She had never seen so much bloodshed. The air reeked of it. This was games end. The battle to end all battles between the slayers and the vampires, their lifetime foes. It seemed like an eternity today’s war had been raging on inside the confines of the abandoned house, but Sarah knew the time could only really be recorded in minutes.

She had just cornered one male vamp, staking him easily. His form turned to dust instantly before her eyes and Sarah swung around to take on a second she sensed she had garnered the unwanted attention of. Another slayer came at him from the side and she let the female have the kill. She should have felt more exhilarated on this occasion. As Angela, the leader of the slayers had predicted, the futures of each and every one of them was being foretold this day. After it, either slayers or vampires would walk the earth as triumphant. Those which fate designated the chosen ones. This is what Sarah and her kind had trained for, fought for, survived for. To protect humanity from these blood sucking monsters. And the slayers would give all their lives before they would allow the vampires to have that right. It just may come down to that she realized as her eyes scanned the massive room.

At the moment, it looked as if their side was winning. At least it appeared that more slayers than vampires were left standing. However, she put nothing past them. The odds could turn in their favor in a second. Alex, the master of the vampires in this region of the world was ruthless, but also cautious and incredibly cunning, especially when it came to seeking out the weaknesses of his adversaries. Specifically slayers. Lack of this foresight had cost many of his predecessor’s their downfall and he had learned from their mistakes. He knew Angela from long ago. Was aware of how she strategized and fought. He would have something up his sleeve. Sarah knew this, but she wasn’t sure Angela was giving him that credit.

The disturbingly sinister snarl of an incensed vampire drew Sarah’s attention back to the moment at hand. She shouldn’t have let herself get so wrapped up in her thoughts. It could have been fatal for her. The voice was male, definitely new blood from the raw fury being unleashed in it and it sounded familiar. She thought at first it was Alex, but Alex was much too reserved in his emotions to let his hostility show outwardly in that way. Sarah followed the sound and came upon two of her slayer brethren attempting to drag a larger, younger vampire to the floor. She wondered why they were putting so much effort into it. A third slayer stood before him with a long serrated dagger held at ready in her hands. She could have run him through at any time, but it was obvious they had other plans for him.

Sarah recalled how some of the slayers liked to take it hardest on the younger vampires. They were usually less experienced, but also far more bloodthirsty and brazen than their older counterparts who had learned to curb their blood lusts a little more. It was not unknown for a youngster to take as many humans as they possibly could in a night simply because they were able and continue to kill long after their hunger was satiated. They often tore apart their victims so grotesquely during these feeding frenzies that they were nearly unrecognizable when the police later found the bodies. Her sisters appeared intent on avenging a few of this young vampire’s victims and teaching him a lesson in what true cruelty was all about. The strange thing was Sarah felt for him. She didn’t let it show but she knew this vampire.

It had only been three days prior she’d been on patrol walking the back alleys through town where the vamp action was intense even on the dreariest of evenings. She caught sight of a middle-aged man dragging a smaller individual behind him. The creature was struggling fiercely, planting its feet into the concrete and balking at his wishes for it. Losing patience, the man turned coal black eyes upon it and gave a low, menacing snarl that showed off his long white incisors to the best of their ability. The terrifying sight silenced the intended victim instantly.

Sarah’s first assumption was the vampire had nabbed himself a half inebriated female from one of the local bars and the soft sobs she now heard meant the girl had just come to the realization that the nightmare before her was all too real. When the vampire suddenly stopped and turned to tug the unwitting creature towards him, Sarah’s breath caught in her throat. It wasn’t a girl, but a small boy the vamp held in his clutches, probably no more than ten or twelve. He was dressed in light blue pajamas with some kind of cartoon characters on them. He must have been taken straight from his bed. This was unusual. Vampires weren’t normally that bold and they didn’t take children. They had few rules they lived by, but that was one that she had not ever seen broken before. Sarah was so stunned by the reality playing out before her, it took her several seconds to react. Oh, she was going to make him pay for the fear he’d put in that child! He was going to pay in so many ways.

She had just begun to make her way to the scene when she saw another figure come forth from the shadows to the left. He was a contradiction in terms. Part man--broad chest, well defined arms, tall and strong. Part boy--tee shirt, baggy pants, a shock of stylishly mussed blond hair and a youthful face that hinted he hadn’t been out of his teens very long or was perhaps not yet out of them completely. Sarah thought this was either the bravest thing she had ever witnessed or the craziest. He pushed the child away from the vampire, focusing on him only long enough to order him to make a run for it. It took no more than that for the boy to trot off as fast as his tear-filled eyes and bare feet would allow him.

