Willow's Pets

�When was the last time you fed your pets?� Xander asked, as he surveyed the two human girls fleeing before him and his mate.

�Bout a week ago now,� Willow said before taking off after the girls and neatly knocking their heads together.� When Xander caught up, she handed him the semi-conscious one, leaving her comatose friend slumped on the dirty street.� �Save me some,� she commanded.� �I�m taking this one home for my puppies.��

~~~

Willow stalked into the dungeon of the Master�s former lair.� She unlocked the door of a large cage with one hand, the other holding the unconscious girl over her shoulder.� Two pairs of eyes watched her every move with anticipation.� At each end of the cage, a vampire was shackled by heavy iron chains bolted to the floor. �They had just enough slack to move about four feet away from the sides.� Only with both vampires� chains fully extended and arms outstretched could they reach each other.� They were deliberately kept far enough away that it was impossible for either to bite the other.�

The girl was flung down between them, her arms fanned out on either side of her.� In this position, each vampire was able to reach a wrist.� As soon as Willow had left the cage and locked it again, she gave a curt nod.� At this signal, the blond vampire on her left lunged for the girls arm, drinking deeply. On the right, the dark-haired vampire sat huddled in the corner, demon face visible at the scent of blood, but making no move toward the victim.

�Better hurry or there won�t be any left,� Willow advised him.� Yellow eyes glowered at her, but he didn�t move.� It was possible he had lost the ability to move.� He looked too thin, the skin on his arms and face drawn taught over protruding bones.� He needed to feed and it had been much too long since he�d had a sufficient quantity of blood.�

The blond finally dropped the wrist of the now-dead girl and sat back, wiping his mouth.� He too, had suffered from the lack of blood and had begun to look pale, even for a vampire.� With the stolen blood coursing through his body, his appearance improved significantly.� Willow smiled at the healthier of her pets and then turned back to the stubborn one.� �How long do you plan to keep this up?� See how dead she is?� What would it matter if you took some of her blood?� She wouldn�t be any more dead.�� She made a dismissive gesture at him with one hand.� �Too late now.� I�ll have a minion check the rat traps later.� I have things to do.�� She turned on her heel and left the room, not bothering to remove the corpse from the cage.

~~~

�We have to do something.� We can�t just sit here waiting for the slayer to come and kill us.�

�Excuse me, but, you don�t give the orders around here,� replied Xander, staring down the frightened minion.�

Willow sashayed up to the minion�s side.� �If you question us again, you won�t have to wait for the slayer to kill you,� she whispered, dark red lips pressed against his ear.� �Now, why don�t you do something useful and go find a nice fat rat for my little pet downstairs.��

The minion opened his mouth to object, but changed his mind as he watched Willow casually examining her well-honed claws.� �When he was gone, Willow turned back to Xander and the other assembled vampires.� �He�s right.� The slayer has already killed our Master and half of our minions.� She has declared war on all of his followers.� It�s only a matter of time before she makes her next move.� She must be taken out.� I want our best people on this.�

�I�ll head up the team myself.� She�s staying with those white-hats.� Shouldn�t be too hard to find, it�s not like she�s even trying for inconspicuous.� Xander looked around and began pointing to a few of the other vampires.� �You, you, and you, come with me.� We�ll go and have a look around tonight, then meet back here and make a plan.�

�Make a plan?� One of the minions not chosen mocked in a high, girly voice.� �Vampires don�t make plans, they hunt and kill!�� The minion�s eyes widened as Willow came over to him.� She said nothing but reached her hand up to stroke his hair.� A moment later, her other hand was on his neck, from which she instantly ripped his head.�

Dusting off her hands, Willow looked around the room, meeting each vampire�s eyes before speaking.� �This is the Slayer.� She killed our Master and all of the vampires who have tried to avenge his death by running in and attacking her.� That does not work.� Neither does not cooperating.� We need a plan.� We�re already low on minions, so I don�t want to have to teach anymore lessons.� Do we all understand?�

