**Present**
Sunnydale
Staring at the grave, Buffy sat playing with a yo-yo. "C'mon,
Stephen. Rise and shine." Angel quietly slides up, behind her, "Hey."
Buffy gasps, whirling around. "Is this a bad time," Angel asked.
Buffy stares at him speechless, for a minute. "Are you crazy? You
don't just sneak up on people in a grave yard. You make noise, when
you walk. You stomp or yodel." Angel glances around, "So, you alone?"
Buffy shrugged, "Yeah. Why?" Angel looked away, "Just thought you'd
have some one with you. Xander, maybe." Buffy looked worried
briefly, "Nope. No, Xander. Been back to school for awhile now. Still
no Xander-shaped person. Will's starting to freak a little. Do you
think you could..." Buffy's voice trails off as she walks beside the
vampire. "Sure," Angel stopped glancing around, "Buffy?" "Down here,"
Buffy gagged, "Someone's been digging up corpses. We should..."
New Orleans
Drusilla hummed softly to herself as she set up her pet's
prezzie. "Oh, Miss. Edith, he's going to feel such pain. It's such a
beautiful *red* prezzie. Spike would..." Drusilla's voice trails off
as she tilts her head towards the porcelain doll listening
intently. "But, Miss. Edith Spike loves his Drusilla. I'm his
princess he'd never hurt me." Drusilla stares at the doll, vamping
out. "Naughty! Miss. Edith. There shall be no tea for you. Spike
would never take mummies little Alexander away. Now hush. I must
finish little *daddy's* prezzie." Drusilla floats around the room
moving and tugging in various places. "Come now, Miss. Edith. Mummy
can't stay mad. I've been having such fun. Maybe we won't tell Spikey
just, yet. Yes we'll wait until we go met Daddy to tell him. Then
we'll be one big happy family." Hugging the doll close, she slipped
form the room, hiding in the shadows of the courtyard she waited for
her pet to come home. Never noticing the darkness that trailed after
her.
***************
Spike stood half hidden, watching Drusilla as she mumbled contentedly
to herself. She'd been dissappearing for the last two months, and he
was tired of it. Especially after she'd come back to their lair
smelling of blood and sex. He'd decided enought was enough, and
followed his dark goddess into the night to see for himself what she
was up to.
***************
I think I'm paranoid.
And complicated.
I think I'm paranoid.
Manipulate it.
***************
Xander stalked down the streets of New Orleans. His body a confusing
mix of movements. Half predator, half prey. He moved eyes constantly
shifting, searching the shadows for danger. //C'mon, Xan. there's
nothing there. Nothing other than the usual ghouls, vampires and...
Ok. scary thoughts bad, something else... like the fact that you're
losing your mind... It was a toy, only a toy and you have a screaming
fit. Yeah but the last one wasn't... Still doesn't make you less
nutty... And this conversation... just proves our point...// "That's
it all of you quiet..." Spike watched as Drusilla stalked the
confused mortal. He wondered idly if she was changing her hunting
techniques. When the expected screams, didn't come Spike glanced up.
Stunned he watched as his princess spoke to the mortal boy.
"Alexander... Alexander..." Xander's head shot up, and he
froze. //That voice...// "Who's there?" He eyes darted around the
courtyard, and he clutched the stake and cross. Suddenly she
appeared. Brunette waves cascaded around her pale shoulders, as the
ivory white dress floated around her ankles. Xander stared at the
vision before him. She glowed in the pale moonlight, her eyes shining
mirrors of his. "W-who are you?" Drusilla giggled at his stutter,
Xander shuddered, at the sound like breaking glass. "I'm going to be
your new mummy, the stars told me so. Shhh," she said, drawing
closer. Xander stood mesmerized, until she stood right behind
him. "Shhh.. you can hear them too. Can't you, Alexander." Xander
shook his head, then started backing away, holding the cross up. He
knows she's a vamp. Terror courses through him, and he begins to
scramble back. Drusilla catches his arms, knocking the cross and
stake aside. She holds him stll with almost no effort. "Can't stay
long, my pet. Cause Spikey is coming, but I'll give you a kiss."
Drusilla moved faster than he could follow, her teeth sunk in his
neck before he'd even registered movement. He cried out, feeling her
nuzzling his throat. Drusilla paused lapping at the torn flesh, then
dropping him she took off. She moved like lighting as she raced into
the night. Surprised Spike hesitated, staring at the fallen mortal,
before chasing after his princess.
Xander lay dazed from the blood loss, unable to climb to his feet.
Opening his eyes is almost impossible, but hearing a noise he
struggles to accomplish the feat. Staring down at him is the manager
of the hellhole he currently lives in. "Boy, what are you doing out
here?" Xander can barely manage an eye roll. "Enjoying the view. Now
could you help me up." He misses the managers answer, blacking out as
the lack of sleep and blood loss finally catches up with him.