Sarah watched after him and saw that he was heading down the street where there was an all night deli open and he took shelter inside. He was going to be okay. About the young man who’d interfered with the vampire’s meal, she wasn’t so certain and she remained to help if needed. Perhaps he was another slayer. Although she was sure she would have recognized him if so. He was subtly attractive and Sarah thought she probably would have remembered him for that if nothing else.

The two men fought viciously for several minutes and she moved out of her hiding place, her fingers tightening about the handle of her stake anxiously. That do-gooder was definitely going to need back up. She ran over just as the vampire grabbed the young man by the throat and was closing his fingers about it tightly. Her weapon was at ready. If only the two would pull apart for a second so she could get in there. She had to strike in the heart, otherwise the blow would mean nothing. Well, nothing apart from greatly pissing off the vampire.

Suddenly the creature was shoved back against the wall and the younger man was right on top of him. She didn’t understand what had happened. In a fraction of a second, everything had changed and the blond had the upper hand. His strength was amazing. She watched him draw a belt from the pocket of his coat and wrap it about the vampire’s neck, tugging in opposite directions with all his might. As he began to sink down the wall, the young man followed him, pressing his knee into the vampire’s chest and using the leverage to draw the noose even tighter. Within seconds, the crack of bones giving way was heard and the lifeless body finally lay still upon the ground. It was over.

Since the stranger seemed to have the situation well in hand, Sarah thought it best to keep her identity to herself and she swiftly pushed the stake back into her belt and turned to make a fast getaway before she was seen. She got the feeling the blond was dangerous, even in human terms and she really didn’t want to know anymore information than she needed to about him. She was here to kill vampires. Not do the police a favor by catching wanted criminals.

As soon as she began walking away, a long arm promptly circled her shoulders and secured up against the front of her throat. She struggled against it, her hands clawing at his forearm, instinctively attempting to lever herself free from the stranglehold. It wouldn’t budge.

"And just where do you think you’re going?" he drawled near her ear in a thick voice as she was forced back against the firmness of his chest. Sarah realized instantly who it was and inwardly groaned. Just her luck--the savior turns out to be worst than the vampire. Damn, she really didn’t need this tonight.

She wasn’t afraid. She knew she could take him if she had to. Slayer’s strength and skill was legendary, but she was tired and she just didn’t feel like dealing with it tonight.

"I’m leaving you alone, is what I’m doing," she answered flatly, trying to remain calm and stifling the urge to struggle further. "Why don’t you let me?"

"And why would I want to do that?" he inquired, the sarcasm dripping like venom from his words.

"It was a nice thing you did saving that child. Let’s say you make it two out of two--do another kind deed and let me go. I really don’t want any trouble. I’ll just be on my way and..."

Suddenly the stranger swung her around with a power and an ease that was impossible and Sarah collided solidly with the wall. The wind was knocked out of her and she labored long for her next breath. It was as if she was a rag doll in his hands and the fear gripped her no matter if she wanted it or not. His fingers dug into her shoulder roughly turning her around to face him. All she saw was his eyes staring down at her mockingly, crystal clear and the color was blue. Not dark, not pale, but brilliant all the same. Intimidating, yet so...so tranquil. Just like the ocean and also like the ocean, they seemed fathomless. She couldn’t turn away. She felt herself growing weaker the longer she stared into them. Losing herself. She fought it and let her look drop to the next facial feature that drew her attention. Two sharp fangs that caught the light when his lips drew back. Sarah heard the words he was saying as much inside her head as in her ears.

"No, I don’t think you will. I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere for awhile," he smiled slightly. The instant the realization of what he was hit her, she naturally reached for her stake, intent on dusting him as easily as she had the other three of his kind she’d come across that night. But it wasn’t to be. The young vampire was way ahead of her, capturing her arm before she was barely able to wrap her hand around the weapon. He slammed her forearm back against the wall with a good deal of force. Sarah clutched the hilt of the stake tighter knowing if he made her give it up, she was doomed. It was her only hope against this monster. He smacked her arm against the wall again and again, yet she held on even as the intense pain was shooting through her body. Not achieving the result he was looking for, the vamp closed his hand about her wrist and plunged his fingers deeply into its soft underside, targeting the nerve. She closed her eyes and winced hard as she sought to deny the pain that couldn’t be. She wanted to scream, to cry out with everything that was in her, but the only thing that could be heard was the subtle whistling sound of each strained breath being forced through her clenched teeth. Abruptly Sarah had no ability whatsoever to hold on to anything. Her palm opened wide and the stake dropped from it with the same ease as if he’d taken it from a child.

