| Chapters: 9-10 |
| A Dance Buffy cautiously peered around the alley, her steps careful and light against the cement. The moon hung gravely above the night sky, illuminating her form in an eerie glow. Her blue eyes watched as a vampire growled at a couple who had obviously been making out before it was rudely interrupted. A metal trashcan flew down the alley, making Buffy jump back as she watched the top of the garbage can roll down towards the empty street. A loud piercing scream followed. Buffy took a deep breath and made herself known. "You know, I always considered Friday nights my night off from this hectic job, but you guys make it so hard for that to happen," she laughed without humor. // I want to get away I want to fly away Yeah, yeah, yeah // The vampire?s yellow eyes flashed and it snarled at her as the couple slowly backed away into a safe corner of the alley, clinging together as they shivered in fear. "I was thinking a little clubbing then maybe head home to have a nice long bath while I indulge myself in one of Danielle Steal?s novels," Buffy said, twirling a wooden stake in her right hand, "But . . . I just can?t see myself doing that any longer," she added, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Slayer . . . " the vampire growled menacingly. "Wow," she said sarcastically, "And you now just got that?" "Let?s dance," he snarled before lunging at her. // I want to get away I want to fly away Yeah, yeah, yeah // She ducked quickly when he threw a left punch at her. She dragged her knee towards his stomach, causing him to stagger back and groan in pain. She suddenly felt the rush, the adrenaline that always surged and pulsed through her body whenever she fought. The energy was over empowering that she felt each blood cell inside of her rush through her veins, and felt her heart pound against her chest in an rapid rhythm. Another punch, and this time, it caught her off guard, and she slammed against the brick wall, sliding down towards the damp and dirty concrete of the alley. And that?s when she realized the stale smell of the place. It reeked of urine and death. Many people must have died from vampire attacks in this alley. Clubs, Giles had told her, were a favorite hunting grounds for vampires. It was crowded, a good way to hide the screams of anguish and the sounds of struggles. // I got to get away Feel I got to get away Oh, oh, oh, yeah // Buffy wasn?t prepared when the vampire grabbed her by the neck and hauled her upwards. She clenched her teeth as she kicked her feet. She clutched at his hands, trying to dislodge his grip on her. Panic increased ten fold as he continued to clutch at her neck. The vampire laughed as Buffy continued to struggle, not wanting to get beaten by a vampire with oily brown hair, bushy beard, and overly muscled arms. "It won?t take long. I won?t make it hurt," he sneered, pulling away her hair from her face, "Just a quick snap and you?re gone. Simple as that . . . and another will be called." This was not a way to die. No. Not for her. She decided to pull a bitch fight. // I want to get away I want to fly away Yeah, with you, yeah, yeah Oh, yeah // Buffy raked her finger nails across his bulgy arms, causing him to howl in pain. He threw her down on the ground, her head hitting the cement hard. "You little cunt!" he yelled as Buffy saw stars . . . literally. He hauled her up by the back of her neck and she gasped in pain as she tried to get a tight hold on reality, not wanting to drown in the safe haven of the darkness that plagued her tauntingly. This wasn?t the way to die. Five months as the Slayer. It was too soon to be over like this. The last thing she remembered was falling to the ground with a thud and finally rushing into the darkness that had welcomed her with open arms. // I want to get away I want to fly away Yeah, with you, yeah, yeah // |
| Angel Standing By Angel brought the girl in his arms closer to his body and inhaled the sweet and intoxicating smell of vanilla in her hair as he carried her inside his basement flat in the outskirts of the city. His eyes rolled back at the pleasant aroma of the woman in his arms. God, how pathetic are you? he asked himself silently, Here she is, unconscious, and you?re taking advantage of her vulnerable state? You?re a sick, sick, vampire. Oh, please, she?ll never know, another voice in his head argued. Angel quietly groaned. Soul and demon once again bickering like a pair of three year olds. He hated it when that happened. *Angel Standing By* ~Jewel~ // All through the night . . . I?ll be standing over you . . . // He held onto her limp form as he turned on every available light in his home. Even when they were all turned on, the place was still dark and gloomy. The only thing that brightened the place was her. Buffy. Her life . . . her glow. It had scared him almost to the point of another death when he watched her battle with the vampire in the alley. All he wanted to do was take over for her and beat him to a pulp himself. But as Whistler voice kept ringing in his mind, it reminded him that it wasn?t his battle. He was only there to aid her when she needed it. // All through the night . . . I?ll be watching over you // But when she was thrown to the ground, Angel?s game face went on and his temper had risen and he attacked without a second thought. His only thoughts were that if Buffy was injured badly, he would never forgive himself, and the vampire who hurt her would die a slow and painful death. And that?s what the vampire got. A severe beating until Angel finally realized what he was doing and ended the vampire?s misery by pulling out a stake and finally turning him into dust. When he looked back, Buffy was on the ground, breathing and alive, but out cold and still. He took her light form in his arms and looked around, hoping to see someone she knew, but there wasn?t a soul around and he had to act quickly. And that was when the decision was made. He would bring her back to his apartment, fix her up, and send her back home. // And through bad dreams . . . I?ll be there, baby . . . // Easy . . . right? Maybe not . . . but a vampire can hope. He settled her on his bed, and in his eyes, she looked so tiny and bright in contrast to the massive divan made up of black and red silk sheets and fluffy pillows. She looked like an angel that had landed in his apartment that looked like hell. This wasn?t a place where she belonged. She belonged in the light, not in the darkness . . . especially not in HIS. He heard the elevator coming down and sighed. Whistler. The short demon lived just above him in his own flat. Angel barely went up there. It was mostly a mess, garbage and dirty clothes strewn carelessly everywhere. "Angel!" The vampire jumped a little and crossed towards the other side of his apartment in seconds and covering Whistler?s mouth with a hand. "Will you shutup?!" Angel hissed angrily. The demon frowned as Angel took back his hand and peeked towards the bed. Good. She?s still asleep. // Holding your hand, telling you everything is all right // "What?s up your ass?" Whistler shot back, fixing his red velvet coat. "Buffy?s here." "Are you crazy?!" Whistler suddenly yelled as he walked past the vampire and towards the sleeping Slayer. But before he could take another step, Angel grabbed his collar and pulled him back. "Don?t even think about it," Angel growled. Whistler glared up at him. Sometimes, he was just too persistent. "What is she doing here?" "She was knocked unconscious," Angel explained, "I couldn?t leave her lying in an alley. How stupid would that be?" Whistler thought for a moment and then nodded. "Fine, but when she wakes up, you?re bringing her home," he told the vampire, "And no more of this meeting thing, alright?" // And when you cry . . . I?ll be there . . . // Angel was about to retort with, ?How can I?? but decided against it. "Fine," he sighed, knowing that the response it will please the demon. And plus, he didn?t want to argue with him. Not when Buffy was sleeping peacefully on his bed. Whistler nodded and left, the elevator rising up towards the second floor. "And don?t do anything I wouldn?t do!" the demon?s voice hollered before disappearing. // Telling you were never anything less than beautiful . . . // Angel sighed and made his way back towards where Buffy quietly slept. She looked so peaceful . . . a perfection of beauty . . . that?s what she held . . . and that?s what she stood for. He sat on a chair and stared at her form, drinking in every detail she presented. The arch of her brows, she pert of her nose, the kissable lips . . . He shook his head. Maybe watching her wasn?t the best idea . . . But instead, he took out his sketchpad and began to draw her, wanting to put down every specific detail on paper. And plus, it?ll keep his mind over other things. // So don?t you worry . . . I?ll be your angel standing . . . by . . . // More to come . . . |