Lissie

Angel's muddy boots sank deep into the dew soaked grass with each step he took. His chest heaved back and forth, the pale blue fabric covering it stretching each time. Rubbing a nervous hand through his hair, he began to fear that he was breathing out of more than just habit. Looking at the dirty nails upon his hands, he tried to concentrate on a good way to clean them.
Soap and water? His eyes winced as he remembered that time he washed his hands - - with holy water. The horrible burning feeling crept back up on him, almost like he was feeling it again. Opening his eyes, he looked down at his hands. Then he realized where the pain was from. Blood gushed out from his wrist, and dripped slowly through the cracks between his fingers. The
crimson liquid painted his pale hand with each drip it made, drying quickly and coating his hands with its sticky odor. Tilting his head to the stars, his eyes played over the grinning form before him. The teeth glinted in the moonlight, instilling fear within the heart of the soulful vampire. His head began to reel. Strange emotions popped up like dandelions springing forth on a
sunny day. Bringing his bloodied hand to his head, he silently urged the pain away. Feeling a deep slice go at his other hand, one thought pushed away all the others. "Run!" His legs taking flight, Angel padded each rough step upon the murky sidewalk like a cheetah running through the savannah. His leather jacket billowed out behind him, each flap echoing loudly. He didn't dare to
look back and see who his pursuer was. Angel's mind was intent on staying away, staying strong, and staying a vamp. He could feel the change. On that faithful day, he took becoming human as a blessing, saddened by the fact that his change was not complete. Distracted by the dealings with his son and Holtz, he had almost forgot his "blessing". Right now, it seemed more like a
curse.
 Buffy rolled silently over the silk sheets beneath her, only causing a soft rustle to erupt. Groggily, her eyes fluttered open, only to be greeted by darkness. Feeling around her, Buffy's hands pushed over soft flesh. Looking down, she saw he sister sleeping peacefully beside her. Careful to not make a noise, she slipped her hands over the silken cloth and pushed her
body off the makeshift bed. Climbing up the old ladder, Buffy's golden hair pushed back by a gust of wind from the open door. Pushing it closed, Buffy leaned back on the cold wall. After a moment of contemplation, she moved to open the door and go after the two heroic vamps, but a pain stopped her dead in her tracks. Placing a gentle hand upon her wound, she layed back on the
hard floor of the crypt and waited for the pain to pass. A jingle reverberated through the air as Buffy's bracelets moved when her arm did. Placing her hand upon her hip, something felt out of place. Sitting up in realization, Buffy found that her weapons, mostly importantly the stake
hidden in her pocket, were gone.

 Angel dived into an open grave, the wet dirt coating his face. It was pouring out, and his pace began to slow. Breathing heavily, he sat there, eyes wide. "Why am I breathing?" he asked himself, trying his best not too. Finally he just gave up, giving into whatever his body deemed necessary. His brown hair sat plastered to his head as rain, mixed with blood and sweat
dripped down his face. The moonlight shined directly into grave, giving Angel only a small amount of cover in the dark corner opposite the gravestone. The sound of footsteps could be heard reverberating throughout the graveyard. Trying his best to concentrate, Angel shut his eyes hard, listening to the sound. A raindrop slid from his forehead,  slowlydown his nose, dripping
off at the tip. And suddenly -- the rain stopped above him. He could still hear the rain pouring around him. Puzzled, he looked up and saw the rain was blocked by a shadowy figure above him. Jumping into the grave with him, it attacked Angel, knocking him across the jaw. Angel began to fight back, his feet sliding upon the muddy ground. The creatures fought with each other, mud
and blood slinging everywhere. (Angel mud wrestling? Mmmm.) Angel's strength began to leave him with each punch he threw, each kick he made, each time he gripped the damp soil and got a handful of mud instead. The creature before him took control and pushed Angel to the ground. He struggled to get up, but slipped down, and was kept there by the strong hand on top of him. Then he felt it. The cold wooden stake pierce his skin. The pain grew slowly. Angel knew it was coming. He knew he deserved it. Bringing those creatures into this world, endangering those he loved. Waiting for his body to turn to dust, Angel tried to avoid thinking about the pain. Still he waited. Still longer. Finally he looked down at the stake deep in his chest, blood dripping out
profusely. But no dust. He heard a sharp growl, and became aware of the creature still before him. "I brought it into this world. I have to face it." Gathering as much strength as possible, Angel made to hit the thing on top of him. He stopped suddenly, noticing that whatever was holding him down was not wearing the same amulet as all the other creature were. Punching the demon on
top of him. Angel stood up, slowly, grimacing in the pain. The creature slipped across the mud and fell into the beam of moonlight. Angel looked down, and was greeted with the very confused face of Spike.
  Next Part