The fear overwhelmed the slayer then, the desperation coming to the forefront. She had to fight him. The immortal may be bigger and stronger but she was not without her own power. She pushed against his body, digging her fists into his neck, his stomach; any area she suspected might be vulnerable. He wasn’t overly muscular, but he was quite solid all the same and her feeble attempt at attack only appeared to hasten the vampire’s wish to avenge it. He finally captured both her hands in his and imprisoned them helplessly down at her sides. Sarah used the leverage this created and raised up to kick out at him. She got in a couple ineffectual blows to his lower half before he lost all tolerance and closed the distance between them completely, securely hostaging her body to the wall with his own. His knee pressed like granite into the front of her thigh holding it in place while his other leg centered itself directly between her own. She was well aware of it and the acute sense of discomfort he could cause her in that region should he wish to. It was obvious he had been taught well and he wasn’t above playing dirty if it came to that.

Sarah may have been slightly older than the vampire in human years, but at the moment, seniority wasn’t meaning much. He towered over her by several inches and he couldn’t have appeared more daunting if he’d tried. His look never left her. Never so much as wavered for a moment. He was so close now, his breathing ruffled her hair and she could feel the intense heat of it against her temple. Could feel the weight of his body pressing unyieldingly against hers. He had her and he knew it. She had let her guard down and now she was going to pay with her life.

She should have known he wasn’t human. There were so many signs--the courage he’d shown taking on the other vampire, the quickness and stamina. But what had thrown her off was he’d risked his own life to save that child. He’d actually stolen an easy meal away from an older, more experienced vampire who probably had centuries more skill at killing than he did. It was simply a lucky chance that he was able to break his neck as he had. By all rights, this vamp should have been the one lying there dead, Sarah thought. It just didn’t make sense. Her analyzing things too much and not listening to her instincts was going to get her killed someday, Angela had warned her of it. Little did she know how right she’d been.

Sarah felt the vampire transfer both her wrists into one of his hands, freeing his other. She had no idea what he was going to do to her. He could have drained her dry by now, but he hadn’t. Perhaps he had other ideas. She watched his attention wander downward and sensed his fingertips slowly stroking over the outside of her thigh taking in a lingering feel of her through the denim jeans she wore. They continued to ascend, moving along her hip then over the slight curve of the side of her breast, which was being brutally crushed in-between them. Great! She wasn’t only going to die horribly at his hands, but she was getting felt up in the process! The moment the thought materialized, his touch fell away and Sarah saw his smile deepen. Oh shit, they could read minds, couldn’t they?! A hint of sly humor came into his gaze as his brow raised in acknowledgement of it. Damn!

"So you’re not only a slayer, but one of Angela’s students besides?" he tested, suddenly seeming much more interested in conversation than prior.

"Why don’t you save me the interrogation and get it over with," she grumbled. "I know you’re just drooling over this kill so you can brag to all your vampy friends that you bested one of us."

"That was the main idea, but I’m not so sure now." He paused to let his look travel over her a little more admiringly than Sarah was comfortable with. "Aren’t you afraid to die?"

"Of course not," she lied, raising her face to his challengingly. "I’m a slayer. Death is sure for everyone, but for us, we just expect it sooner. You can’t put your life on the line everyday and expect anything else. Eventually the odds have to catch up with you."

"And they just have," he growled, but it was not fierce, not the vampire that caused it. It was the man that was still left in him and that frightened her more than it should have. What did he want from her? "I may need to draw this out a lot longer," he seemed to answer her question. That could mean anything. Sarah had prepared herself to face death, but she wasn’t ready for torture.

She had heard young vampires excelled at it. They knew a hundred ways to inflict pain upon mortals. Pain so grievous, it killed your spirit and made you willingly plead for them to offer you death and all the peace it would provide your soul. Sarah swallowed hard when she imagined it. Imagined what Angela and the others had told her they were capable of. The images filled her mind of the damage dozens upon dozens of violent blows from his fists or searing burns from a hot piece of metal or small deep cuts from a dull razor blade would do to her body. If he didn’t simply round up his friends so they could all attack her at once and tear her apart piece by piece, she’d be lucky. How much could she withstand before she would be willing to do anything he wanted her to? Before she would succumb? Her breath came quicker now as the hot tears filled her eyes. She was afraid. So damn afraid and the vampire before her knew it.