Feet shuffled and heads nodded, no one wanting to be Willow�s next lesson.� She returned to Xander�s side and stroked his chest, resting her head on his shoulder.� �You be careful out there.� This Slayer business has got me all tense.� I�m gonna go play and relax.�� They shared a kiss, deep and passionate enough to make the others present avert their eyes and clear their throats.� Breaking away, Willow glanced around the room, smiling, and licked her lips.� Then she was gone.

~~~

Back in the dungeon, Willow addressed her captives. �I�m having a terrible day.� Who wants to make it better?�� At her words, neither vampire spoke but the one who refused the human blood instinctively scrambled backwards, as far from her as he could get.� �What�s wrong Angel baby?� You think, I�m going to hurt you?� Willow sang in a deceptively comforting voice as she removed a short whip from its hook on the wall.�

Angel was looking a little better and Willow noticed two discarded rat carcasses, just outside the bars of the cage.� The human girl had been removed and disposed of by the minion, too. Willow gave the whip a test crack before entering the cage.� Her pets knew better than to try and fight her.� In spite of the recent feeding, they had little strength from months of near-starvation and few ways keep their muscles exercised.� Even if they did manage to knock her out, they�d still be chained.�

Willow moved towards the cowering Angel and prodded him with her booted toe.� �Get up,� she ordered.� He obeyed, rising to his feet, gripping the bars of the cage to steady himself.� �Do you know why I�m having a terrible day?� She asked Angel, completely ignoring the blond vampire seated at the other end of the cage who watched her with interest.� She took a few steps away from him, waiting for an answer.� When none was forthcoming, she flicked her wrist and lashed the whip across his upper arm, ripping a three inch long gash in his bare skin.� He winced and moved the opposite hand to cover the bleeding wound.�

�No, mistress, I don�t know why you are having a terrible day.�� Angel�s answer was mechanical, lacking any strength or emotion.� Willow came closer again, swishing the whip so that it danced about his naked thighs.� Willow did not allow her pets to be clothed.� He didn�t move, being careful to look her in the eye as she spoke.

�I�m having a terrible day because of the Slayer.� Because of her, minions are dying and people aren�t cooperating.� Then I have to waste my precious time teaching them lessons.� So don�t make me have to teach any more lessons today.�

�Yes, mistress.�

�Shut up!� She screamed at him, slashing the whip across his broad chest, causing him to stumble backwards, trip over his chains, and land with a thud on the cement floor.� �You enjoy this, don�t you?� This dissention in the ranks, it�s just what you want, isn�t it?�� Continuing her tirade, she didn�t pause to let him answer.� �You�d be happy, for once, if the Slayer came here and killed us all.� Wouldn�t you?� I bet you�d even help her!�� In a blind fury, Willow bore down on him, lashing the whip again and again as Angel held up his arms to shield his face from her blows.

By the time Willow�s rage was spent, the skin of Angel�s forearms hung in ribbons and his blood soaked the stained cement beneath his shivering form.� He had not screamed, only moaned softly and cursed under his breath.� Willow tossed the whip aside and knelt next to him.� She tugged one arm away from his face and held it to her mouth, gently lapping at the blood that dribbled down to his elbow.� He looked away from her as she dragged her tongue across his forearm, tracing the tears she had made.� When the wounds had stopped bleeding, she repeated her actions on his other arm.

Angel made no attempt to help or hinder her.� None of the three spoke as Willow, finished licking Angel�s blood, stood and removed her leather outfit, placing it neatly just outside the cage.� In spite of his pain, Angel had grown aroused at the sensation of Willow�s mouth on his flesh.� His expression of self-loathing did nothing to hide the obviousness of his physical response.� Willow smirked as she watched him attempt to sit in such a way that his drawn up legs covered his erection.�

Willow stood in front of him and lifted one foot, placing it on top of his knees and pressed down until he straightened his legs.� He now sat so that his back was against the wall of the cage, legs spread out in front of him, arms hanging uselessly at his sides.� With some effort he lifted his head to look up at Willow.�

She had produced a cigarette from somewhere and Angel�s eyes grew wide as she lit it.� She made no move to smoke it, instead coming closer to stand with one leg on either side of Angel�s.� She crouched down, effectively straddling his lap, and lowered her weight onto his thighs.� Taking the cigarette between two fingers she held the lit end to Angel�s left shoulder for a moment, careful to remove it before it went out.�

Angel bit his lip and grunted in pain, but still did not scream.� Willow gave him a pouty look and said, �How am I supposed to get turned on if you don�t make some noise?� Or don�t you want to play this game?�

Knowing the alternative to the current game Angel quickly replied, �I want to play this game, Mistress.� Please continue.�� Smiling, Willow took a quick drag of the cigarette to make the ember burn brighter and then tapped it on Angel�s skin again.� This time Angel bellowed a scream that echoed through the dungeon and made the blond vampire sharing his cage cover his ears and scowl at him.� Willow closed her eyes and moaned, grinding her hips against Angel�s.

Another drag and another burn led to an even louder scream and this time Willow set the cigarette aside.� Grabbing the vampire�s hardened shaft, she scooted closer to him and sank herself down, closing her eyes as he slid into her.� A murmur of pleasure escaped Angel�s lips and Willow opened her eyes to smirk at him.� He wouldn�t look at her, choosing instead to focus on a spot on the musty ceiling.

Just a few feet away, the blond grew hard watching the vampiress have her way with his grandsire.� He tried to ignore it, drumming his fingers on the wall to distract himself.� After a few minutes, he couldn�t stand it anymore.� There was one of the hottest vampires ever turned, fucking the vampire he hated more than any other, into a submissive puddle.� How could he not get off on that?�����

Careful not to rattle his chains too loudly and distract Willow, the blond vampire moved to wrap his hand around himself and begin a steady rhythm of strokes.� He didn�t have to worry if she wanted her way with him next, he could get it up again for her in a second.� In spite of his precautions, Willow�s vampiric hearing picked up on his actions. Swiveling her head to look at him, Willow asked, �Enjoying yourself, Spike?�

Relieved that she didn�t look upset with him, Spike managed to grunt in response, �Yes, Mistress, very much so.�� He did not halt his movements even under the intensity of her gaze.� She watched him for a few moments as she continued to ride Angel like her personal pony.�

Turning back to the vampire underneath her, Willow increased the speed of her movements.� Picking up the discarded cigarette, which was barely more than a burning filter by now, she said, �Scream for me, my pet.� As she slammed herself down on Angel over and over, she ground the last of the cigarette into his chest and his screams sent her over the edge, climaxing with violent thrusts.� As she abused his enemy, Spike came in irregular bursts, mind too clouded with lust to notice he was making a mess.

When Willow had come down and recovered, she stood up, feeling Angel slide from her, still fully erect.� He growled in frustration, but even so, was careful not to growl at Willow.� She walked away from him and left the cage, dressing quickly, before picking up a stake and returning to Angel.� �Your boy made a mess,� she told him in an even voice.� �I think you oughta teach him a lesson.�� She hauled him up so that he stood, pressed against the wall.� Willow flipped the stake in her hand and ran the blunt end down his chest to his groin.� �Show him where to come so it doesn�t get all over.�

Angel looked from her to Spike, who did not look happy, then back again.� Trying to keep down the smile that tugged at his lips he said, �As you wish, Mistress.�� Willow unlocked his shackles and watched as he approached Spike who still sat on the floor.� Angel�s erection dangled before his face.� �Pick an end, Spikey.� Either way it�s nice and neat for me.�� The blonde snarled at him and vamped out, daring him to come any closer.

Willow left the cage and perched on a chair to watch over the lesson.� Angel would be completely exhausted by the time he was done with Spike and she wouldn�t have any trouble chaining him again.� �Ooh,� she purred quietly, �my puppies play so nice together.�� Leaning back, she called for a minion to bring her someone to eat while she enjoyed the show.�

~~~~~

As the late night turned to early morning Willow could be found in the chamber she shared with Xander, draped languidly across their black satin covered bed.� She was resting from her exhausting playtime with her pets which, in her opinion, had been great fun.� Fucking Angel into submission was one of her favorite pastimes, but watching him do the same to Spike was nearly as amusing.� Spike, he was still something of an enigma to Willow.� She was always amazed that he was still so cocky even after his lengthy imprisonment and torment at her hands.

Willow glanced out the curtained window, gazing worriedly at the sky.� Where was Xander anyway?� It�s not like she would have been afraid to join him in his hunt for the slayer, but that wasn�t the way things worked.� When the Master was killed, the two of them were the heirs to all that was his, in theory.� Unfortunately, not all the minions seemed to agree with that arrangement.� Willow and Xander quickly realized that if they both left the lair for any length of time, they could easily return to a revolt.� Other than to hunt, one or the other of them stayed home to maintain order as often as they could be spared.�

Of course, Willow had inherited more than just minions and lairs, she also inherited her pets.� Inherited Angel, at least. �Spike was really hers to begin with, a gift from the Master.� Willow smiled, recalling how she had come by such a lovely present.� Just the year before, Spike and Drusilla had arrived in Sunnydale acting like they owned the place.� They decided to make themselves the new masters.� They set up a lair in the heart of town and went about creating all the minions they pleased, completely ignoring all the rules that the other vampires in the area had come to accept long ago.� That didn�t sit well with the reigning Master who had them captured and tied out to meet the sunrise.

Willow and Xander had been coming home from a tiring night of terrorizing and feeding on the town�s more succulent citizens when she heard the screams.� Upon investigation, she found Spike pleading over and over for the life of his dark princess to be spared.� The nutty vampiress didn�t seem to know what was going on, she just prattled on about how the stars were calling her home.� Seeing how tormented Spike was at the impending doom of his love, and seeing the perfection that was his body, Willow went to the Master to ask that he be released into her charge.� She assured the Master that suffering with the knowledge that he could not save his mate would be a fate worse than death.� Just to be sure, she�d throw in a lifetime of torture and servitude.�

Pleased with his childe�s perception and ingenuity, the Master granted her request and suggested that the pets might despise each other�s company and wouldn�t that make it even better if they shared a cage?� That morning, Spike�s screams echoed those of the burning Drusilla and continued long after hers had faded with the darkness.� �He was inconsolable, not that anyone was actually trying to console him.� What had surprised Willow was Angel seemed to be upset as well, and not just at sharing a cage with a long lost and long hated family member.�

Angel recovered first and was soon back to being Willow�s favorite toy.� It took weeks of beatings and withholding food before Spike would hold still long enough for Willow to take advantage of the qualities he possessed that initially drew her to him.� With Spike, she did not have to make him scream to become aroused.� He had enough fire and attitude that just being close to him stirred her lust.� Oh, she still made him scream, he had to be punished, it just wasn�t as necessary for her pleasure as it was with Angel who would just sit there and pout unless she hurt him.�

Willow had expected that Spike would sink deeper into despair as time went on after Drusilla�s demise.� Instead, in spite of it all, he slowly regained his cockiness and zest for unlife.� He knew better than to speak a word of defiance to Willow, but she could see it in his face, the way he could tell that he made her hot.� His taunting of his cellmate was further proof, which Willow did nothing to discourage.� She had no problem with the fact that she might eventually have to kill him if he got to confident for his own good.� His very existence on the earth was supposed to be a punishment; he wasn�t supposed to enjoy it.� Willow assumed that the rapid healing powers possessed by vampires must also extend to broken hearts.

