Nope, didn't dump to much in the chapter. Just the right amount of dumpage! HEHE. Love how the tattoos anchor Spike's soul in Tara. And look, another self-less vamp, Lacy! Enjoyed!

Author's Response: Thank you for the comment! I'm glad the tattoos work; I wanted to make Tara integral to the story. On the series she was often marginalized because there were so many characters. She was usually more of an aspect of Willow's development as a character. It was't until season six that she got to be more assertive, and we all know how that ended.

I love this story, my new fav!

Author's Response: You're super-nice! You're so nice you deserve a Graduate-style shouting of your name. Here goes: ELAINE!!!!! ELAINE!!!! ELAINE!!! Thank you for your comment!

I think you hit the nail right on the head. A bit anti-climactic. I feel like we had just found out about Angel, expecting him to be the Big Bad of this piece, and now he is dead. And I'm wondering what is going on.

I think there is another Big Bad, maybe, it was hinted at, but I'm not sure. And the only one that might have enlightened me is also dead, and I never got a grasp of what her motivations were (Lacy - although I realize she loved Willow).

I thought the fight scene was good. I like the concept of the tattoos linking Spike and Tara's souls. I think I'm just getting a little turned around in the plot twists with the vampires.

I hope this doesn't sound harsh. I don't mean it to sound that way at all. I love your stories! I think you are a wonderful writer. I'm not very good at giving constructive criticism, when I'm not a writer myself. Just a longtime reader.

Author's Response: It's not harsh at all, I appreciate your comments a lot.And you are good at the constructive criticism, you never called me dirt bag or told me to give up on my dreams like my primary school teachers did. (Joke! They were lovely people.) Honestly though, I appreciate it, and will suss out more of Lacy's character in later chapters. I do have a plan for the Big, Big bad, and hope it's not too annoying a plot twist. I'm glad the tattoo concept wasn't too wack-a-doodle.

Author's Response: Anyway, my husband also had a problem with Lacy's character, and didn't quite buy her motivations in the story. I thought I could rewrite it, or maybe I could leave it in as a great, big whopping clue for the astute reader. So, good job astute reader. The next few chapters will have more explanations and a slower pace, we'll deal with the fall out for Buffy in dealing with Spike's vampire nature and hopefully it won't be too exposition heavy. Again, I don't just appreciate your criticism, I treasure it. Thank you.

You always know when a story is great when you are left wanting more. Really enjoying this highly original fic. Can't wait to see what happens!

Author's Response: Thank you so much for the comment, and glad you're finding it to be unique. There is such a wealth of this stuff, it's extremely high praise to hear that you're finding the piece original.

Huginn and Muginn is acceptable, since you mentioned the tattooes in previous chapters. this is all from Spike's POW and he made it clear even in the earlier chapters that he wasn't really a believer in all that - hence, you hadn't had to make it all the big deal, cause Spike didn't think of it that way.
Now, that he is 'believer' its different. You did good with all of the info :) I like it :)
now i'm off to read the next chapter!

Author's Response: Glad the info dump wasn't boring. Hope it was at least a little funny.

I'm really enjoying this story for its uniqueness and originality. I like the darkness of the story. I wonder if Spike is going to become a vampire. Was that a little foreshadowing you were doing there?

Author's Response: Good catch on the foreshadowing. I knew if I was more specific in the description everybody would figure out the plot. I actually came up with the idea for this story, and that twist, when I was writing another story called Media Relations. I didn't realize what a common trope it was then. Glad you like the story, hope it doesn't become too predictable now that the plot's kicking in. Thanks for the comment!

Angel was not initially a vampire? A shock. a good shock :)
I felt heartbroken by the news of all her friends dead. I felt it most when reading about Dawn. It's easier to bare if you don't get too attached to people before they are dead, so the mentioning about Dawn's sufferings were harder to ignore. good way of writing it too. not too detailed and not too vague -- to leave the imagination going.
Anyway, you brought into your fic the 'side' characters(Gunn, Tara) which I love very much.
I simpathyse with Buffy for killing (or finnish killing) her two best friends (she did kill Xander too that night when she was bleeding, right?).
Gosh and another twist at the very end (btw, loved how Buffy tried to 'create her comfort zone' by surrounding herself by things of Spike's - like she tried to imprint everything she could into her memorioe and senses, fearing she'd loose him too) - the doors of his appartment were open, and oh! Wasn't Tara in there?!
Loved reading it all...seriously, can't wait for the next chapters to come... :)

Author's Response: I thought to replay the Angel losing his soul bit would be needlessly complicated to explain here, and also really anti-sex in the context of my story. In the original series, that twist was perfect, but in this fic, she pays too high a price. As it plays out, you'll see where I'm going with this and hopefully you will like it. Yes, Tara was in there.

wow (and don't worry, my wow's are always positive). That chapter was very emotional. Only subtly. But the pain was there, along with something positive.
can't wait to read some more....so i'm off to the next chapter now :D

Author's Response: I'm glad you like it! I was going for emotion and glad it worked.

funally, I'm catching up on the chapters..
this story is so intriguing..I wonder who she is, just like Spike does.
a big LOL for Spike and Gunn interaction :D made me smile that remark of Gunn's!
now i'm off to read some more! :D

Author's Response: THank you, glad you liked Spike and Gunn together. I don't think Charles was ever that profane on the show, but I thought it would be fun for him to let loose.

Sorry, if you're looking for critism here, you won't find it! This story has me intrigued and keeps me guessing. I love your descriptions of the club and the throngs of people there. Amazing

Author's Response: That club is a real place, and on a Saturday night you can't move.

I believe you're doing a fantastic job. This story is thrilling, and you keep us on edge, not knowing what's going to be round the corner. I don't normally care for thrillers per say, but I'm enjoying this very much.

Author's Response: I'm glad you're liking this one. The thrillers I like have characters that are worth investing in. Probably my favorite is "Marathon Man," with Dustin Hoffman. I also love film noir, and was hoping to inject some of that feeling into this fic. Thank you for reading it and thank you for commenting!

You have such great phrases. I particularly love this line: "Toy was holding him, she was warm and above her head the moon was a pearl button sewn into a cloudy, velvet sky. "

Author's Response: Thank you so much. I was tumbling out of that very bar when I had that thought. (It's a real place called Gooskie's, but there aren't vampires there. You do have to go down a narrow alley to get to the place, depending on where you park.)