One or two tears broke away to slip down her cheek and he appeared intensely aware of it. His hand raised and Sarah flinched from it slightly, being almost in shock when his touch lightly brushed across her skin, wiping them away. She turned back to him, feeling herself sinking into those eyes again now filled with a curious sort of interest. Perhaps she was best to give into the pull. It would be so easy. His head lowered and she felt as if they were in slow motion as his mouth captured hers gently, exquisitely and she let herself respond to it. Or rather, she was made to respond to it. She seemed to have no other choice. An electrical charge passed through her lips, down her throat, through her chest and ran hotly down her legs, immobilizing her. She was surprised by how little free will she had left. Even her own body was betraying her and it briefly gave up resisting to melt beneath his.

She felt his hands at her waist and was certain he was tugging her shirt free from the top of her jeans. An instant of fear bolted through her when she acknowledged perhaps it wasn’t torture he had on his mind. At least not the kind she was considering. Why he would want to waste his time with a mortal female was beyond her. She had nothing compared to the passion vampire women possessed. Perhaps he simply enjoyed administering vengeance upon slayers and taking her body before he took her life would certainly accomplish that. He quickly broke away and looked at her for several long seconds.

That’s what it is, isn’t it? she thought, trying to read behind that deceptive stare. That’s what you want. Sarah tried to push back the emotion building up in her gut, but it couldn’t be ignored. He’d stolen her confidence away. Made her doubt herself and face her mortality for the first time in a long while. Even if she survived this night, those things could never be changed. I hate you, you bastard! she mentally screamed. You don’t even realize the damage you’ve already done. There was no sardonic smile there any longer. The vampire looked very serious now and it caused her heart to lift into her throat once more.

It didn’t matter. Sarah had already made her decision. She wouldn’t let him take her. If she had to make him irate enough that he ripped her head clean off, she wouldn’t let him have her like this. Slowly the vampire’s attention turned to her neck as if he’d just remembered his main objective. His hand buried itself in her thick hair, holding her still as he moved in, then stopped just short. She felt him inhale deeply, taking in her scent as if it were a drug and she wondered what it revealed to him about her. She was sure her fear must have been overwhelming him at this point, both mentally and now physically. She could hear the hiss of his breath just beneath her ear, hot, hungry and insistent, briefly blocking out the sound of her own pulse throbbing in her head. Those fangs would sink deep and she knew he would prolong the pain as long as possible, grinding his teeth into her flesh like a rabid dog as he drank from her. And drank. And drank. Consuming until there was no longer anything left to consume.

She felt the softness of his lips playing upon her nape. His tongue delicately darting over the spot, tasting her as if she were a fine wine and allowing it to linger in his mouth so he could savor the nuances of her flavor. He was sharing her breath, tasting her flesh and soon he would be taking her blood into him. It felt as if he were learning her intimately and oddly, Sarah recognized it was the most effort any man had ever expended on doing so. She trembled against him and it soon became all she could do to hold up her own weight as her legs began to buckle beneath her. Her hands and arms, along with the rest of her strained and struggled for freedom but made no headway. His hold upon her was too unyielding, his body too well developed, his shoulders too broad. She wished she’d have stared into his eyes a little longer. That she wasn’t so highly in tune with the moment. The adrenaline was pumping through her system madly. The vampire would be drunk on it. Sarah hoped he choked on it.

His knee dug into her thigh all the more unkindly for that careless thought and she opened her mouth to cry out, yet nothing came of it. His shoulder was lodged right in front of her face and for a moment she considered biting into it, returning him a bit of his own medicine, but she quickly discarded the idea before he could read it in her. It wouldn’t gain her anything aside from making the next few minutes all the more hellish for herself. She began to offer up a silent prayer to a God she’d barely acknowledged until this moment. It was becoming harder and harder for her to remember the words as her focus was forced to turn and she felt the friction of his teeth dragging over her flesh. The warm, seductive brush of his tongue. A slight pinch, then...