The creak of her chamber door jogged Willow from her pleasant musings.� Sitting up, she saw her leather clad mate sliding into the room.� Willow was by his side in an instant, eager for news of the stakeout.� �Did you see the slayer?�

�Oh, we saw her alright.� Her and her band of merry men.� Looks like we�re not the only one�s making a plan.� It sounded like they�re not too content just taking us out as we come along.� She�s going to find us and make war on our turf.� On our home.�

Willow growled and strode back towards the bed, flopping down with a pout on her face.� �Slayer.� Coming here?� No, this isn�t good.� We can�t let it happen.� We have to get to her first!� She punched her fist into the open palm of her opposite hand.� �We�ll all go.� This is our last chance to be rid of her before she wipes us out.� It has to be tonight.� We can�t give her anymore time to find us.� It�s bad enough she could come today!�

�No, she won�t.� I heard them talking, the places they planned to look for us.� They aren�t even close.� They�ll waste all day checking under cemeteries and in the sewers.� We�ll be safe enough until nightfall.� Let�s get some rest.�� Xander said this last with a slight smirk and Willow, in spite of her busy night, flashed him a grin of her own and patted a spot on the bed next to her.

~~~

Restlessness set in as Willow tried to sleep the day away; storing strength for that night�s planned assault on the slayer.� She tossed and turned, but could not get back to sleep even though she had only been dozing for a few hours after a brief sex session with her mate.� Willow would never admit to Xander that she was disappointed with his distinct lack of vampiric stamina in the bedroom.�

Though the demon inside made him just as evil and conniving as herself, like every vampire, Xander retained a few lingering traits of his former humanity.� Unfortunately his most obvious holdover from being alive was that sex got him too excited too fast and his recovery time was almost as bad as a human�s.�

Frustrated with her wakefulness, Willow tossed the covers aside and marched out of the room, knowing that nothing would disturb her lover�s sleep after sex.� Not bothering with her regular clothes, Willow slipped through the halls wearing only her mid-thigh length, ruby red silk nightshirt.� She knew everyone else was asleep anyway and more clothes would only interfere with her plans.

She threw open the door to the basement, deliberately making a racket to wake her pets.� Willow got a pleasant chill at the sound of rattling chains when her pets made sudden moves.� She liked to imagine that while they slept, they forgot where they were, and woke each night to new despair as they remembered the truth of their existence.�

Now fully awake, the blond vampire didn�t seemed surprised to see his mistress.� She had visited them during the day before.� Willow never mentioned her mate�s inadequacies, since that just isn�t the kind of thing you share with a pet, but she often wondered if they suspected.� Finding her gone from their bed, Xander sometimes came to watch her play.� He did not dare question her actions as he had no desire to join the other two in shackles.�

Willow saw that while blue eyes watched her every move, her other pet still lay motionless.� The mangled body of a small rat lay on the floor next to him.� Dried blood was crusted on Angel�s lips and Willow could tell that one of her minions must have tried to force feed him the blood from the rat while he was unconscious, wringing it to get the most out.

Unlocking the cage, Willow moved inside and prodded Angel�s head with her bare toe.� No response.� She turned to glare at Spike.� �You shouldn�t have taken so much.� You�ll pay for this.� �Spike looked away, ashamed, but said nothing.� During Willow�s last visit, she had allowed Angel to have his way with Spike.� After forcing the blond to suck him off for an hour, he�d temporarily lost control of the situation in the mental fog of his orgasm and Spike had bit deeply into his thigh in retaliation, draining him to the point of collapse.�

Willow had dragged Angel back to his side of the cage and chained him up, expecting him to have recovered by now.� Seeing that he was weaker than she thought, Willow knelt next to him and vamped out, tearing into her own wrist which she then held to his mouth.� As her blood slid down his throat, Angel�s demon appeared and he swallowed involuntarily until he subconsciously began to suck at her wrist.� Willow�s powerful blood worked quickly and as soon as his eyes opened, she pulled away from him, licking her own wound until it clotted.�

She was not happy about having to revive her pet with her blood, but an unconscious pet was no fun to anyone. Getting to her feet and turning back to Spike, her yellow eyes flashed as she punched him in the jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor.� �When I bleed, you bleed more,� she growled at him.� Leaving the cage she went to examine the wall on which she stored her various implements of torture on metal hooks.� Her eyes traveled over her collection several times before coming to rest on a leather strap with metal spikes imbedded at intervals along its length.�

Pleased with her selection, Willow returned to the cage and stood in front of Spike who looked at her expectantly with only the barest hint of fear visible on his pale face.� Willow reached down and tugged him to his feet until her stood on his own.� A small purple bruise was forming at his jaw line where she had hit him, but she knew it would be gone before she was done with him.� She looked forward with replacing it with marks of a longer lasting variety.�

Raising the strap to Spike�s neck, she draped it over his shoulder and slowly dragged it down along his chest, leaving tiny red scratches in its wake, which faded almost instantly.� Spike shivered at the sensation and arched his back, thrusting his chest towards Willow.� At this unwitting invitation, she flicked the strap back behind her head and brought it down hard across his breast with a harsh slap, leaving three viscous tears in his white flesh.� He screamed and jerked back against the wall of the cage, reflexively yanking on the unyielding chains that held him in place.� Faster than even he could see, Willow switched hands and brought the strap down again, scoring Spike�s chest with matching wounds on his right side.�

Willow�s demon strained against her, as she fought the urge to lap the blood running down Spike�s body and dripping on the cement.� A third lash tore open his abdomen, making a wet sound as the leather connected with his blood-soaked skin, leaving him doubled over in pain.� Willow used the new position to her advantage, moving to his side and turning him slightly so that his ass was in her view.� Snapping the strap out to her side, she flicked it in again, this time smacking it across the tightened muscles of his cheeks.�

Spike immediately straightened up again, reaching back to clasp his hands over these newest gashes.� His sudden movement opened his abdominal wounds further.� Blood covered the ground, and Willow�s feet.� She also realized that her nightgown was in serious need of a good cleaning.� Good thing it was already red.� The wounds on Spike�s chest had already begun to coagulate, though his stomach was still bleeding freely, the softer flesh being slower to heal.� Tossing the strap aside, Willow stood in front of Spike and asked, �What have you learned?�

�That thing fucking hurts!� He exclaimed, glaring at the spiked strap.� Seeing Willow bend to retrieve it, he added in a quieter voice, �And draining Angel hurts the mistress, and that�s bad and I was wrong and I�ll never do it again.��

Willow straightened and smiled at him, reaching up to pat his head.� �Good dog.� You deserve a treat for remembering your lesson.�� Spike visibly brightened, his pain temporarily forgotten.� However, his expression quickly darkened again as Willow reached up to unchain his enemy who was now fully conscious and had smirked all throughout his beating.�

�Thank you, mistress,� said Angel, never taking his eyes off Spike, as Willow whispered in his ear and guided him over to the agitated blond.� Angel and Willow stood before Spike caressing each other, both demons at the forefront.�

When Angel was fully aroused, Willow urged him into position behind Spike.� Angel maneuvered around Spike�s chains so that he stood between the wall and the younger vampire.� He wrapped his arms around Spike, his hands trailing through the blood on his chest as he placed light kisses on his neck and shoulders, just to make him mad.� At Willow�s pointed look Angel sat down with his legs out in front of him, leaning back against the wall, and pulled Spike onto his lap.�

Glancing back at Willow, and then at the strap, Spike did not resist as Angel positioned him so that his back was against Angel�s chest.� Reaching down to caress Spike�s ass, Angel smeared the still flowing blood over himself and then lifted Spike for just a moment before impaling him on his waiting erection.�

Both vampires screamed, one in pain, one in pleasure.� Spike�s demon appeared and snarled as the open wounds on his ass connected again and again with Angel�s thighs and stomach as he thrust into him.� After a few minutes, as the sensations of being penetrated began to overcome the pain, Spike closed his eyes and his human face resurfaced.�

Pleased with the sight of her pets covered in blood and fucking, Willow knelt between their legs and began to tease Spike with her claws.� Within moments he was hard and gasping for unneeded breath.� Willow stood and stepped out from between their legs so that she straddled them both.� She grabbed the hem of her gown and pulled it off over her head, tossing it out of the way towards the slightly cleaner part of the floor on Angel�s side of the cage.� She wore no underwear and now stood over her pets completely nude.� Lowering herself slowly, she sank down on Spike�s lap, letting him enter her cool wetness.� As Angel thrust Spike up and down he was thrust into Willow who held herself in place, hands on Spike�s shoulders.��

Spike lifted his hands to hold Willow by the ass as Angel reached around to fondle her breasts.� As Angel moved under him and Willow ground down on him, Spike�s eyes began to roll back in his head. �Willow grabbed his hair and made him look at her.� �Do you think you�ve bled more than me?� She demanded.�

Spike opened his mouth in attempt to form a coherent reply.� �I don�t know, Mistress,� he gasped.

