when4

�It shall be like old times. All my boys and I. We shall hunt, and dance, and make glorious love in the moonlight.� The soil under her feet began to crack and move and she stepped back. �We shall be a family again.� Buffy�s white hands burst out from the ground. She sat up inside the grave. Dark soil streamed over her, running from her hair down her chest. Drusilla grabbed her hands and lifted her to her feet. �Happy Birthday to you,� she sang brightly.

�I�m hungry,� said Buffy roughly.

�Of course you are, my sweet child. Let�s just get you cleaned up, and we shall have a feast fit for a princess.� She took Buffy by the hand and led her inside the mansion.

****

�Are you sure this is the right thing to do?� asked Angel as he drove.

�If there was any way to reverse this, any way to restore her life, I would do it gladly,� Giles replied. �But there is no other way. For Buffy to live as a soulless demon, for her to become the thing that she hated most, that is worse than death.�

�She loved Spike,� said Angel. �She�d moved beyond the hatred. She saw him as a man, and more than that, a good person. Even without a soul.� He paused. �And the way that I understand the claim, it is eternal. If one lives, they both live. If Buffy rises, Spike will rise too.� He looked directly at the Watcher. �You won�t just be killing Buffy. You�ll be killing Spike as well.�

�Spike existed for over a century as a vampire,� said Giles. �And he lived a mortal lifespan as well.� He snapped a bolt into the crossbow. �If he truly loved her, he would want me to do this.�

****

Willow ran down the steps and entered the garden of the mansion. She saw the open grave and the path of dirt that led inside. She rushed to enter. A tall figure walked from the shadows and stood in front of her. �I will not let you interfere,� a low voice said.

Willow�s eyes glowed brightly as blue fire flared up and down her hands. �Nothing can stop me,� she said.

He waved at her hands and smoke drifted from them, the fire extinguished. �Apparently your logic is a bit flawed.�

The witch backed away as she blazed bright with energy. �I am strong! I am powerful! No one can stop me.�

The vampire walked towards her, and his features became clear in the moonlight. He tilted his head at her and smiled widely. His brown eyes were warm. �You are nothing but an angry little kitten.� She brought up her hand and tossed a ball of energy at him. He caught it easily and threw it into the wall, where is shattered the stone. �Why don�t you save some time and sheathe your claws.� He crossed his arms and stared at her. His long black hair swayed slightly in the breeze.

�Who do you think you are?� she hissed.

�I am Aurelius,� he replied.

********

Drusilla paced around an opulent bedroom, the silk of her kimono sliding across the carpets. A fire blazed in the fireplace, casting shadows on the walls. Buffy was shackled at the wrists to a large four poster bed, her body clothed in a sheer black gown. She stared up at the ceiling, her face expressionless. Drusilla picked up a small chain with a twist of metal at each end from the bedside table. �Our clan has many traditions.� She slithered onto the bed in a blur of white silk and straddled the other girl. The mass of Dru�s unbound black hair draped around Buffy�s face as she leaned forward. She ran her tongue along Buffy�s eyebrow as the chain twined through her long pale fingers. The other woman didn�t respond at all. �You�re part of our family now, so it�s up to Mummy to teach you.� She bent her head and pressed her lips to Buffy�s. The fledgling turned her head, breaking the embrace.

Drusilla grabbed Buffy�s chin tightly in her grasp. �I am your sire. You submit to me,� she said in firm tones, her eyes blazing green. She clenched her hand and Buffy whimpered in pain. Drusilla brought her mouth to her child�s and kissed her deeply. �You taste so sweet. No wonder they all buzz around you. Bees want to drink such sweet nectar.� She slipped the straps down Buffy�s shoulders and revealed her breasts. The blonde girl was a pliable as a doll, not providing any resistance. �You�re a very good girl,� enthused the dark haired vampire. �You obey me well.� She drew her nail down Buffy�s cheek and licked the trail of blood that formed there.