Nothing. His restrictive hold left her hands and the rest of his body seemed to follow. She nearly fell over from the suddenness of it and had to catch herself. Sarah hadn’t even realized she’d shut her eyes tight. By the time she opened them, the vampire was already gone. Her wary gaze immediately scanned the alleyway looking for whatever or whoever may have frightened him off. There was no sign of anyone. Her hand automatically went to her throat, looking for the blood, attempting to feel the ragged bite marks that were the vampire’s calling card, but they didn’t exist. He hadn’t gone through with it. Why she’d never know, but she didn’t hesitate leaning over to take the wooden stake he’d forced her to surrender a few moments before securely back into her hand. If he returned, she wouldn’t be giving him a second chance.

It had bothered Sarah ever since that night. She’d replayed those moments over a million times in her mind. She should have been able to simply leave things as they were and been happy she’d been given back her life. It was a scene that never ended that way. Ever. She’d never heard of a vampire allowing a slayer to live when he had them so well in his grasp. And yet, here she was watching the tables turn.

The two slayers who had captured the young vampire’s arms and shoulders had them now pinned securely against the floor and he lay there straining against their holds upon him. The third slayer stood hovering over him with blade tightly in hand. At first Sarah thought it was going to be a simple termination, but there was so much malevolence radiating from this woman, it was obvious she had much more vindictive intentions in mind.

She leaned over and swiftly slipped the serrated edge of the dagger past the buttons on the vampire’s shirt and pushed the hems out of the way leaving his chest exposed. He struggled some more and the blade was brought within inches of his face warningly. He was being given no alternative but to listen to her and the slayer seemed satisfied with this result.

"You blondie, are going to be made an example of," she announced smiling wickedly, her stare as deadly as the vampire ever dreamed of being. "When your little vamp friends find you, or what’s left of you, they’ll know we meant business here today." She leaned in closer, her voice low and ominous, giving all the more meaning to her frightening message. "I’m going to split you so wide open, you’ll be able to watch your own insides spill out. All the way from here to here," she illustrated lightly dragging the tip of the blade from the base of his throat down the center of his chest to his lower stomach menacingly, "And after that, just so you can know the real meaning of suffering, I’m going to let you bleed to death--slowly, agonizingly, the same way you allow your victims to."

The vampire’s eyes grew wide, his look shifting from one slayer to another in panic as he began to fight more violently against his captors upon hearing this, but it was of little use while he was being held down by the strength of so many. Sarah witnessed the fear flash across his face. He was just beginning to realize the hopelessness of the situation. They were going to cut him to pieces and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. It was strange seeing something that appeared so invincible, so deadly, exhibit such vulnerability at the end and she looked upon him with growing curiosity. She realized it was the same manner in which the vampire had gazed upon her when she stood before him the other night. Before she could second-guess her actions, she had put herself between the slayer’s blade and their intended victim.

"Wait! Why don’t you spare this one?" There was only silence. All three of the slayers looked at each other quizzically, then back to Sarah. They must have thought she’d gone mad.

"And why do you make such a request? He is no different than the rest of these monstrosities of nature," the one with the weapon stated insolently, staring her down.

"Believe me, I would not ask such a thing without reason."

"You have a history with him?"

"A little," Sarah admitted. "I know of him. You can see that he is young. It’s obvious he has not been a vampire long. I believe there is hope for him."

"Sister, there is little hope for any of the poor souls here. Ours included. Now move out of the way so we may finish this." Sarah remained stoic. It wasn’t like her and the slayer holding the dagger pulled back a little as if taken by her audacity and relented ever so slightly.

"You won’t stand aside?"

"No," Sarah stated, pushing a good deal of false courage to the forefront and hoped they didn’t pick up on it. These slayers were not from around here. They didn’t know her. They owed her nothing.

"Give me three reasons why his life should be spared," the slayer with the weapon commanded.

Sarah relaxed a little. Okay, she was being given a chance. She must use it well. "He..he saved a child from another vampire. I witnessed this myself."

"That’s one."

"A few days ago, I was without ability to defend myself, without escape and he had more than ample opportunity, yet he did not bite me."

"Two," the slayer counted again. Sarah struggled for a third reason as the female’s look grew more severe. She was losing patience and fast. She moved to go closer to him with the weapon.

"He..he let me go unharmed!" Sarah blurted out in desperation.

