw what she fear was a glimpse of desire in his eyes. A shiver of breathless anticipation skittered through her.

His lips came down over hers. Buffy had not expected this move. She found herself drowning in the kiss and need of his touch. Even though her head was screaming that this was not her lover but her enemy her heart and body didn't heed to the warning. Instead she circled her arms around his neck drawing him closer to her. He filled her senses to overflowing. The feel of him. The taste and smell of him. She was so overwhelm with desire that she did not care that it was horribly sick and wrong of her to be enjoying this moment.

"Good morning lovers." Spike stood leaning in the doorframe watching the scene before him.

The moment was broken. Angelus nearly shoved Buffy into the wall.

Buffy struggled to catch her breath as she hit the wall with a loud thud. Her eyes exposed the passion she had felt. Then tears stung her eyes. She had betrayed Angel. She had betrayed herself. How could she have allowed him to kiss her? She hadn't even put a fight. What was wrong with her? How did it come to this? She should have known better than to play mind games with him. She looked at Spike who was eye balling her from head to toe. She was sure he was enjoying her torment.

Buffy and Angelus just stared at one another before Buffy ran out of the room.

"I gather you enjoyed her as much Angel." Spike snickered as he watch Angelus trying to regain his composure. Spike saw what had happen. He wasn't a fool. That kiss was not torture. In fact what he saw was two people who were enjoying the kiss. What in bloody hell was going on?

"I do not enjoy mortals. I might fuck her but I sure as hell not going to fall in love with her." Angelus snapped.

"When you get done with her I hope I get a shot at her. I mean, I too normally don't fancy mortals but this one is different. She is a slayer. I wonder if it feels as good to fuck one as it does to kill them?" Spike thought out loud.

Angelus reach out and lifted Spike up off his feet.

"YOU never lay a hand on her. I will kill anyone who touches even a hair on her head." Angelus growls as his game face appears.

"Okay. Shit. If I didn't know better I would think you were Angel. Fuck." Spike straighten up his shirt as he glared at his sire.

"I'm not Angel. I just don't like to share." Angelus remarked.

"You are selfish. I mean hell I had to share my toys with you." Spike reminded him with an equal look of jealousy.

"That was different. I made Dru. So technically she is mine first." Angelus answers.

"You don't give a damn about her. You only use her for her visions." Spike pointed out.

"I admit that was the original plot when I turn her but I have trained her well in bed too. I think you should be thanking me for her training." Angelus snickered.

Angelus knew he was pissing off Spike. He wanted to keep the vampire off the subject of him and Buffy. He wasn't sure what had happen earlier between him and Buffy and he didn't want Spike smearing his face in it.

The two of them verbally sparred for a few minutes before Dru joined them.

"Why are you two in the kitchen?" Dru asked with a frown.

"WE were discussing what a selfish Daddy we have." Spike answered as his face soften at the sight of his love.

"She was here." Dru sniffs the air.

"Yeah you ought to see what I saw." Spike smirk as he glance at Angelus frowning.

"Daddy do not let her love you. Her love might be the undoing of you." Dru closed her eyes.

"What do you see Dru?" Angelus asks.

"Nothing at the moment. It's just a feeling." Dru explains as she opens her eyes.

"Well, I have things to do." Angelus began to walk out of the room.

Spike looks at Dru who was wearing a worried frown on her face.

"What's wrong love?" Spike asks.

"I feel grave danger for all of us." Dru pouts.

"Don't fret dear I will protect you." Spike vows as he pulls her in his embrace.

***

Buffy had run to her room. She trembled with disgust as she thought about how much she had enjoyed the kiss. What was wrong with her? Had he cursed her somehow? Buffy put her face in her hands and began to weep. She was so confused about what her next step should be? This was a battle she was not prepared for.

"Buffy, let me in." Angelus stood outside the lock door.

"Go away." Buffy shouted as she wiped the tears away.

