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Buffy collapsed on to the bed.

It had possibly been the worst day of her life. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. She'd had a lot of worst days, but this one ranked pretty high on the Suck-o-meter. Riley had cheated on her. Not just any old cheating. No, he'd cheated on her with the undead. Skanky, undead whores.

And then she'd spilled her guts to Spike, who was definitely acting weirder than usual. Not only was he stealing pictures of her and apparently doing the stalking thing, that she could handle. He was talking to her. Dancing with her.

All Slayer's have a death wish.

Tears began to roll down her face. Again. Why did it always hurt, why couldn't she ever just be happy? It was all so complicated. But, then she could never have anything pure. It seemed that everything she touched turned black. First the disaster of Angelus, now this unsavoury experience with Riley.

"Buffy? Are you okay?"

It was Willow. Buffy quickly wiped the tears away from her face, and stood up.

"I'm fine."

Willow walked in, and made a note of the Slayer's red rimmed eyes.

"No, you're definitely the opposite of fine." Willow's voice softened. "Do you want me to stay here tonight? Because if you want we can talk..."

"Really Willow, I'm okay. You go out, have some fun." Buffy gave a bitter laugh. "I mean, I should be used to dealing with this kind of thing by now, shouldn't I?"

"Buffy..."

"Just go."

Willow walked hesitantly over to her friend, gave her a hug, and left.

The moment the door clicked shut, the tears came again.

*****

"You guys just don't...ugh...get it, do you?"

Buffy slammed another stake home, and the second vampire turned to dust. The ashes of his friend where scattered nearby, and she turned to face the last vampire.

"Come on then. Make my..."

The vampire took one look at the Slayer and ran.

"They never let me finish that line! It makes me so mad when vampires don't appreciate melodrama."

< And I'm talking to myself. Must be the after effects of the whole achy breaky heart experience... >

Buffy stopped babbling and stood over a grave, stake poised. A vampire burst through the soil, and she looked at her watch.

"Right on time. Bye bye!"

Dust.

This wasn't making her feel better. Well, not very much. For a start, it was too easy.

< Whatever happened to indestructible evil coming along every week? I haven't had a decent slay for...well, ages. >

Then she heard it. A low growl. Very low and very loud. It seemed to be coming from the general direction of the tomb on her left, about ten meters away.

"You just had to ask, didn't you...." she mumbled under her breath. Stake raised, she moved silently towards the tomb. There was a swift rush of air.

Everything went black.

*****

"First degree burns...face and hands...seem to be healing remarkably quickly...no, there's no danger of scarring.."

Buffy's eyes flickered open and she recognised the now familiar smell of the hospital. There was a flurry of motion and she was aware of a sea of concerned faces.

"Buffy, you're awake! Thank God..."

"Knew she was just faking it..."

"Geez Buff, you had us worried..."

"You said you were okay I shouldn't have left you..."

Giles spoke again.

"What happened?"

"I was...patrolling. thought it might calm me down a little...then I...heard something. Like a growly noise. And I went to see what it was, then I..I can't remember."

She felt her face. There were a few patches of rough skin.

"What happened to my face?"

"First degree burns. Nothing serious." That was the doctor, with her clipped professional tone.

"Burns.."

Leathery wings. Charcoal breath. Gleaming teeth. Nightmare claws.

"It was a dragon."

*****

�Dragons! There are no such things as dragons! Vampires, demons, slug-men, Inca-mummy girls, yes. But dragons?� Xander said incredulously. Even Willow raised her eyebrow, and Buffy immediately regretted saying it.

�Think hard Buffy. Was it some kind of fire-breathing demon?� Giles asked, squinting worriedly at her.

�I was so sure�it was a�never mind. I suppose it might have been a demon�� Buffy trailed off. The others continued to stare at her. Dawn snorted.

�Look, whether it�s a dragon or a demon, what�s the problem?�

Giles turned on her. �The problem is it very nearly could have killed your sister, and we need to find a way to destroy it. You can�t always just jump in and kill demons, you know, especially strong ones. Even with Buffy�s accelerated healing powers, she still ended up in hospital�are you feeling any better?�

�I�ll be okay by tomorrow. Are you going to��

�I�ll have a look through the books, see what I can find�.until tomorrow then.�

�Bye Buff.�

�I�ll drop by later, I promise.�

Dawn sat silently by Buffy�s bed for a moment longer, waiting until the others had gone. She looked at her sister with large eyes and a slightly questioning expression.

