As they sat on the steps of the hospital, she covered his cold hands with her own. At this point his vampire coolness failed to faze her. She was used to it.

"Angel? What’s wrong?"

He stared off into the night, his eyes skimming the mostly deserted parking lot, the far off trees, the few twinkling stars.

"Buffy…" But he didn’t continue, only resumed his staring.

The Slayer reached up, brushed his cheek with her hand. She tried to convey all of her love and caring in that glance at him, in hopes of bringing him back to her. "Angel, whatever it is, I still love you."

He looked at her quickly, his eyes filled with pain. "Would you? After hearing about how I tortured her? How I raped her? How I tried to rip any hope from her body forcibly, enjoying myself the whole time?" He stood up, walking down the stairs. As he turned around, Buffy could feel his gaze on her.

"Buffy, I… I was a monster. But until now that monster had been living in my memories."

Buffy was silent. She couldn’t deny what he was, no matter how much she tried. *But I don’t care that he’s a vampire! He knows this!*

"Now SHE is here. Reminding me of how horrible I was… of the things I did." He ran a hand through his hair, looking at the ground. "My past is here, Buffy… and I can’t live with it."

She didn’t say a word; only stood, walking down the stairs. Buffy approached him, sliding her hands around his neck. Meeting his lips with hers, she enveloped the cold mouth in a tender kiss. Her tongue touched his lips gently, as she felt his arms surround her. Pulling off of his mouth slightly, she looked into his eyes.

"Angel, I…"

But before she could finish, he was knocked out of her arms by a dark shape. Buffy jumped back, staring at the slathering, snarling creature that was a top of Angel. *A mutant…*

Launching herself at it, she grabbed it’s *shoulders??* and pulled it forcibly off of her boyfriend. Releasing a series of quick punches and jabs into it’s lower midsection, she heard Angel get off of the ground with a grunt. Throwing another punch, she hit it between it’s glowing red eyes. But then it caught her, kicking her legs out from under her. She saw stars as her head collided with the pavement. Before she knew it, the mutant was on top of her, breathing heavily into her face.

"Ever hear of Tic-Tacs?" she spat out, trying to get out from under it. Glancing at Angel quickly, she saw that he would be of no help. The vampire was grappling with a mutant of his own, this one letting out strained howls of mirth. Trying vainly to free her arms, Buffy had an idea. *I don’t know if this’ll work… what the hell.* She kicked her knee upwards, connecting squarely between it’s legs. The mutant howled, tumbling off of her. Grinning, Buffy leaped to her feet.

"Gotta love the Monster Squad. It teaches you that just about anything has nards."

At the same time, Angel grabbed his own mutant’s head, twisting it sharply. The creature’s neck broke with an audible crack. As it’s body slumped to the ground, the other mutant disappeared into the night. Buffy looked up triumphantly, a wide smile on her face.

But the grin died quickly as she saw the thin shape in the shadows. Staring hard at it, her eyes couldn’t delve that deep into the darkness. But she could swear she saw a man.

A man, laughing.

And then he was gone.

-------------------------------

"Wake up, Kathryne dear…" the voice of the Master floated into her ears, stirring the young woman from fitful sleep. Her dark eyes fluttered open, her body recoiling reflexively at the sight of Darla and the Master before her. Pulling weakly on her bonds, she squirmed against the cold table.

"Now, now, child. Don’t start that." The bald headed demon walked to the side of the table, running one wrinkled finger over her skin. The creamy flesh still held bruises from Darla’s beating. Screwing her eyes shut, Kathryne tried to block out the crawling sensations taking her over. But it was to no avail.

"Close not your eyes… we have a surprise for you. Excited?"

Kathryne forced her eyes open, looking at Darla. But the blonde vampire’s face revealed nothing. She simply stood, her arms crossed over her breasts, looking on.

The young woman lay on the table, feeling the familiar coldness press against her back. The soreness from the torture lingered, but she still had fire within. And it was this fire which caused her to push out her lower lip in defiance, refusing to answer the old vampire.

The Master chuckled, a smile coming to his wrinkled face. "Well then. I’ll just show you the surprise, and you can then tell me what you think." Sliding his hand absently over her stomach, he left the table area, and joined Darla.

"Angelus?" He inquired into the dark. "Bring out Kathryne’s surprise."

Kathryne peered into the dark, trying to make out the advancing shape. Suddenly Angelus emerged from the dark, a smirk on his face. As she watched, he dragged a large, amorphous bundle with him. Kathryne’s eyes went wide at the sight of it. Tossing it to the floor, Angelus untied the rough string binding it shut. Kathryne strained her neck, trying to see the action at the foot of the table. But it was to no avail. Her ears picked up the sounds of muffled grunts and sighs, as Angelus struggled with the bundle. Finally, he popped back up.

"The surprise is ready for her… I can smell her anticipation." Angelus licked his lips, then glanced at the Master. The white skinned vampire waved a hand at Angelus, beckoning him to do his will.

Angelus stood up swiftly, his hands still below the table. As Kathryne watched, the vampire pulled a woman up by her long, dark hair. Holding her off of the ground, Angelus smiled at Kathryne.

"Surprised?"

Kathryne stared in wide eyed horror at the woman, the pale, soot stained cheeks, the strands of dark hair, so much like her own. A tortured whisper escaped her throat… "Mother…?"

Deep, midnight blue eyes fluttered open, a painful haze coating them. "Kathryne darling? Wha-?" The woman shrieked in pain as Angelus shook her roughly, by the hair.

"Mother!" Kathryne pulled at her bonds as hard as she could, muscles standing out in her neck, face bright red with exertion. But the ropes still held firm. She struggled valiantly, trying desperately to free herself, to help her mother, but to no avail.

Angelus laughed out loud, while Darla and the Master looked on in amusement. As the woman in his hands cried out in pain, Angelus turned to the others. The Master glanced at the red faced girl on the table, and nodded his consent.

"Well Kathryne, I see you’ve enjoyed your surprise. So now she has no more use…" Grabbing the mother by her head, Angelus twisted his hands quickly, snapping her neck.

Kathryne let out a scream, from the depths of her stomach, howling in grief and shock. It echoed in the room, her blue eyes glazed over with misery. The scream went on and on, reverberating in the dark, filling the room with her agony. Angelus tossed the body on the floor, and strode out, followed shortly by the other vampires.

Yet Kathryne kept screaming, thrashing in her bonds. Her voice eventually went hoarse, but still she screamed.