-
Lyra was the first out of Xander’s car when they have arrived at the police station. She raced up the walkway and through the doors. She couldn’t wait for the others. She had to see if Ronnie was all right and she also had to see Charley and talk to him and Faith about what had happened. She was barely awake when she heard that Buffy was willing to exchange herself to Dandridge in order to save Ronnie.
“Hey sunshine,” the woman at the desk greeted her in a bored tone. “Where’s the fire?”
“My friend was brought here,” Lyra said. “My friend is Veronica Porter. She was kidnapped earlier today right in front of me but some of my other friends brought her back, and they all came here.”
“I think I just told her parents a few minutes ago,” the woman said as she read though her paperwork. “Yup. I’ll call someone to bring you down to them.” Her eyebrows rose. “Brought more friends with you?”
Lyra looked over her shoulder and saw Xander and the others have caught up. “Yes, we are all together.”
“Just wait in the chairs,” the woman said.
“What are we waiting for?” Ace asked as he sat down on the bench that had no back.
“Someone to take us to see Ronnie,” Lyra said as she sat down in a chair.
“Is it safe to leave all those girls home with Spike and Ed?” Tyler asked as he sat down.
“They’re all Slayers,” Rissa said. “Unless you are asking if it is safe for those two.”
“They’ll be fine,” Xander explained. “They know about Spike. He helped train a large group of New Slayers back when they were still potentials.” He looked up at the receptionist as she answered a phone. “Didn’t even offer any coffee or donuts?”
“Donuts are already all eaten I bet,” Ace said and received a small smack from Rissa. “I feel Xander’s hunger pain.”
“Not really hungry,” Xander said.
“I thought you were always hungry,” Ace asked.
Lyra leaned back in her seat and ignored their conversations. All she wanted to see was Ronnie again and make sure she is all right and once she is with her best friend and seen Charley and Faith she would worry about Buffy.
“Lyra Dougherty?” A familiar voice asked for her.
Lyra opened her eyes and looked up to see Detective Calders looking down at her. “Detective Calders, they sent you to come get us?”
“Detective Calders?” Ace repeated the name. “The Vam-“ He was interrupted by a slap on the shoulder from Tyler. “Detective Lyra had met.”
“He’s the one-” Rissa said and did not finish her sentence.
“You friend is doing okay,” Calders said in a reassuring voice. “Come with me.”
“How have you been, detective?” Ace asked. “You been drinking, I mean eating well?”
“How many of your friends know about me?” Calders asked in a cautious tone.
“Just those in the Slayers organization,” Xander told them. “We have some of your kind in the organization.”
Charley and Faith were standing in front of the room where Ronnie was located. Lyra ran to her boyfriend and embraced him.
“How is she?” Lyra asked.
“She’s going to be fine,” Charley said. “She’s been drugged but is slowly coming out of it and she is trying to tell another detective everything she knows.”
“We already gave them our dispositions,” Faith said. “I hung out in the shadows when their car returned and while one of the goons was handing her to Charley I got the numbers of their plate.”
The door opened and Mr. And Doctor Porter walked out while leading Ronnie who looked like she was half asleep.
“Ronnie,” Lyra gasped as she threw her arms around. “I was so afraid. Thank god you’re all right.”
“Lyra, I’m fine,” Ronnie said in a dazed tone. “I just want to sleep.”
“We’re going to take her home,” Mr. Porter said.
“Ronnie I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them.”
“You did everything you could,” Mr. Porter told her.
“How’s your face?” Dr. Porter asked and gently grabbed Lyra by the chin. “Swelling has gone down and there are barely any bruises. Let me see your arm.”
“Here.” Lyra rolled up a sleeve The swelling she had before was gone and the bruises were more of a greenish yellow and brown color.
“You seemed to heal pretty fast from that.”
“I’ve been taking a One A Day,” Lyra explained.
“You can come over tomorrow to see how she is,” Mr. Porter said. “She won’t be going to school tomorrow, could you bring her homework?”
“I don’t think I’ll be in tomorrow either,” Lyra said.