"NO! I said open the damn door. Do not make me bust through it." Angelus threatens her.

Buffy sniff as she considered what was the worse thing eh could do to her if he should break down the door. Nothing. She was already dieing inside so what else was there to fear from him?

Angelus counted to twenty and when nothing changed he through his shoulder into the door. The door was released. Angelus stared glaring at her from the open door way. Angelus knew she had been crying. He saw the puffiness around her eyes. What really turns him on was the way she sat all curled up with her hair loose with the sad look in her eyes. She looked miserable. Just the way he wanted her to look.

Angelus said nothing as he marches toward her. Picking her up he flung her over his knee. Buffy began to panic when she concluded what he was about to do to her.

"Let me go! You bastard!" Buffy began to fling her arms up and down pounding on his thighs as he pulled her nightgown up and over her behind.

"You will behave or else I will punish you." Angelus shouted as he gripped her tighter and then threw his first slap on her bare bottom. He watches as the red whelp appear in the shape of his hand. She began to scream with pain. He smiled as he slapped her bare bottom again.

"STTTOOOP!" Buffy cried out.

"Will you mind me?" Angelus asks as he stared at her bare tan bottom. He was staring at it as if he had never seen one before. His hand glided softly over her the mounds.

Buffy froze. What was he doing now? This was not a spanking? Why was he caressing her ass? Buffy felt pure terror coursing through her veins. Was he going to rape her? She began to wiggle trying to loosen his grip on her.

Angelus smiled evilly. He wondered if she was getting as turn on as he was. He reaches under her bottom and stuck his finger in the core of her. Buffy gasped loudly at the intrusion.

"You are so wet." Angelus remarked with a cocky smile.

"NO I AM NOT!" Buffy's face blush beet red.

Angelus pulled her up off his lap and stared straight into her eyes.

"Your body doesn't lie just your mouth." Angelus stated.

Buffy gulped hard. What was he going to do next? What should she do next? How far was he going to go with this game of his? Buffy prayed that someone would come and interrupt them like earlier. She listens and there was no sound.

"You want me." Angelus stated with confidence.

"No, I want Angel." Buffy said firmly with a lift of her chin.

"I am Angel. When will you figure that out? Good and evil. Everyone has both sides to him or her. I am his other half. In fact I would say that I am his better half." Angelus tightens his grip on her arms as she tried to put some space between them.

"You are nothing. You are beneath him." Buffy snarled in disgust.

"As I remember it were you who was beneath him." Angelus taunted her.

"I hate you." Buffy said as she grinded her teeth together.

"The feelings are mutual." Angelus assures her although his body was responding to her.

"Kill me or leave." Buffy half pleaded.

Angelus knew she was trying to piss him off so he would this cat and mouse game. He wasn't ready to kill her. He was going to have fun with his toy. He wasn't about to release his demon on her until he was positive he had, had enough of her.

"I'm sorry but that would be letting you off too easy. Sorry lover but we still have so much to do." Angelus cups her chin as he placed a soft kiss on her closed mouth.

Buffy felt her heart soar. Pulling her face loose from his grip she glanced away from him.

"You hate it. You hate that you want me so bad that you ache for it. You want to throw me back on this little bed and fuck my brains out if I'd let you." Angelus teased her.

"I would rather kill myself then let you touch me." Buffy warned him.

"That won't happen. I won't let it." Angelus growled as he shook her hard.

"Let me go!" Buffy cried.

"NO! Never. You belong to me. You are mine. Just like Angel was yours." Angelus slung her down as he stood up looking down at her.

"I belong to Angel. I will never belong to you." Buffy glared up at him.

"We will see about that." Angelus cocked an eyebrow as he turns and strolled out of the room.

Buffy stared at the broken door. She felt numb. She couldn't cry, she couldn't be angry, she couldn't feel anything. She knew it was hopeless. She had only two choices. One kill Angelus and free herself or stay until the others found her. Either way she would possibly face death. Her own death.