�I think we should make sure,� Willow said.� She leaned forward and bit into his shoulder, letting his blood flow into her mouth and down her throat.� She was so turned on by the taste of him in her mouth combined with the feel of him inside her, that she almost lost control, having a powerful orgasm with her teeth still in his flesh.�

As her muscles clamped around him, Spike was driven to his own climax.� As he thrust harder into Willow, he unavoidably bore down harder on Angel who feeling himself about to lose it, sank his fangs into the other side of Spike�s neck and came with a shudder and groan.� He took only a little blood and quickly pushed Spike off of him as soon as Willow got up.�

Angel waited next to the half-unconscious Spike without a word as Willow slid back into her nightgown.� When she beckoned to him, he allowed her to replace the chains on his wrists without a fight.� Willow took a step back and looked at him.� �I gave you my blood and I let you fuck the vampire who left you in such a pitiful state.� What are you going to do for me?�� She came closer again as she spoke, ending by sliding one claw slowly down his neck, dangerously close to his jugular.�

Angel swallowed visibly, looked down at his feet, then turned his eyes up to her with his head still down and said, �Anything you wish, Mistress.�

�Would you scream for me?�

�Yes, Mistress.�

�Would you die for me?�

A pause.� A puzzled look crossed his face.� Would she finally kill him after so long?� Sparing him the work of coming up with the right answer to that question, Willow went on, �If something happened to me, what would happen to you?� Who would take care of you?� Send you rats?� Teach you lessons.�� She backhanded him across the face to illustrate her point.� A thin line of blood ran from Angel�s left nostril from the force of her blow.

�I don�t know, Mistress.�

�No one!� You would die!� No other vampire in this town would spare your life!� That�s if they would even bother to come here to kill you.� Maybe you�d rather just rot here for eternity, insane from the thirst.� You should be grateful to me for what I give you.�

Angel looked more puzzled than ever.� Willow did not seem to be interested in him answering her any further so he just watched her as she paced the length of the cage between Spike and himself.� Finally, she left the cage and went to her wall.� On the floor below the wall sat a small chest for items that couldn�t be hung up.� Willow crouched in front of it now and rummaged through a pile of cigarette boxes, matches, lighters, and tranquilizer darts until she found what she wanted.� Triumphantly holding up a tiny crystal vial, she reached in again and pulled out a heavy back rubber glove.�

Returning to the cage, she approached the now worried looking Angel.� �Lie down.� You�re going to do something for me, for once,� she commanded him.� When he had complied she positioned herself with one foot on either side of his head, so that she faced his feet.� Lying on his back, his view was straight up under her gown.� Willow pulled on the rubber glove and then knelt down so that Angel�s head was enveloped in the silk, and her ass just touched his nose.�

�You know what to do,� she said, as she pulled the stopper from the vial.� Feeling Angel�s tongue touch her, Willow allowed herself to close her eyes for a moment, knowing he couldn�t see her.� Angel�s motions were tentative at first, but at an encouraging moan from Willow he began to move his mouth faster, tasting her every crevice.� Thoroughly enjoying herself, Willow glanced over at Spike, disappointed to see that he was now asleep and not appreciating the show.� Her exhibitionist side wanted to wake him up, but her sadistic side knew how to have fun without him.� Tipping the vial just a little, she allowed a drop of the contents to spill onto Angel�s breastbone.�

The shriek that followed, as the holy water sizzled Angel�s skin, was music to her ears and she sighed appreciatively.� As the drop of water dried, Angel quickly returned to his duty under Willow�s nightgown.� She swayed back and forth on his face and dripped another drop near his bellybutton.� Angel roared against her bare flesh giving her pleasant shivers from the vibration.� She considered another drop, lower still, but thought better of it, in case that somehow affected his ability to please her.� Instead, she settled for burning his right nipple with a generous splash.� When his screams had subsided once more, she stoppered the bottle and allowed Angel to bring her off, moving herself rapidly against his tongue.�

Standing up, Willow saw that Spike had been awakened by Angel�s screams and was watching her and her vial warily, still lacking the strength to pull himself off the floor.� She decided she�d better go and see if any of the other vampires had brought home dinner and had any leftovers for him.� She wanted him ready to go when she came home from killing the slayer that night.�

Relocking the cage, Willow tossed her glove and vial back in the chest and headed for the stairs.� Glancing back she saw Angel licking his fingers and pressing them to his burns.� She rolled her eyes and headed off to take a shower and get a few more hours sleep with her mate before the night�s big events.