“We understand,” Mr. Porter said as he led his wife and daughter out of there.
“She’s my pediatrician,” Lyra explained when they left. She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Charley’s.
“You should go home and get some rest.” He turned to the rest of the Avengers. “So should the rest of you.”
“The three of us will try and figure out where Buffy is,” Xander added.
-
Jerry climbed up the stairs carrying the tray and the tea set in one hand. Behind him were a few minions carrying up wooden platters of food. The drugs that he had put Buffy under will have a few side effects such as dry mouth and hunger when she wakes up.
“Set it down on the floor,” Jerry instructed once he opened the door. He entered the large bedroom as Abigail was setting up the record player. “Has she been groomed?”
“I gave her a bath as instructed,” Abigail said as she selected the cassettes that Jerry wanted and set them down next to the player. “I also put her in the dress you chose.” She stood up. “May I ask why you are so interested in her?”
“What is the best way to get rid of an enemy?” Jerry asked as he set the tray down on a table. “By turning them into an ally.”
“Wouldn’t it be more simple just to kill her?”
“I do not go for the simple,” Jerry said as he approached the side of the bed that Buffy was laid out on. “She is also the leader of the Slayers, by turning her she will be under my control.”
“And you will be in charge of their organization?” Abigail asked. “I’m certain if they have those who have fallen in such a way they would be staked.”
“Only if they were turned by one of them.” He turned and pointed at the minions as they left. “Not by my kind.” He stared down at Buffy.
She was still sleeping off the drugs. She was dressed in a white empire waist dress that reached her ankles and had a wide scoop neck top. Her damp hair was strewn out around the pillow. She looked like an angel.
“When shall she awaken?”
Jerry turned away from his reincarnated love. “Soon.” He walked over to the small tray and removed the lid. “We shall prepare for her.” He picked up the teapot and filled three cups. “How much sugar do you prefer?”
Abigail did not say anything. She was staring past Jerry.
Jerry turned around and saw a pissed off Buffy standing behind him. “You have awa-“ the slap across his face cut him off midway. “I may have deserved that.”
“May?” Buffy asked. “There is certainly no May about it. You drug me, take me to the airport, fly me off somewhere, take me to this place, remove my clothes bathe me and put me in this dress?”
“Abigail was the one who bathed and dressed you.”
“Where the hell are my clothes, Abigail?” Buffy demanded.
“In the laundry,” Abigail said as she sat down on the floor next to the wooden platters. “Are you hungry?”
“That is not your concern,” Buffy said as a small noise came from her stomach. She placed her hands over it. “Where did you get this dress?”
“It was on sale,” Abigail said as she held up a bunch of grapes. She plucked one of and placed it into her mouth.
“This is exactly like the dress I had when went to the May dance in my sophomore year.” She was slowly approaching the food. “This is the dress I was in when I died the first time.” She snatched the grapes out of Abigail’s hands and bit into them. After she had eaten several she set it down and grabbed several slices of cheese and ate them. What a fitting dress since she was going to die in it
“Eat as much as you want,” Jerry said as he selected an apple slice. “Let me get the tea.” He placed a single sugar cube into each cup and brought two over to the ladies.
“Thank you,” Abigail said as she selected hers.
Buffy said nothing as she grabbed hers and gulped down the tea. She set the cup down and tore off a chunk of the crusty bread and started to eat it.
Jerry said nothing as he filled her cup some more and added more sugar. He watched Buffy as she ate while he only selected a few pieces of fruit. He had to refill her cup two more times while only refilling both his and Abigail’s once. Finally it was time.
“Abigail you are dismissed,” Jerry said. “You may come back in for the trays in an hour.”
“As you command,” Abigail said as she left.
Jerry kept his eyes on Buffy as she continued to eat and selected an opera record. He turned on the player at set the needle down on the proper groove.
Buffy looked up when she heard the music and stared right into his eyes. She slowly rose to her feet and stood there for a few minutes before she turned to the door.
Jerry was by her side instantly. “Just one dance.”