"Not good enough," the slayer growled, impatiently pushing Sarah out of the way and plunging the blade deeply into the young vampire’s stomach. He roared with the agony of it, tossing the two females who’d been holding onto his arms to the side where they were instantly besieged by some of his friends. The one who’d held the weapon also became embroiled in a new battle with a couple of other vamps and the dagger remained buried in the vampire’s midsection untouched.

Moving on hands and knees, Sarah approached him carefully. His pain filled blue eyes settled on her instantly, caution and a hint of fear creeping into his expression. She saw the recognition there as well and she forced herself to look away. Her focus settled on the dagger. She couldn’t begin to imagine the pain he was enduring. The slayer had practically impaled him with it and he was unable to move, to do so much as breathe without excruciating torture.

"Pull it out!" he moaned. "Please!" With barely a thought, Sarah did as he asked and his scream this time was almost deafening. She had no idea a vampire could feel so much, but his anguished cry let her know. The rush of blood followed her action, gushing out of the wound in a warm, dark red torrent and Sarah instinctively pressed her hand over it to stop it. It usually took a lot to hurt a vampire and they were quick to heal, but with how deeply that slayer had sunk the blade, she knew it would be awhile before the young vampire got over this injury, if he didn’t bleed to death first.

She noted the action going on around them was heating up. Suddenly it seemed as if the fighting was getting down to the wire. Slayers and vampires were growing exhausted and putting forth their last valiant efforts. She could only pray that everyone was too busy to notice her and her non-human companion on the floor amidst all the carnage.

"We have to get out of here," her partner urged, his voice weak as he attempted unsuccessfully to manage the pain. Sarah looked at him skeptically. She’d taken a vow. She was staying until the end no matter what the outcome and he read it in her, but went on regardless. "I mean it. We have to go. Something...something’s going to happen," he admitted reluctantly. "We’ll both die if we remain. I can promise you that."

He was insistent and for some reason Sarah believed him. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t feel he was lying to her to save his own skin. They both realized how little chance there was of his survival either in here or out there. She threw his arm about her shoulder helping him up and they quickly made their way to the door. It wasn’t easy with slayers and vampires entangled in battles to the death all around them and several times they were put off their course, but they finally made it outside and she didn’t think fresh air ever smelled so good to her.

The vampire directed them towards some shrubbery alongside the house and they took cover in the clearing just beyond it. It was near sundown, but not quite and it would have made him too weak to attempt to go too far when there was still some sunlight to be seen along the horizon. The moment she settled him down on the ground, Sarah went to work tearing off the hem of her shirt, wrapping it about her hand and pressing it to the vampire’s injury. She did it on instinct, without thought of who or what she was doing it for. She knew from his muffled groans, he was hurting a great deal and she tried not to add to it if she didn’t have to. The bleeding didn’t seem to be stopping at all and it didn’t look very good. She could tell from his look he’d sensed it in her and his face mirrored her concern.

"It’ll be alright," she tried to comfort, pushing the idea into her mind forcefully so he’d pick up on it.

"You lie really badly," he commented casually, his gaze finally fixing on her. Sarah couldn’t help but let a smile come to her lips. "What’s your name?" he asked.

"You probably already know," she stated, turning her attention back to the wound and focusing on trying to slow the blood flow.

"Yeah, but I’d like to hear it from you."

She debated it for a few minutes then figured what the hell did she have to lose if he knew her name? After today it would be all over for either his kind or hers anyway. "Sarah," she gave in. She waited to hear him respond in kind, but it didn’t come and she turned to him with a warning look, letting him know if she shared, she expected the same of him.

"I’m Nick," he offered quickly, gritting his teeth slightly as the pain took hold of him again.

"What did you mean in there when you said something was going to happen? What’s going to happen?" she questioned as she applied a little more pressure.

"It’s best if you don’t know right now. We’re safe out here. At least for the time being. That’s all you need to be aware of."

"It’s Alex, isn’t it?" she recognized sadly. "He has a plan to kill off all the slayers, doesn’t he? Angela included."

"They’ve been mortal enemies for decades. He admires her, but he never said he would spare her."

"She never expected him to," Sarah responded with the same degree of defiance held in her tone.

Nick studied her for several moments. "Why did you do that for me in there? Why did you try to get them to spare my life?"

Sarah’s eyes became trained on the wound again. She wasn’t able to face him when she didn’t have an answer herself. "I...I don’t know. I just knew I had to try. Maybe for the same reason you didn’t go through with ending mine the other night." She paused for several long moments awaiting him to fill in the silence, but it never happened. "Are you going to bite me when you get enough strength back?" she asked warily, glancing at him but still unable to meet his gaze fully.