�Was it really a�dragon?�

Buffy sighed. �No. I guess not. Look, you go with Xander. He said he�d look after you.�

�I don�t need looking...Xander? Bye!�

The Slayer lay her head back on to the bed and closed her eyes. She couldn�t get rid of the feeling that something was watching her, an unpleasant reminder of the previous night�s close encounter.

< If Giles says there�s no such thing as dragons�I guess I was wrong. >

�Slayer? You awake in there?�

< Spike. >

Buffy kept her eyes closed, and willed him to go away. A visit from the peroxide pest was just about the last thing she needed now. He was part of the reason she was so angry and confused. At least the whole dragon thing had made her forget a little. His voice was a fresh reminder of Riley�s absence, and she felt her concentration slipping.

Spike crouched down by the side of the hospital bed, and she heard him put something on the floor. Then he just stood and looked at her for a few minutes before leaving, the door clicking gently shut behind him.

Buffy cautiously opened one eye, and with great effort leaned over the side of the bed. A small box.

< Curiouser and curiouser. >

She held it up to eye level. Just a plain, black box, about the size of a book. She prised the lid off the box with some difficulty, and pushed aside the tissue paper.

It was a tooth. Sharp white enamel, gleaming in the dim electric light. It was too large to be a vampire tooth, but resembled one that she�d once knocked from a fledgling�s mouth. Buffy picked it up and held it in her hand.

A thousand images seared her mind.

She was flying across a barren desert, hot air blasting strands of hair away from her face. Soaring down low, effortlessly, she was free. Twisting and turning, then she saw something on the ground.

Dinner.

She closed in on the hooded figure, claws ready to maim and kill, mouth open wide in a deadly snarl.

The hooded figure whirled around. It grabbed her leg, causing her to falter and fall. It kicked her while she regained her senses, and she fought with it. They circled like wildcats, warrior to warrior, claws and fire against hand and sword.

Then the hood fell back, and it plunged the sword deep into breast.

And as Buffy was sucked back to reality, she saw the dragon die, and the one who had killed it turned to face her, with vibrant, laughing emerald eyes.

The Dragon Slayer smiled.

*****

Spike�s eyes snapped open, and he jumped up. The Slayer stumbled a little, then quickly regained her balance, pushing him up against the cold stone wall of the tomb. He could have shaken her hand off easily enough, she was still weak, but he savoured the physical contact.

�What do you know?�

�Slayer��

�Tell me! This isn�t the time for��

She fell forward, and he reached out to support her.

�Don�t touch me!�

Buffy backed away, unsteady on her legs, and when she raised her head again he saw tears of anger and frustration form. They were blinked away quickly, and she approached him once more, her breathing more level.

�This isn�t the time for your games, Spike. Tell me what I need to know. Where did you get this?�

Spike�s eyes narrowed as she showed him the dragon�s tooth, laid flat on her hand.

�It was a present.�

�The truth. I mean it. Don�t think I won�t��

�You won�t what, Slayer? You�re as weak as a kitten, and..�

She sprung forward and slammed his head against the wall, clutching his throat in an iron grip.

�An angry kitten.�

When he looked into her eyes, he knew that whatever fragile bond had started to form was broken. Spike rolled his eyes, and inwardly cursed himself for pushing her.

�I got it from a dragon. You don�t believe me? Well, I didn�t get it straight from the dragon�s mouth. It was given to me as a prize I won in a duel. I thought you might be interested.�

Buffy�s hands fell to her side, and she bit her bottom lip. She was sure he knew more than he was letting on, and decided not to push him any further. There were, however, a few more things to clear up.

�What�s a Dragon Slayer?�

�I don�t know. I�m guessing from the inventive name, it slays dragons.�

She let out an exasperated breath.

�Ask a stupid question�one more thing. How did you know I was attacked by a dragon�if they even exist.�

�Who do you think took you to the hospital?�

The question hung in the air between them, the silence heavy and hot. Buffy spun around on her heels, and angrily walked out of the tomb. Instead of finding answers, she had raised more questions.