“I’m not dancing with you,” she said. “The moonlight isn’t pale enough.”
“The moonlight is perfect.” He took her hands into his and guided her to the center of the room. He stood behind her and stretched out her arms and ran his hands down her sides, just hovering above her actual body before he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around.
“Where did you learn that?” She asked.
“A long time ago.” He pulled her close. One hand took hers and the other was placed behind her back. He swayed to the music while he stared into her eyes. “You are so beautiful, but your spirit is so breath taking. I have been waiting several life times for you.”
“Like I haven’t heard that before,” Buffy said. She was still resisting but gradually giving in.
“I will give you everything you want.” He removed his hand from her hand and brushed her face. “We were meant for each other.”
“I was meant for…for…for no-“
“Me,” Jerry finished for her.
“You,” Buffy whispered. Her eyes were halfway closed.
“I’m in love with you.” He kissed her. The feel of her lips were just as he had remembered when he had kissed Lucinda.
“Barely know me,” Buffy said when their lips parted. “And I barely know you.”
Jerry kissed her again, deeper and with more passion. She tried to pull away but he pulled her back and their kiss lasted several minutes. He trailed down her face with his lips, kissing her chin and then her throat while she moaned. He kissed towards her shoulder and stopped. His lips brushed against a scar but he didn’t care. His fangs lengthened and he bit her. Her blood was warm and sweet. Jerry had never tasted blood like hers before, not even Lucinda tasted this good.
His eyes opened after a few sips and he lifted his lips and fangs from her. “Rest now.” He whispered as he guided her back to the bed. He laid her back down. Crimson wounds stood out on her neck. “I’ll find you someone to eat.”
-
It was hard enough to try and find out the owner of a certain car on the Internet. It was even harder when there was someone stomping around behind you. Xander chose to try and ignore Faith while he was trying to find the owner of the car and if they were able to find the owner then they could find the address and then they could rescue Buffy. Xander was not having luck finding it and time was fading.
“Have you thought of contacting Willow?” Faith asked. “You told me she was able to find a trio of super geeks that way.”
“I’ve tried,” Xander said. “I gave her the number in the e-mail. Last I heard she was on assignment with a few Slayers and witches in Munich.”
“We are running out of time,” Faith said.
“You don’t think I don’t know that?” He tried something else and typed in the number. He did not get through. “Damn it.”
Faith stomped her foot and nearly put her foot through the floor.
“Ask Rowena if some of the other Slayers have found anything,” Xander said. “Better than destroying the floor.”
“Fine,” Faith gasped and marched out of the room.
Xander waited until he was sure before he banged his head against the table and buried his face into his hands.
-
Buffy woke up feeling hot and was gasping. She could hear her heartbeat at a rapid pace. Was this what happens before you become undead? She opened her eyes and everything was still the same. Just one lamp was lit giving a moderate amount of light. If it were turned off would she still be able to see well? She turned her head from side to side. She was alone in the room.
“Am I dead?” She asked between gasps. “Am I undead?” She sat up and wiped away the sweat from her forehead and chest. She ran her finger over the bite marks. “I don’t feel different.” She grabbed her hair and noticed it had changed. It was longer and darkened to a dark brown that was almost black.
She was no longer panting. Her breaths were coming in slow and calm. It was time to get out of bed. She rose to her feet. She still didn’t feel too different and wondered if it was because of the potion or if it was because of her being a Slayer.
“Am I even turning?” Buffy asked as she walked across the room to the door. Everything had been cleaned out. She stared at her hands again. Her fingernails were the normal length and when she ran her tongue over her teeth she did not feel any fangs.
“Nice hair,” a vampiri demonae said when she opened the door. “Feel any different, Slayer?”
She punched him. “No, I’m still annoyed.” She walked down the stairs wondering where Jerry was, She wondered if she could just walk out the door and no one would notice.
“Looking a little pale there,” another stupid said.
“Feeling thirsty?”
“I had plenty of tea,” Buffy said. She was surprised she didn’t have to go to the bathroom unless that was one of the signs she was changing.