"I wasn’t planning on it. Why? Were you planning on staking me if I get my strength back?"

She shook her head slightly making her decision, "No." She watched Nick’s hand move to slowly enclose over hers against his stomach. He rose up, wincing slightly with discomfort and tilted her chin so his lips could capture hers as he had done the other night. Slowly and with the finesse of a lifetime or perhaps several behind it. They were even now and this was a sign of mutual agreement. They would not attempt to hurt each other until once again, at some point in the future all bets were off and they were forced to.

Suddenly a crash that sounded like an explosion rocked the house and surrounding landscape. Shattering glass and screams echoed for a few seconds then died off almost instantly. The aftermath was eerie. Abruptly things were very still and there were no longer any sounds of violence, no sounds at all coming from within the house walls.

"My God, what was that?!" Sarah demanded, her look turning to Nick accusingly. "What happened?!"

He seemed to sense she wanted to run back inside and appeared willing to do anything he could to prevent it. "It doesn’t matter. It’s too late. You can’t change it."

"But I’ve got to go back in and see if Angela’s okay. If everyone’s okay. All our remaining slayers are in there...," she explained needlessly in her panic. She rose up on her knees as if to leave him, but Nick caught her arm tightly in his grasp, stopping her. His gaze was soft, understanding; something she’d never known a vampire was capable of expressing and it made her dread his next words.

"They’re gone, Sarah. All the slayers are dead. Alex had this timed perfectly. At sundown, all the remaining vampires were to draw the slayers toward the center of the room where the roof was set to collapse upon them. Even if there were any survivors from it, they’d never make it to the door. Alex and the others will make sure of that."

"No! No!" she denied over and over shaking her head, her voice raising more with each word. She pushed his hands away from her unaccepting. "It can’t be! We were winning! This can’t be the end!"

"Vampires will be able to walk the earth unheeded now. There’s nothing that can stop us. The time of the slayers has ended. All except..." and his look leveled with hers with significance.

"For me," Sarah offered in a small voice, trying not to break down. She could very well be the last of her kind and the idea frightened her intensely. "It can’t be true, Nick," she fought back. "There must be others in other states, in other countries."

"There may be, but they won’t be nearly as strong now. Angela is dead. The few slayers that remain won’t know what to do. Without a solid leader, they’ll be weak and unguided. I doubt they’ll go up against Alex again. The vampires are the ones with the power now and they realize that. Slayers will no longer be worth our time." Sarah disliked the callousness with which Nick spoke of her kind, but it was truth. It was just a very hard pill to swallow at the moment. A situation she felt compelled to change.

"I have to get back to Angela’s house. I have to get some kind of plan together for the rest of us. We’ll have to hide out or leave the country or..."

"You know Alex. It doesn’t matter if you are a threat to him or not. He won’t allow a single slayer to be left standing. He will simply hunt each and every one of you down. He has all the time in the world. And if you do somehow manage to elude him for awhile, when he finds you, he’ll punish you unimaginably for causing him the trouble."

"Anyway you look at it, I’m dead then." she realized sadly.

"Maybe not. You could return to the house with me."

"You mean to Alex’s home?! You just told me he would tear me limb from limb. I’d be offering myself up on a platter if I did that."

"I admit, it’s a huge risk, but you may have a better chance this way. He might admire your guts."

"Or remove them for me," she deadpanned in all seriousness. A smile broke out across Nick’s mouth that warmed his whole face, even his eyes. She found it adorable, but tried not to think about it too long.

"If you can impress him, he may see you as being something special. You are one of the last of your kind and you were close to Angela. Perhaps he would find it beneficial having you around. It might play into his sense of superiority if he were to feel you changed sides."

"I would never be on his side!" she stated indignantly unbelieving Nick could assume such a thing of her.

"I know, I know, but you may have to act it. At least a little to save your life. You’re much safer with him then against him. You won’t win against him, Sarah," he stressed gently. "Angela herself was even no match."

"But Nick, he despises me," she explained. "Your entire kind despises what I stand for. I’m far from being invulnerable. Especially in a house full of vampires. I don’t even dare think of the things they could put me through. What if Alex...what if he or they..." her voice became so low she could barely go on. Nick caught the thought instantly.

