Buffy laughed derisively at the inane posturing of the vampire. “Well, if you enjoy turning to dust, I’m sure you are going to love this.” With a casual flick of her wrist, Buffy sent a thin, carved piece of wood flying through the air.
The vampire who had challenged Buffy, stood with a stupefied expression on his face, he was not used to people, especially little girls, who didn’t run or scream (sometimes both) at the sight of his face. He barely had time to become aware of the thin stake Buffy had flung his way, before it became imbedded in his heart.
“One down, four to go. Are you boys going to play nice and leave the girl alone, or do I have to dust you all as well?” Buffy inquired casually.
The smallest of the remaining four vampires darted glances at his companions. “If we loose the girl, the master won’t be pleased.”
“Yeah, but if SHE kills us…” one of the others started to say but was interrupted.
“At least we’ll die quickly,” the new apparent leader said.
At some unseen and unheard signal, the vampires rushed Buffy as a group, hoping to catch her off-guard.
Buffy stood her ground, a stake clutched firmly in her right hand, waiting for them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Xander and Cordelia burst into the library, carrying boxes of donuts and a carry-tray of drinks. “See Cordy, I told you they’d still be here.” Xander said with a small snicker.
“Yeah, well, you need to be right once in a while Xander Harris.” Cordelia said with ill-disguised sarcasm.
“I’ll have you know that the Xan-man is always right,” Xander said with some indignation, placing the boxes on the long table.
Willow’s whispered comment was barely heard, “Except when he’s wrong…”
Xander stopped and stared at Willow in feigned shock. “I heard that missy. No jellies for you!” Xander declared in an authoritative voice, pointing his index finger at her.
“Seeing as she doesn’t like jelly donuts, Xander, I’m sure it’s no big hardship.” Cordelia said with a put-upon sigh, placing the drinks tray on the table.
Joyce looked up from her perusal of the parchment, a motherly smile on her face. “Thank you Cordelia, and you too Xander, for the donuts and drinks.”
“Not a problem Mrs. S., glad to do it.” Xander grinned sheepishly as he passed out the drinks to everyone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the quartet reached her, Buffy struck out, punching one in the face as she darted past them, to place herself between them and their intended victim. She spun around to face the group once more and a small smile played across her lips. “Well boys, what are you waiting for? The sun to rise?”
The dark haired girl collapsed to the pavement, moaning under her breath.
“I don’t care who you think you are bitch, but we are taking that flake,” and he motioned to the young girl behind Buffy, “back with us. Now you can either step aside or die.” The vampire tried to sound menacing, but the effect was ruined as he was dusted at the end of his speech by another one of Buffy’s slender thrown stakes.
The figure behind Buffy giggled and uttered in a low voice, “What once were four is now to two, and soon those two shall be none.”
The softly spoken words seemed to cause the remaining two vampires to make up their minds to run, as the both darted for the end of the alley. Their progress was halted rather abruptly by Buffy.
“Running away so soon? And here we never got a chance to introduce ourselves.” Buffy quipped as she slammed her stake into the heart of one of the vampires. She then directed her attention to the last, and said with a grin. “Say goodnight Gracie.” She backhanded him hard across the face, and shoved him into a pile of broken crates, dusting him immediately. “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Buffy turned her attention to the young girl she had saved, and was astonished to find her on her feet, giggling softly.
“Sunshine has saved Princess from the bad men.” The girl then started to sway and moan weakly. “So tired, so cold. Will Sunshine warm me?”
Buffy shook her head in amusement as she approached the confused and confusing girl. “Come with me, okay? You’ll be safe.” Wrapping an arm around the girl, Buffy started to lead her out of the alley. “What’s your name, Princess?”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A large black car careened down the alley towards an abandoned warehouse. The driver was apparently either insane or furious, maybe both, as he drove right through the door, breaking it open. The occupants of the warehouse scattered before they became vampiric pancakes. The car came to a sudden stop, well clear of the broken door, which now let sun light into the depths of the warehouse.
“What the fuck is this shit, man,” the largest of the vampires growled to nobody in particular.
“Duh Chris, it’s a car,” a small, rat-faced vampire responded.
Chris whirled on the smart ass and backhanded him into the wall. “I KNOW that dumbass! What I want to know is why it’s in the middle of my fucking lair!” Chris glared around at the rest of his companions. “You, Marty, open the door and haul the asshole out of the car.”
Marty reached over to open the door of the car, but was preempted when the door was abruptly and violently opened, smashing into him. “OW!” Marty hollered as his legs collapsed out from under him from the force of the blow.
Suddenly, the remains of a lit cigarette came flying over the top of the car door, and landed squarely on Mary’s head. The sounds of someone lighting another cigarette can be heard from within the car, its owner clearly not willing to be rushed. One booted foot landed heavily on the pavement beside the car, as its owner prepared to exit his vehicle. This merely announced the emergence of the intruder.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It had been two days since Giles received the puzzling letter. Two days of frustration and dead ends, as he could not manage to decipher even the language the text was written in. He sighed, and removed his glasses. “Why is this so difficult? I know just about all the major archaic language forms, and this doesn’t match any of the criteria for any of them.”
“Still working on that letter, dear?” A sweet, gentle voice wafted from the kitchen, along with the scent of frying sausages and eggs. “Why don’t you run upstairs and have a shower while I finish up breakfast. You have to be at work in just over an hour.”