************
Spike cursed as he paced through the lair, Dru had led him on a wild
goose chase the entire night. He'd finally given up, returning to the
lair with the rising sun. only to find Dru lounging in their bed,
talking to Miss. Edith. He'd been unable to discover what she was up
to with the mortal. Despite his inventive questioning. Sighing he
collapsed on the bed, ignoring Dru's whimpers. He didn't know when
he'd grown so impaitent with his pet, but now he was tired of her
incessant ramblings. //Tomorrow, I'll find Dru's new toy.// Day
dawned, and swiftly passed as Xander slept on unaware.
************
Xander stretched as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He had no idea
how long he'd slept or even the vauguest recollection of how he'd
gotten into bed. Uneasy, he tried to remember the night before, but
all he got was a series of fragmented memories. He shrugged, and
reached for the lamp, bumping into something beside him. Terror
gripped him, and he bit back a scream as a urgent sense of foreboding
flooded him. Inhaling deeply, he leaned out catching the light
switch. He blinked at the bright light unable to see, as his eyes
adjusted the room came into focus.
Screams shattered the unnatural silence. All over the motel people,
and demons alike paused in their activites. Heads popped out of
doors, as the day manager raced down the hall. Even as he banged on
the door, the screams went on. Mind breaking shrieks of madness
echoed through the halls. Cursing, Jake leaned back kicking violently
against the door. The locks shattered, slamming the door against the
wall. Jake stepped inside, and immeadiately threw up. He backed out
of the room, dropping to his knees in the hall unable to do anything
but shake. Voice raspy with strain, Xander kept screaming as he
stared. His mind kept refusing to put the pieces together. The room
looked as if it had been painted red, an explosion of blood and
flesh. And he was in the center of it. Dried blood spread out from
the bodies in every direction, as if when they were moved they'd
leave perfectly pristine outlines.
Somewhere between the first and last screams, something broke inside
that would never heal. He felt strangely empty, as if floating. He
stared off blindly, and then everything went black. It was too much,
it was if someone flipped a switch his mind shutdown. He sat unaware
in the middle of the carnage, utterly still even as the police
arrived. He was almost silent now, something had torn in his throat.
The only sound he was capable of making, was a piteous whining. Which
he'd been doing since his voice gave out. Officers swarmed around the
room, several of the junior officers were unable to remain in the
room. Detective Allison staed everywhere but at the bodies, and the
young man sitting between them, drenched in blood. "Captain, sir. Do
you..." Allison's voice trailed off as he gestured at Xander. Captain
Perkins shook his head, "He didn't do this..." he paused. "Nothing
human could have done this."
"Do we know who?" said the captain. "Yeah," said Allison, "His
parents." Allison glanced at the scene again. He'd never seen
anything like it. The bodies looke as if they'd been gnawed at,
teethmarks, and missing flesh marred both bodies. He prayed they'd
been done after they'd died, but he didn't think so too much blood.
The man's genitalia had been removed, they now sat in his mouth.
While the woman's eyes had been gouged out, they now lay staring
sightlessly at his mouth. Allison fought back the urge to gag, trying
to ignore the bitter sweet smell of death that filled the room.
A junior officer hesitantly stepped forward, "Captain, sir. We're
done here. What do we do about him?" Perkins sighed, as he stared at
the boy. He'd seen strong men break from sights less horrific. He
looked shell-shocked. "Child... Xander..." he waited, nothing.
Finally he rached out touching the boy's face. He shuddered when he
met his eyes. The look in them was the emptiest he'd ever seen in
another person. As if when he looked at him, he wasn't seeing them at
all. Not that he thought he was blind, he saw something, Perkins was
sure but not what. Not him, not a cop. Something else, his own
twisted version of reality. He sighed, poor child. Catching his hand,
he pulled lightly, taking him away form the horror.
Drusilla giggled softly to herself as she hunted. She was having so
much fun. She shivered remembering the horrorified look on his face,
after she'd left him his last prezzie. She'd laid them out so nicely
in his room, all red and open. He'd screamed so sweetly, when he'd
seen them. She was going to pay a visit to her pet now, at his new
place. Dropping the body, she'd just drained, she danced off into the
night.
Spike paced the lair, unsure for the first time in over a hundred
years. His Dru was behaving oddly... No, she was behaving like...
Spike cursed... like *Angelus* the twisted bastard. He'd watched her,
as she watched him. After he'd seen what she'd done to the boy's
parents, he'd known what she was up to. Angelus had done similar
things to her, driving her mad just before turning her. Spike sighed,
he knew what she was planning. He just didn't know what he was going
to do about it. If she was just wanting a new toy, or someone to
share her *pathetic* ramblings with, well then good on her, but if
she was aiming for a new Angelus or childe. He'd stake the poor git
himself. Snarling he stalked from the lair, to hunt.
When Dru slipped out for the third time that week, Spike had had it.
