Author: Richess a.k.a A.N.H. Richards
Email for feedback: richess78@hotmail.com
Summary: When Buffy begins to date a new guy spike suspects that he is not everything the slayer thinks he is. Things to know: Spike is not in love with Buffy at this point. This takes part after Into the Woods. A S/B ship, with Buffy/Other, & Giles/Other.
Disclaimer: I own any of the BTVS characters; they belong to Joss Whedon, ME Productions and Fox Productions. But I do own Deighton, and Ancora and their history.

Part 14

The Slayer arrived home a bit happier than when she had left. She had no worries about the necklace now. And her little romp with Deighton at least proved fun, even if it was brief. She crawled into bed without a second thought.

Buffy could feel his warm breath as he danced close to her. Every fiber in her body wanted to run, but she stayed, swaying in his arms. Floating.

"You want to know why you can't move?" Buffy remained silent as he continued . "It's a little spell that I had Tara cook up in her effort to save Willow." His cold lips grazed her cheek as he continued . "They will kill them all. You know that don't you?" Xander whispered to Buffy. She looked around at the frightened Bronze patrons. Vampires outnumbered the humans three to one.

"Why did you bring such manpower, huh Xander? Didn't think you could take me on your own?"

"Actually, I couldn't," he shrugged, grinding his body closer to hers. "I am not gonna lie. You went up against vampires and Masters and hordes of other demons and you're still here. But being your sidekick for all of those years made me realize something, Buff. First, I know your weakness." He trailed his tongue along her ear as the band continued to play wearily. "Second, I know your heart." Xander kissed Buffy's neck over her jugular.

"Kill me if you are gonna do it."

"Sorry babe. I like to play games. And lastly, I know who has your heart."

Two minions burst through the circle, dropping a heap on the floor near Buffy's feet. It took her a minute to realize that it was Deighton. His face was a mass of bruises and cuts : vampire marks splayed across his torso and neck. Buffy tried to pull away from Xander, but he pulled her closer. The smell of burnt flesh poisoned the room.

"Did you like torturing him?" Xander asked as his hands slid from around Buffy's waist to give way to other strong hands fastening themselves around her, holding her tight from the back. A firm hard body pressed against hers. Deighton whimpered, but no words left his mouth. Buffy could tell by his swollen face that his jaw was broken, dried blood stained his torn shirt.

"Of course I did." The figure answered, his breath caressing her ear, "What? No 'hi, how are you going?' for you old lover?" His fingers trailed along her stomach. Buffy couldn't speak. She tried, but her mind couldn't command her mouth to open. "Breaking fingers is a lot more fun nowadays. Torture in general is a lot more fun now. I mean, I was surprised by how long the fun lasted, Buff. Xander and I had a bet going on. I gave him ten minutes and Xander gave your new toy a whole twenty minutes. We both lost. I mean he last a whole half an hour. We had to get out the heavy equipment." His voice suddenly nostalgic: "Ohh the things you can do with an electric sander." He pulled her closer.

Buffy could see Deighton's exposed back. What she had thought was dried blood and his torn shirt was actually exposed flesh and shredded skin. She tried to surge forward, but the spell kept her stationary. "I mean, even after the acid burns to his legs and breaking his knees, he still prayed that you were safe. Buff, he was a real trooper. Worthy of being a whinny Scooby." Angel's fingers feathered lightly up and down her arms. "Enough about him, you lost some weight while I was gone. You're nothing but skin and bones," he teased.

"Can we kill him now, Angelus?" Xander asked, impatiently eyeing Deighton.

Angelus' body went stiff behind Buffy. "Not yet, you moron. I need to have a little fun with Buffy first.

The Bronze patrons looked at the broken bloodied man lying underneath the spotlight.

"Buffy, you get to choose. It's between him or all of these innocent people."

Buffy eyed the room, vampires blocking every exit. Her eyes pleaded with Xander to help her, hoping that there was some part of him that remembered.

"What's it gonna be Buffy? All of them or the man you love?"

