By Aurelia Carlisle
Chapter Four:
Blood Bash
They both stood in awe of the visions before them. Buffy, of the gigantic, high-ceilinged ballroom they were entering. Spike, of both the radiant beauty beside him and how on earth he convinced her to accompany him.
He quickly looked away as she glanced in his direction. It was close, but she didn't seem to notice his gaze as much as the hors d'vors on the table against the far right wall.
Although he attempted to steer her elsewhere, Buffy dragged him to the food table, if you could even call it that to get a closer look.
"Ew," she yelped as she looked at the vampiric delicacies available.
There were sadistic treats from human digits, Spike called them 'Lady Fingers', and 'Dead Man's Toes'. There were vital organs, he told her they were the hearts of virgins, steak and kidneys, and he did mean kidneys.
"I don't eat any of it, but some vamps take to it like I do Buffalo wings," Spike assured her with a smirk. Hearing this did nothing to comfort Buffy's
horrified state. It only made her stomach churn more at the sights she beheld.
There was, of course, refreshments for the human invitees also, because who would want a malnourished meal? Buffy didn't think she'd risk it, because 'c'mon, they're still vamps'.
She felt Spike lead her away from the gruesome sight, only this time she didn't resist. The entire thing seemed so surreal; she wondered if they were really there.
The lights were low; creating such a romantic atmosphere that everyone in attendance appeared to feel it. As much as Spike had tried to convince her of the company's sophistication, she couldn't help but give him a pointed look when the music turned to "The Time Warp" from Rocky Horror Picture Show.
"Fine," he relented, "It's a modern sophistication."
She grinned and rolled her eyes. Looking around at the other females, she couldn't help but notice that her dress didn't seem to fit in with the others'
embellished gowns.
"They couldn't hold a candle to you, luv," he whispered softly into her ear, having sensed her discomfort. "You look beautiful."
She gave him a small, awkward smile in response before looking away. It was strange to her, how he could be so casual about all of this. Like the kiss never even happened. Like they were two normal people genuinely enjoying each others' company. Then she realized that they were. Despite their supernatural setting and selves, they were about as normal as it gets.
With that thought in mind, Buffy moved closer to Spike.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked her, noticing her changed demeanor.
"I would love to," she responded, accepting his outstretched hand. He led her to the center of the dance floor as the song changed to a more slow paced one. She allowed him to hold her closer and rested her head comfortably against his chest. And in that moment, everything was perfect.
Buffy pondered how she could possibly feel this safe and relaxed in the arms of her former enemy. If someone would have told her a week ago that she'd be dancing comfortably with Spike, she'd ask them if they also heard voices in their head.
She'd promised herself long ago that she'd never give her heart away to another vampire. In this case, she hadn't realized how easily it happened. It wasn't even that he was a vampire. It wasn't what he was, but how he was.
If she really thought about it, Spike had not tried to bring about her imminent demise in a long while. At least four months. As much as she tried to deny it, he had helped her, the Scoobies, and her family without pay, a lot as of late. If she didn't know any better, she'd think he truly cared for her.
Little did she know, the vampire holding her was thinking over this same thing.
He ducked his head into her soft, wavy hair and inhaled. She smelled of vanilla and lavender. Sweetness, everything he should hate, tempting him so seductively. If only she knew. If only she'd see him for what he really was: a man in love.
They were both pulled out of their ,thoughts Kby a high-pitched scream. It sounded so familiar, almost like... They looked at each other with fearful eyes.
"Willow!"
"Red!"
They grabbed each other’s hand and sprinted in the direction of the yell.
In the far back-left corner of the ballroom, was a giant cage. A giant cage holding her best friends, including their girlfriends. The looked beaten and bruised.
Willow was clutching one of the vertical bars with one hand and reaching toward Buffy with the other. Xander gently pulled Williow Back from the bars.
"See what you've done Buffy?" he sneered incredulously. "See what trusting him got you? Your friends all huddled together... in a cage."
Buffy felt a weak hand pull her arm and turn her around. Dawn stood before her in a deep blue dress that brought out her sad eyes.
"How could you do this to them, Buffy?"
Suddenly an invisible knife sliced through her dress, Dawn's blood turning it a gruesome purple.
"How could you do this to me?"
Then she felt Spike come up to her side and turn her toward him. She looked upon his now vampiric features with horror.
"See what I am? How easily you trusted me? Don't you know by now, Buffy: all we do is hurt you?"
And with that he lunged at her throat and his teeth pierced her tender flesh.
She woke with a start and ran into something firm. She felt a gentle kiss drop on her neck, exactly where Spike had bit her just moments before.
"Spike?"
"Yes, luv?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I think you know very well what I'm doing here. Finishing what you started."
"Spike, I... just kiss me," he obliged her, kissing her softly, trailing up her neck to her lips. She pushed him to arms length and looked him in the eyes.
"I'm ready. I want this," she brought her hand to graze his cheek. "I want you."