He was going to end it tonight. Following inbehind his princess, he
watched as she moved silently through the shadows. Until reaching a
dilapidated plantation. Pausing outside the doorway, he looked up
reading the sign. Saint Agean's shelter for the Mentally Disabled, it
read. "Fuck," he muttered. Hiding across the hall from his pet, he
watched as she entered a room at the end of the corridor. He'd gone
through half a pack of smokes by the time she came out. He stared at
her, unable to believe what he was seeing. Mouth stained with blood
and semen, she licked her lips hungrily, humming happily to herself.
Spike bit back a howl of rage, his kitten was fucking the whelp. He
would die.
Xander sat huddled in the dark, waiting... praying... for death. He
was so tired. He only wanted it to end. He was going crazy, and he
couldn't even get that right. This was worse than being insane,
because he was still *here*. Sometimes... most times... the outside
world was a vauge, dim memory. But then there were the times, when he
was Xander again, those were the worst. He could see himself,
cowering in this hellhole, unable to function and he prayed for an
end. So, when the door slid open and it was neither his doctor or
*Her*, he thought his prayers had been answered.
Spike watched the mortal boy who looked up at him, not in fear but
with a mix of hope and resignation. Shocked he shifted out of
gameface. "I should kill you. Now," he hissed. Xander struggled
upright, "Please... please... do it," he begged, offering the vampire
his throat. Bewildered, Spike stared at him, hating the rush of
uncertainty. Angry, he grabbed the boy yanking him close. He bent to
rip out his throat, and their eyes locked.
*****************
Bend me, Break me
Anyway you need me, all I want is you
Bend me, Break me
Breaking down is easy, all I want is you
Bend me, Break me
Anyway you need me, as long as I want you baby
It's all right.
*****************
Xander stared, he'd never seen such a beautiful creature, the vampire
reminded him of the white tiger he'd seen at the zoo, once. Eyes such
a clear blue, like sapphires bathed in moonlight, born predator. He
was sad and happy, all at once. Glad he'd had a chance to see such
beauty, and sad he'd never see it again. Spike couldn't look away
from those eyes, so deep, warm, soothing like hot coco. He hadn't
felt such comfort in a long time. He couldn't help seeing the
intelligence gleaming in them, he sighed realizing he couldn't kill
the mortal. There was no way he'd survive seeing the light in those
eyes go out. He roughly shoved him away. Xander stumbled almost
falling, before catching himself on the bed. "You're not worth the
effort," Spike snarled, turning to leave.
"No!," cried Xander, catching Spike by the arm. "You have to kill me.
I can't live like this. Shifting between maddness and sanity. I
can't... it hurts... please..." Spike turned, and something in him
twisted. He didn't want anyone to hurt this beautiful child. Slowly
he reached out, to stroke the pale cheek. Xander whimpered, pressing
his face into the cool hand. "Please... please... kill me..." He
stared into the dark chocolate eyes, and couldn't do it. "No, pet. I
can't..." Xander sobbed, "Can't or won't..." Turning away, he dropped
to his knees, head bowed finally defeated. Unable to help it, he
moved forward, crouching beside the mortal. He hesistated before
pulling him into his arms.
"Don't cry, pet. It'll be ok. I'll get 'er to leave you alone.
Then..." Xander looked up at the vampire, "Then what... I'm losing...
I've lost... hell I'm just not all here anymore. I can't live like
this... It'd be different if I was completely psycho. Hell, I'd
prefer it but I'm not. And I never know when I'll fall." Spike shook
his head. Something in him wanted to hold and comfort the mortal more
than he'd ever wanted to help Dru. "It's ok. Pet. I'll be here when
you fall." Xander stared sinking into that azure gaze. Spike shivered
staring into the boy's suddenly blank face. He looked like Dru, when
she was listening to her voices.
*******************
A soundless noise whispered, ceaslessly in his mind. He drifted
watching the colors vaugley aware of the whispers. Then the stars
were talking to him, they told him about the past, present, and
future. An incoherent rush of mindless thoughts. Trying to get away,
he scrambled back, sinking into the red ocean. Suddenly, he was being
hauled back. Shivering, he started floating again. He could feel the
new voice surrounding him, it was like the stars but different. It
told him things that would help him. It was quieter than the stars
too. And somehow he knows if he didn't have that little bit of
sanity, he wouldn't hear it. Xander listened intently, as the voice
whispered beneath the whispers of the stars.
********************
Spike watched as the blank look faded from his face. Spike sighed
knowing that the *sane* part the *aware* part, he'd been talking to
was gone. The dreamy look on the boy's face, reminded him eerily of
Drusilla when she was about to start rambling. "Shhh," said Xander
placing his finger on Spike's lips. "The quiet voice told me. You are
good for me. You will help me... love me... Do you know the way blood
flows, down and over clothes... watch me as I go." Spike sighs sadly,
watching as the mortal withdraws. Kissing him softly on the forehead,
he places him on the cot, pulling the thin blanket over him. "Night,
pet," he said softly, opening the door. "The name's Xander." Spike
whirled around, but he'd already drifted away.
*****
TBC