Suddenly Xander disappeared from view to remerge with Dawn struggling to break free from his grasp. Xander responded to her with a vicious tug. Dawn could feel her shoulder tear as she screamed. Her shriek rattled the Bronze patrons as some of the already frightened people began to sob softly. Dawn, through her tear-filled eyes, saw her sister.

"Buffy, help me." Dawn sounded so distant and frightened. Buffy watched in horror as Xander put on his game face. A part of her wanted to deny that this was really happening.

"You always did have a thing for me didn't you, Dawnie?" he leered over the smooth exposed skin, then licked the sensitive skin over her jugular. " So innocent. So fresh. Just ripe for the picking." Xander grinned at Buffy before he sunk his teeth into the young girl. Dawn gasped in pain, which only made Xander sink his teeth further into her neck.

Buffy struggled but Angel's grip and the spell held her.

"Buffy…please," Dawn pleaded, staring into Buffy's eyes. A line of dark blood escaped Xander's mouthing trailing down her collar bone. With a last gasp, a cold look glazed over her eyes . Dawn slumped in Xander's arms.

"Well that looked like fun. Kill them all. But save him for last." Angelus barked.

The Slayer watched helplessly as the patrons of The Bronze were drained, vampires drinking gleefully. Within seconds, a mass of bodies lay strewn about the club. Buffy couldn't stop crying as Xander dropped Dawn's body to the floor.

"What do you think, Buff? Everything is pretty and red for you. Look at all the blood on your hands."

She looked down to see blood dripping from her hands onto the bloodstained floor. She looked across the room and saw one person that seemed out of place, Spike.

The blond vampire stayed in the corner, revealed dimly by the light of the emergency exit sign. Spike's face spoke volumes as they looked at each other. He mouthed, "I will help you end it." And then he left through the door.

"So, Buffy…" Angelus spun her around to face him, pressing himself into her. He kissed her with bruising force. She gagged as the remnants of blood invade her mouth. "What? You don't like the taste of your new beloved? Jeesh, how soon we forget. Do you remember how I had you? How I still have you? He'll never measure up. He's not what you think, but hell, I wasn't either, was I babe?"

Buffy's heart raced as Angelus dipped his head into the juncture of her neck and shoulders. He licked the scar of the previous wound he had created before he sunk his fangs into her soft flesh. Her scream resounded in his ear as he sunk his fangs in deeper. The pain was overwhelming, his hungry slurps made her sick to her stomach. She looked down to see Deighton, his eyes full of pain and worry for her.

Angelus let go of her, throwing her to the ground. She weakly tried to crawl toward Deighton, only to be kicked viciously in the ribs. Angelus hauled Deighton roughly from the floor, sinking his fangs deep into the limp neck.. Xander followed suit on Deighton's other side. Both vamps looked at Buffy while they drank from the hapless man. His gurgled protests didn't last long.

Buffy could feel her heart racing in her chest. She could have sworn that it would explode at any moment. Deighton's body was drained in mere second and thrown to the ground. Buffy cried as she looked the discarded bodies of her sister and lover.

"He was a noble guy, Buffy."

"Yeah, he got a little tortured trying to save your mother."

A minion dragged in Joyce. Buffy struggled to stand, but couldn't.

Her mother in Xander's arms. "I've had a little thing for you Joyce for a while. Ever since that time I did that spell. Then, my dream just kind of rekindled it. But now I get to have you in the most important way. In death. Look Buffy… no fangs." Xander fastened his hands around her mother's throat and with a quick jerk , broke her neck and let her fall to the floor with a large thud. Buffy began to cry like she had never cried before. Her body was weak and so was her spirit. Suddenly the blood began to engulf her, like a pool of thick molasses. It consumed her.

Buffy woke up feeling weak. It took her a while before she could sit up. A familiar aching throbbed through her neck. She touched the sore spot lightly and pulled back her hand when she felt wetness . She turned over and snapped on her lamp to see her fingers stained with her own blood.

If you liked this fanfic why not tell the author your thoughts and comments, richess78@hotmail.com