~~~

At the announcement that they were finally going to kill the slayer, Willow and Xander found their minions suddenly cooperative and willing to obey them without question.� Xander addressed the assembled group.� �You are all coming tonight.� This is the most important fight of our lives.� If we lose, we lose everything.� There�s no point in leaving anyone behind.� Right now the slayer and her gang of losers will be in the high school library whining about how they couldn�t find our lair.� Tomorrow we might not be so lucky.� This ends now.� Let�s go!�

With roars and cheers, the troop of vampires took to the streets making for the high school at top speed.� Xander led them and Willow brought up the rear, eliminating any thoughts of running off from the minds of the more sensible minions.� Reaching the school, they burst through the front doors, wrenching them from their hinges and leaving them in splinters.� Storming down the hall, they approached the doors to the library, which suddenly flew open of their own accord.� The vampires came to a screeching halt to stare, dumfounded, at the slayer who stood in the doorway, stake in hand.�

As the vampires looked on, some of the slayers gang assembled behind her, each holding a crossbow, axe, sword or stake.� Willow pushed her way through the crowd to see what was happening.�

�I see you all got your invitations, glad you could make it to the party,� the slayer taunted.� Xander and two minions advanced on her, yellow eyes blazing with fury.

�Why are you talking when you should be dying, slayer?� We have you trapped,� Xander said, his lips curling in a fang-baring sneer.�

Buffy looked over his shoulder, focusing on something beyond the group of vampires.� Then she looked back to address Xander.� �Who has who trapped, did you say?�

Suddenly, painful screams echoed through the hall.� Xander and Willow whipped around in time to see an older English man and a young athletic-looking student press their torches to two more vampires, who joined the two who had screamed in a flame-induced death.� At the sight of their incinerated friends, the rest of the vampires surged forward towards the library and the waiting slayer, desperate to get out of the way of the torch bearers.�

The slayer�s group stepped aside, allowing the dozen or so remaining vampires to pour into the library before slamming the doors closed behind them.� The rest of the fight didn�t take long.� Heads were removed, hearts were staked, and a few more went up in flames.� Willow managed to get the torch away from the jock and break his neck.� The last vampire who was set alight by the old Englishman had the sense to jump on him so that they burned together.� He was dust before the old fellow was dead, but he was hurt bad enough that Xander made quick work of him.� Willow paused in her hand to hand battle with the slayer long enough to admonish Xander who was toying with a short, young man with blond curly hair.�

As Xander turned to toss her a witty remark, the young man lunged forward and rammed the stake he had hidden in his sleeve through the very center of Xander�s heart.� Willow forgot all about the slayer in front of her as she watched her mate turn to dust before her eyes.� The next thing she knew, a blow from behind sent her sprawling on the floor.� As she crawled away from her attacker, her hand closed over the metal leg of a broken library table.� She rolled over on her back, swinging the leg as she went, cracking it against the head of the slayer who was bending over her, stake raised for the kill.

The slayer flew back and landed several feet away, but was not unconscious or hurt any more than Willow.� A quick look around told Willow she was now outnumbered two to one, with one of the two being a slayer and the other, the young man who had killed Xander.� As Buffy struggled to get to her feet, Willow ran at the young man who was bent over, hunting for his stake amid the rubble.� �Oz, look out!� Buffy called to him, too late.� Willow slammed the table leg down on the back of his head sending him to the ground, out cold.� She reached down and grabbed him, holding him in front of her as the slayer approached, stake poised for action.�

�Looks like all your friends had to leave the party early,� Buffy said with a phony look of regret.� She stopped several feet from Willow, glancing at Oz and the bloody mess of his hair.� He groaned in his sleep as Willow shook him a little, demonstrating that he was still alive.� She was surprised that the slayer would stand there and taunt her when she had suffered similar losses.� �Why don�t you put down the dead weight there and you and I will finish this thing?�

Dead weight?� Wasn�t this boy she held supposed to be the slayer�s friend?� She had to be bluffing.� She just wanted Willow to throw away her last chance to get out of this in one piece.� �Not a chance, Slayer.� One more step and I kill your little friend here.�� Already in full vamp face, she licked his neck and pressed her fangs on his skin until it dimpled slightly under the pressure, demonstrating that she meant what she said.� She kept her eyes on the slayer to see what she would do.�

Buffy laughed and took another step towards Willow.� �I�d rather have you both dead, than both alive.� You think I care about these people?� I don�t care about anything but killing vampires.� Everyone dies, the important thing is that when I see a vampire, I�m the last thing it sees.�

Willow could tell the slayer wasn�t bluffing.� She wasn�t going to walk out of there by making bargains.� She had one last chance to run.� Willow grabbed her captive�s head in both hands and twisted quickly, breaking his neck.� She threw the body at the slayer, who stumbled under its weight, and took off back through the doors of the library, down the hall, and out into the night.�

~~~

Flinging open the door to her bedroom, Willow rushed in and looked around wildly before she realized she�d been looking for Xander.� She was going to tell him that the slayer was on her way and they had to leave.� But Xander was dust.� She was alone.� The reality hit her as the silence of the lair permeated her senses.� No minions shuffling in the halls.� No pitiful cries as meals begged for mercy.� Not a sound.� She knew the slayer would come for her.� Even though she�d tried to take a roundabout route home so she couldn�t be followed, the slayer would have no problem tracking the path of destruction the minions had made on the way to the school back to her lair.� She had no one to fight by her side now.� Her only chance was to keep running.�

Willow looked around her room for anything she valued enough to take with her.� Shaking her head she recognized that as a human thought.� When she was alive she had all sorts of little trinkets and pictures that meant the world to her.� None of those things were here.� The only portable items of value in the room were her outfits, so she set about throwing some of her favorites in a small suitcase.

With the suitcase clutched in one hand, Willow took one last longing glance at the satin shrouded bed she had shared with her mate, then headed out to find a car and hightail it out of Sunnydale before the slayer caught up with her.� As she passed the basement stairs she heard a sound.� A voice.

�Helloooo!� Anyone up there?��

Jolted out of her panic, Willow remembered her pets, the only vampires who hadn�t come to the disastrous attack on the slayer.� Unwilling to leave them to their fate at the hands of the slayer, Willow hurried down the stairs.�

For a moment, she could only blink in puzzlement at the sight before her.�� There, at one end of the cage, stood Spike, chained like a good pet.� The other end was empty, wrist shackles laying haphazard on the grimy floor.� Angel was simply not there.� This was a new experience for Willow, who had never had a pet get away before.� At last she snapped out of it, dropped her suitcase, strode through the open door of the cage to face Spike and demanded, �Where is he?�

Spike looked surprised that his mistress seemed to think he had something to do with the escape.� �Slayer was here, she left not two minutes ago, took soul boy with her,� Spike explained as fast as he could to ensure he got it all out before Willow decided to punish him for his imaginary part in the situation.�

Willow took a step back, her hands flying to her open mouth in shock that the slayer had found her lair so quickly.� In fact, she realized the slayer must have been there while she was upstairs.� Suddenly frowning, Willow reached out to grab her pet by the neck, �That doesn�t make sense.� Why aren�t you dust if the slayer was here?�� She shook him hard, making his chains rattle against the bars of the cage.� Loosening her grip just enough so that he could speak, she demanded, �Well, say something.�

Spike pressed himself as far back against the cold metal bars and away from Willow�s hand as he could.� He managed to squeak out, �We told her we were good vampires, with souls, and that you tortured us and we wanted to help her get you back.� Seeing as how we�re always good and bloody, that wasn�t real hard for her to believe.�

Willow released Spike�s neck and gaped at him, impressed at his quick thinking.� Something still didn�t add up though.� �Why did she take Angel and not you?� And why did they leave?� If she�s stayed here, she could have killed me the second I walked through the door.� You better not be lying to me, nobody likes a liar.�� Though a threat was implied in the words, Willow could hardly muster the tone of voice and appropriate evil glare to back it up.� In one night, her whole existence was turned on its head.� The last thing she was in the mood for was trying to keep a pet in line.�

Taking a deep breath, just to prove to himself that his windpipe wasn�t crushed, Spike continued, �Well see, the slayer didn�t know you went and took every last minion in the place on you little mission.� I told her you were out rounding up the rest of the gang and you�d be back any minute with dozens.� Said you�d be royally pissed to find out she made off with one of your pets as her personal sidekick.� I volunteered to stay and lead you to her, posing as the loyal pet.� Then of course, you�d be ambushed and staked and us �righteous� vamps would live happily ever after helping the slayer fight evil.�

Willow just looked at him, taking it all in.� Then she burst out laughing.� She couldn�t remember the last time she had laughed at something other than her dinner screaming in terror.� At that moment, it was the only reaction she could come up with.� Spike�s next comment ended her humor in a hurry.

�You do realize he really is on her side, right?� Angel, I mean.� He�s gone with her for real and won�t be back.� He only let me get away with the little soul gag because he didn�t want the slayer to doubt him by calling me a liar, seeing as how to her we seemed to be in the same boat.�

In spite of the circumstances, this was too far for Willow who punched Spike in the stomach and when he bent double in pain, slapped him across the face.�

Instantly remembering his place, Spike choked out, �I�m sorry Mistress, I didn�t mean to doubt your intelligence or imply that you were wrong to treat us the way you did.�� He hung his head and focused on her feet.�

Willow waved her hand to silence him.� She needed to think.� Spike�s trick had bought her some time, but not much.� The best plan still seemed to be the one that got her out of Sunnydale the quickest.� Angel would know Spike would never lead her to the slayer.� How long would it be before he earned her trust enough to tell her the truth?� He obviously only went along with the whole charade to get the slayer to unchain him, thinking that she needed him for bait.� Willow cursed herself for leaving the keys in the basement.� Now Angel was free to betray her at any time.�

Spike did tell one truth.� Willow was furious that the slayer had taken what belonged to her.� However, she was also realistic and decided that Angel was not worth her likely death to retrieve.� Besides, she still had one pet, and the fun one at that.� Without another word to Spike, Willow went to retrieve the keys from their hook on the wall beside her favorite whips where Buffy had so thoughtfully replaced them.� Moving further down the wall, Willow unlocked a large metal collar, complete with attached chains and wrist cuffs.�

Returning to her pet, Willow carefully clamped the collar around Spike�s neck and then released the shackles that bound him to the cage.� Spike moved to rub his skin vigorously where the shackles had been.� They hadn�t been removed since he was captured.� Willow only ever unchained Angel because she knew she he was fully under her control.� He didn�t get much relief as Willow quickly fastened the cuffs dangling from his neck around each wrist.� Thus restrained, Spike�s arms were held together in front of him and Willow was able to pull him where she wished using the lead chain that extended from the back of the collar.�

During this procedure, neither of them spoke.� Willow was pleased with his compliance and made a mental note to reward him when she had time.� Taking Spike by his lead, she brought him up the stairs and back to her room where she found a pair of pants for him to wear.� She was afraid his nudity would draw too much attention.� Willow helped him struggle into a pair of leather pants that were a size too sm all, then threw a cloak around his shoulders, not wanting to work out how to put a shirt on him over the restraints.� When she was done, she looked him up and down, bit back a surge of rage at the sharp reminder of her dead mate, and dragged him out the door.�

In no time they were speeding down the freeway in a beat up, black De Soto that they had come across.� Once they were outside the town�s borders, Willow relaxed a little.� It wasn�t even midnight yet.� They could be far, far away by the time the sun came up and they had to stop, hours from now.� Hours which Willow intended to use to plan how she would someday return and exact vengeance on the slayer.� Until then, it was just her, Spike, and the open road.