“Buffy,” Jerry’s voice carried through the house. “You are awake.”
“I am,” Buffy said as she turned the corner and froze.
“There you are,” Jerry was holding a young man against his will. “Come here.” A brief red glow flashed in his eyes.
Buffy felt herself approach the two. “Who is he?”
“Nobody,” Jerry said and bent back the man’s head and exposed his neck.
Buffy felt a strange craving as she stared at the neck. She felt both hungry and thirsty at the same time. She opened her mouth and licked her tips. She blinked when she felt the sharp points of her lengthened canines.
“Do not resist my dear,” Jerry said as he stroked the man’s throat. “Come and drink.”
The craving turned into a burning desire. Buffy closed her eyes and turned around.
“Why make this so difficult?” Jerry asked.
“I’m not like you. I will not allow myself to be like you.”
“You need to satisfy your thirst.”
“No.” She hugged herself.
“Then I shall make this easy.” There was a sick snapping sound.
Buffy turned around and saw that the man was no longer standing and was leaning against Jerry. His eyes were like glass and his head was at an odd angle.
“It won’t taste as good,” Jerry said as he cut into the man’s neck and held up a blood stained fingernail.
Before Buffy knew what was happening she was holding the man’s body and buried her fangs into his neck. The first few drops were so delicious. She could not believe what she tasted, only that she had to get more. She sucked in a mouthful and swallowed. She drank in some more and more and continued to drink until she had drained the corpse.
She opened her eyes as the revelation hit her. “No,” her voice squeaked as she dropped the corpse on the ground. She jumped backwards and landed on her knees before she backed into wall and buried her head into her arms and cried.
“Buffy,” Jerry’s voice was soft as he spoke to her.
“Leave me alone,” Buffy said between sobs.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Jerry said and stroked her arm.
“You did this to me.”
“I could not resist you. I love you.”
Buffy lowered her arms and stared into his eyes. “You don’t even know me.”
“I did in your previous life. You were once Lucinda. You were staked and I thought I would never see you again but you were reborn.”
“In another dimension?” She could not believe she was hearing this. She had only dreamed about him once and that was a prophetic dream of facing him. The only dreams of the past she had encountered was from past Slayers.
“Anything is possible.” He stroked her chin.
“What will I do?”
“Live forever and I will be honored if you would do it by my side. I have loved you in the past I will love you now.”
She looked deep into those gorgeous brown eyes. “Help me.”
“Let me help you up.” He stood up and held his hand for her.
She grabbed his hand and let him help her up.
“Sunrise my love.” He picked her up and carried her out of the room and downstairs to the basement.
“Where will I sleep?” Buffy asked.
“In your own coffin,” Jerry answered as he opened the lid. “Soil from Los Angeles.” He laid her down.
“Great,” Buffy groaned. “Now I really am going to need a shower when I wake up.”
“It locks from the inside,” Jerry told her.
“Should I say good night or good morning?”
“I usually say sweet dreams.”
“Sweet dreams,” Buffy said as she closed the lid and locked it. She suddenly felt extremely tired and as she closed her eyes she hoped that Willow is right about the potion and that Xander and the others would find her before the time was up.
-
Xander woke when he felt a smack at the back of his head. “What?” He sat up and saw that he was staring at his laptop screen.
“We failed,” Faith said. “The sun has risen. If B has been turned then there is no going back.”
“No,” Xander yelled. He rose out of his chair so fast he knocked it down. “God damn it no.” There was a knock at the door. “Who is it?” He snapped.
“It’s me,” Charley said from the other side.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep by now?” Faith asked.
“I will,” Charley said. “I know it’s too late for her but she will be free when we kill Dandridge and-“
“And you what?” Faith asked. “You want to be there for her, help her through this. Guess what undead one you can go to hell.”
“Faith shut up,” Xander told her before he turned to the door. “Charley, it would be best if you go to bed. I think we all should try and get some rest.”
“You are just going to go to bed?” Faith asked him.
“We all are,” Xander said. “Now get the hell out of my room.”
-