Spike picked up the dragon�s tooth, discarded on the floor. A voice echoed inside his head, throughout every fibre of his body.

< You think you know...what you are, what�s to come. You haven�t even begun yet. >

And with it an image of the Slayer seared through his mind. Her neck was at an unnatural angle, her eyes wide and staring. Blood spattered the walls of the cold stone room, her blood, and something crouched over her.

And as he was sucked back to reality, he saw the Slayer�s broken body slump to the floor, and the one who had killed her turned to face him.

The dragon growled.

*****

Buffy paced.

< This is decidedly bad. This is more than bad. This is totally freaking me out. >

Spike just sat there on her bed, not speaking. They exchanged looks again, and Buffy�s pacing became more frantic.

< I see a Dragon Slayer. He sees me being killed by a dragon. In many ways, I prefer my vision. >

�We need to do something. Like go and talk to Giles.�

�Oh yeah, pet. He doesn�t even think dragons exist. None of them do.�

�But the visions, the scorch marks��

Spike stood up, agitated.

�It doesn�t matter! We had the visions, we saw the bloody dragons!�

Outside, a branch creaked. Slowly it began to bend under the controlled pressure of the claws wrapped experimentally around it. Inside, the Slayer and the vampire were really starting to argue. The owner of the claws saw the Slayer�s bedroom door open and a young girl look in. She seemed intrigued by the vampire, but the Slayer closed the door.

Buffy shut the door.

The branch snapped.

*****

Buffy immediately turned to face the window, and assumed a fighting stance. Spike�s eyes flickered to the place where the branch had been, and he flung himself at her. They both hit the floor seconds before a fireball blasted through the window and destroyed Buffy�s room.

Spike inhaled the smell of her hair, felt her heartbeat quicken and the adrenaline pump through her blood. Part of him hoped it was from his touch, but he knew that it was a result of the near miss. They lay there for a few seconds, then she pushed him off her. Spike sprang back and helped the shaking Slayer to her feet.

�Thanks.�

She looked outside, scanning the ground below for signs of an intruder.

< I don�t even really believe it myself. It could still be a demon. >

Buffy felt Spike�s presence directly behind her, and turned. He shook his head.

�Don�t look down there. Look up there.�

He pointed into the depths of the starry sky. Whatever had been there, had tried to kill them, was gone. It had left them with a powerful demonstration of its power, however. Buffy sighed in resigned exasperation as she looked at the blackened shell which had been her room. The door fell open to reveal a stunned Dawn and Joyce.

�Buffy�what��

Buffy held up a hand to silence her mother�s words.

�It was a demon. A fire demon. I�m going to kill it.�

�We�re going to kill it.�

Spike and Buffy�s eyes met. They were in this thing together now, for better or worse. Spike�s voice broke the silence.

�I�d better be off. Unless you want some help��

�I can manage. I suppose we should start tomorrow?�

�Meet me in Giles� house after he�s left for the magic shop.�

�Giles� house?�

�Books.�

And with that he jumped out of Buffy�s broken window, landed like a cat, and walked away. Buffy shook her head at the surreal situation, and groaned again as she surveyed the damaged room. Joyce raised her eyebrows and went back to bed. Dawn lingered at the door, then started to help Buffy salvage what was left of her possessions.

�Buffy?�

�Yep.�

�What�s going on with you and Spike?�

�Nothing.�

There was a short silence as Dawn helped her sister free a stuffed toy from behind the broken shelving.

�So why was he in your room? And why don�t you want Giles involved?�

Buffy stopped and sighed.

�Look. Just don�t tell Giles or any of the others about this. It�s something Spike and I have to do�I don�t know why him, or why me�.it just happened.�

Dawn left her sister feeling more confused than ever. Was Buffy trying to tell her that she and Spike were in some kind of relationship? Or dating. She used to be so sure that Buffy hated Spike and he hated Buffy, but recently he�d been hanging around more. However much they argued, Dawn still loved her sister, and she thought that a secret relationship with Spike was bad news. As she climbed into bed, she decided to talk to Xander or Willow about it tomorrow. They�d know what to do.