“It’s that time already? Where has the weekend gone?” Giles slowly and stiffly rose from the dining room chair, where he had apparently spent most of the weekend.
Joyce leaned against the dining room door, a gentle smile on her face. “It apparently was sucked into the Hellmouth, in order to slow your attempts at figuring out that letter,” she said with a slight laugh.
“Yes, well. It certainly is frustrating.” Giles brushed a kiss across Joyce’s cheek as he made his way to the stairs. “I’ll just go have that shower. Care to join me?” he asked with a wicked grin.
“Oh you!” Joyce gave him a playful shove. “We don’t have time for those kinds of games.”
“Yes dear.” Giles gave a huge sigh, which was ruined by a playful leer. “But we will be playing those games… later.” He bounded up the stairs and to the shower, Joyce’s laughter following him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spike emerged from his Desoto, a lit cigarette firmly between his lips, a scowl on his face. A snort of amusement issued from him as he surveyed the group of vampires surrounding his car. “What’s all this then? A welcoming committee for little ol’ me? You shouldn’t have,” Spike said with false modesty.
“Ain’t no welcoming committee you fuckwad. This here is MY lair and MY gang. YOU are trespassing, and we are gonna show you what we do to trespassers.” Chris said as he turned to order his companions to attack. His motion was cut short as his head was ripped from his shoulders.
Spike dusted his hands off, a smirk gracing his lips. “Now then, this is how we are gonna play this. I am going to ask the questions. You lot are going to provide the answers. And if I don’t like the answers, you can join the loudmouth in his dusty demise.”
“Um, Sir?” The small, rat-faced vampire spoke from where he had been standing against the wall. “I don’t know about the rest of them, but I’ll do whatever you want. Get you anything you need or want.” He slowly approached Spike.
“Stop right there rat-face.” Spike said. “At the moment what I need AND want is information. Can you provide that?”
Everyone started nodding, very eager to remain undusted. “Of course we can, can’t we guys? We are full of all kinds of information.” Rat-face eagerly assured Spike.
“Right then. I’m looking for a bird…” Spike started, but was interrupted.
“A bird?” Marty asked as he clambered to his feet. “Why not try a pet store?”
Spike pinned Marty with an icy glare. “You wanna be a smart ass, Marty?”
“Umm no sir, just… we don’t have any birds here.” Marty stammered beneath Spike’s piercing perusal.
“Wait, hold on guys,” a feminine voice piped up from the back of the group, “he’s British, so I’m gonna guess ‘bird’ means girl. Am I right, Sir?” A slender girl with blue-streaked brunette hair shoved her way forward.
“Bingo.” Spike pointed a finger at her. “Now this girl, dark hair like you, but without the blue accents. Dark blue eyes, very slender, dresses in old-fashioned clothes. Tends to talk in riddles. Sound familiar to anyone?
Puzzled looks came over nearly everyone’s face. The only one who did not look puzzled was Rat-face. “I think I know of the girl you described. Never heard her talk, just giggled a lot. I think she was drugged or something man.”
Spike lunged at Rat-face, slamming him into the wall. “Where did you see her?”
“I---I---I didn’t see her exactly, but a friend of mine talked about this chick some dude calling himself the Immortal had. Said she was off her rocker.” Rat-face stammered out.
Slamming Rat-face against the wall once more before releasing him, Spike spun away to pace furiously. “The Immortal? You sure about that mate?” Spike asked in clipped tones.
“Y---yes sir.” Rat-face stammered. “But, I don’t think he has her anymore.”
“Oh? And why do you say that?” Spike asked with fake calm.
“’Cause my friend who helped him guard her, said she escaped a couple days ago. And the guys that were sent out after her… never came back.” Marty stated.
“Sir?” the girl said, “I don’t think you are gonna find her by dusting us.”
Spike smirked, “Maybe not, but it’d relieve a crap-load of frustration now wouldn’t it?”
“Maybe… but I might know someone who can help you find her.” The girl spoke with confidence.
Spike sauntered over to the girl, placing an arm around her shoulders. “And just who might this ‘someone’ be, pet?”
“He runs this bar, just outside of China Town, called Caritas. He might be able to help you. He hears things, rumors and the like. Goes by the name of Lorne. Just tell him ‘Candy’ sent you.” She smiled up at Spike, clearly flirting with him now.
Releasing Candy, Spike walked back to his car. “Guess I’ll nap here till sundown then, and go look up this Lorne after dark.” Spike climbed back into his car, the few vampires in the warehouse already put from his mind as he thought about his Black Princess.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In a small, basement apartment under a Chinese restaurant, Buffy watched as her new roommate flitted about the room. “Careful Princess, don’t get yourself too worn out. You know you aren’t feeling well. Let’s see if some more…”
“Liquid sunshine? OooOOoo yes please!” Drusilla clapped her hands together. “It makes my insides tingle ever just so.”
Buffy laughed in amusement. “So you’ve said. Hopefully this helps you get better.” Buffy walked over to Drusilla and wrapped an arm around her. “C’mon, let sit down and do this okay?” Buffy led Dru to the couch and lifted a slender wrist. “Time for your medicine, Princess.”
Dru ran gentle fingers across Buffy’s wrist and smiled softly. “You are so good to Princess…” She shifted in her vampiric visage and gently sunk her fangs into Buffy’s wrist.
Xiao Zhàn Shì – Little Warrior
Mrs. Zhuāng – Buffy’s landlady
Lian – Mrs. Zhuāng’s granddaughter
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