"I won’t let them touch you, Sarah. I know Alex. He brought me across. I have some influence with him. True, not much but if I were to tell him that it was important to me that you not be punished for the past and that I was responsible for you, I think he would honor that."

"But what about the others? There’s so many of them."

"There’s only one way we could be sure about them. But it would involve you’re letting me take some of your blood. Just a little bit. It’s a way in which we could let the other vampires know that you’re mine and they should keep away unless they want trouble. Female vamps are another story. It doesn’t work on them, but usually there aren’t that many of them at the house. Alex loves being with them, but doesn’t tend to let them stick around very long. He says a female vampire with a temper can be more devious than even he is," he smiled subtly.

Sarah bit her bottom lip hard letting her partner read her unsureness plainly even before she said a word. "I don’t know, Nick. I’m scared..."

"Of the pain," he filled in knowingly.

She nodded. "Of all of it, but yeah, the pain is foremost to me right now. I know it sounds insane considering what I am, but I don’t do well when it comes to needles or anything sharp and pointy entering my flesh. Does it hurt a lot?"

Nick’s expression warmed slightly being taken in by her truthfulness. "It does, but I can help you out with that part of it. I’ll try to be gentle. There’s no try out. You’ll have to trust me on this."

She paused a long moment then closed her eyes momentarily, took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, do it," she stated as her gaze leveled with his again and she leaned towards him. Nick turned her to face him more directly.

"Look at me," he asked and Sarah did as requested, her eyes locking with his. The world around them gently began falling away and the calm was quick to overwhelm her. She didn’t fight it this time and as he came closer, she was barely aware when his mouth enclosed upon her throat. As his teeth sank in, the adrenaline started pumping through her body, bringing her back to reality slightly and she flinched from the initial penetration. Her grip tightened upon Nick’s shoulders but it wasn’t too bad and she closed her eyes and let herself lean into him. She was a little tired, yet still very aware a moment later when he pulled away. She raised her fingers to her nape to find nothing more than two tiny puncture wounds, not much bigger than large mosquito bites.

"I didn’t take very much," Nick stated. "You would have felt it if I had. This is just a warning mark. The kind you give to someone you’re planning on bringing over."

"You didn’t...?" Sarah asked suddenly, the intensity of her concern clear in her voice.

"Don’t worry, you’d have to be bitten several more times before you become one of us."

"Oh," she smiled sheepishly, feeling the need to explain for some reason. "It’s just that Angela’s mother was marked by a vampire. We weren’t sure how many times she’d been bitten and Angela didn’t want to take any chances. We had no choice but to stake her."

"That must have been difficult."

"Angela carried it out herself. She wouldn’t make any one of us do her dirty work. She felt at fault for not being able to protect her better."

"Who was the vampire who marked her?"

"Alex. He did it as revenge for the vampire Angela had taken down the week before. Sebastian was Alex’s best friend and he vowed vengeance on her for it. He got it with taking her mother. He couldn’t have possibly wounded her more."

"Alex would enjoy hearing that," Nick mused, his look growing shadowed then wandering back to rest upon her face once more. "These are the kinds of things he may ask of you. He wants inside information on Angela. He was always intrigued by her even though they were the most mortal of enemies. Do you think you are up to that?"

Sarah shook her head unbelieving she was contemplating doing this. "Angela’s body isn’t even cold yet and I’m already selling out her memory."

"It doesn’t matter at this point. Whatever you tell him can’t hurt her now."

She could feel the heat rise to her face. She was barely able to keep her voice even and soon gave up the fight. "You’re asking if I can betray her. Of course it matters. This was everything she fought against. Alex was everything she hated and here I am about to live under his roof!"

"It’s the only way he’ll let you live, Sarah," Nick stressed leaning forward and drawing in a sharp breath as his new injury paid him back for it. "I know it seems wrong. It seems unfair, but it’s the only thing that may keep you alive. And myself as well." She was surprised by his admission and encouraged Nick to explain. "If Alex knew I let you go the other night, he would stake me himself. We were going into battle in a few days and the fewer players there were to start off with, the better for us. You may not see it right now, but this is a two way street for you and I. We both have something to lose. We have to trust each other because that’s all we’ve got. Agreed?" Nick put out his hand and with a little more hesitance than he appeared to like seeing, Sarah lightly took it into hers and they shook in agreement. She felt as if she’d just made a pact with the devil and she wasn’t sure she was all that far off in her ideals.