Buffy curled up on the couch, blankets wrapped around her. Her mind kept playing back to the scene in her bedroom, when Spike had launched himself at her. He could have just ducked himself and left her to die or hope that she�d realise in time. But he hadn�t. He wanted her alive. The Slayer shivered. All the time she known Spike, they�d wanted each other dead. This was something new, something where they were both involved. In it together. Would she have saved Spike if she�d noticed the dragon, the creature, before him?

< I don�t want to answer that. >

*****

�Ow!�

�Shut up!�

�Well, it slipped, and it hurt��

�You couldn�t break your way into a cardboard box. You�re bloody useless!�

�I�m useless? I�m not the vampire who can�t kill people!�

�Why are we having to break in, anyway? Why don�t you have a key?�

�Because I lost it.�

�Trust the stupid Slayer to lose the key, and the goddamn Watcher to have fitted industrial�.strength�locks!�

With that final retort, Slayer and vampire pushed the door open as one. Buffy dropped the screwdriver she�d been trying to pick the lock with, and it rolled away in the early morning darkness. Spike stumbled, then righted himself. He moved immediately to the bookcase, and Buffy watched in surprise as he selected two slim volumes.

�How did you�.�

�Know which ones to pick? I had another vision, a dream one, last night. Here.�

She caught one of the books, and read the title aloud. ��Watcher�s Diary - Elizabeth Scott.� What�s yours called?� He glanced up, and his expression clouded. �Watcher�s Records - William the Bloody.��

They both read in silence after that. Buffy wondered how much the book Spike was reading could help.

< I mean, it�s about him. No-one can know more about him, than, well, him. Can they? I suppose someone, somewhere, knows more about me than me. Scary. >

Spike looked up. He�d found what he thought was the helpful part in the first chapter. After that he�d skimmed through the rest of the book, scowling when the writer made a mistake. On the whole, however, it was pretty good. It stopped after he�d killed his second Slayer.

< Wonder what they�d have written about my encounters with Little Miss Buffet. It�d be bloody embarrassing, that�s for sure. >
He watched the Slayer in question as she read the old Watcher�s diary. She bit her bottom lip and he remembered that day, almost a year ago, when they�d been in love.

< Oh, pouty. Look at that lip. Gonna get it. Gonna... get it. >

He grimaced in embarrassment at the memory, then closed his eyes briefly, to try and relive the moment. The sweet taste of her lips, her lithe body pressed against him�

�Spike? Now is not the time to sleep. Although technically, you being a vampire, it is the time�Spike?�

�Hmmm? Oh, Slayer, right��

�Did you find anything?�

�I think so�.you? Did you manage to read all the big, hard words?�

�Shut up. Listen to this. �Today Elizabeth was burnt. I believe the culprit to be a fire demon of some sort, although she insists otherwise. I have left her in the care of a nurse, who I hope will do the best she can for her.� Then he doesn�t write anything for a few days. �Today Elizabeth was approached by a vampire. He told her that they shared a fate, but she ignored his lying words and killed him. I cannot think what he meant, he seemed to just be another bloodsucking killer.� He goes on for a bit about how the fire demon had disappeared, and there�s one last entry. � She is dead. Badly burnt, and only recognisable by the cross she wore. It appears that I have been wrong about everything. I do not trust��

Spike gestured impatiently.

�Do not trust what?�

Buffy shrugged. �It just stops. The pages have been ripped out. Someone didn�t want anyone to know about this.�

�The only people who�ve had access to these books are other Watchers and the Council.�

Their eyes widened at the implications, and Spike turned to the page he was concerned with.

�After hearing that, this makes a little more sense. � William the Bloody has been a concern of the Council, due to his violent nature and a prophesy concerning both him and a certain Slayer. This prophesy has not been revealed, but it is thought to concern the Slayer�s true nature. All that is know is the Council wish him dead.� That�s all news to me. Except the violent nature part.�

Buffy frowned. �It sounds like whatever�s happening to me and you happened to Elizabeth and that vampire she staked. The Council don�t want anyone to know�why?�

�Well, think about it, luv. A vampire and a Slayer? A shared destiny? Together? It goes against the whole work ethic��

�Destined for what? Destined to be a Dragon Slayer? I can see that working for me, but what�s your part?�

�Destined to help you? I don�t know.�

�Maybe we need to go to the heart of the problem.�

�The Council?�

�The dragon.�

Part 2 of "Written in Charcoal"
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