Queen Bee
by cathy nort
chapter 9
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Buffy could not hide her suspicions. Dusty seemed quite matter-of-fact. No doubt she had been through this before.........with someone else in the position Buffy now found herself in. "You want some of my blood? How much? Who is going to draw it or am I to be.....what's the ancient word..........bled?"
Dusty laughed. "Nothing so primitive as bleeding you dry. I only need a small amount and being so elderly, in years, not appearances, I've learned how to draw blood. Only need about 600c's. About as much as you would give as a blood donor. You'll hardly miss it. I wouldn't need even that much but I have my worker bees to think about. That is vital for them and as you might know, a queen is helpless without the loyalty of her workers."
"So all this is about a dabble of my blood. Kidnapping my sister and my lo.........best friend? Isn't this a rather extreme way to have handled the situation?"
Dusty sat down again in her chair. "Extreme to you Buffy. Not at all extreme to me. My window of opportunity is very small. A few short weeks at the most. I only have to do this........exchange every 17 years to be truthful but when that moment arrives I have to be ready. Fully prepared. It is not like I can say 'hey wait a second'. No. If I miss the window I don't get another chance. If I miss I am doomed. Forever. So, as you can understand, it isn't as if i can spend a lot of time in negotiation with my supplier. That's you. Could I have walked up to you and said 'hey Buff, how 'bout popping out some hemo for me? Might make you think I'm some kind of weirdo. And just maybe you'd want to know why I wanted your donation? I've found the best way is to act decisively. Ya know i could have grabbed you. There are five of us and only one you, although you are a formidable little creature. If I went after you there would be a chance, in your case, a very good chance, that you would resist. To extreme. I need you whole and.......uninjured. In one unbloodied piece."
Buffy studied the young woman across from her. She could feel the eyes of the two slayers in the doorway as they watched the drama unfold before them. Buffy thought it might be possible to make an attack. Dusty, Dorie and the third Slayer beside Dorie might be taken off guard. Plus Buffy was their investment in a long future. Would they risk harming me, Buffy wondered? Still the freeing of her sister and Willow was the utmost in Buffy's mind.
"Ok," Buffy said. "Let's do it now."
"Unfortunately," Dusty replied with a frown. "That's not possible at the moment. You see you're not ready. I don't want to be indelicate but.......ah........Buffy? When is your period?"
"My period? What has that........?"
Dusty held up a hand in front of her as if to ward off an assault. "Now be calm. The fact is you must be menstruating when this all occurs. A woman is at her glowing best. Her purist at that time. Also it is an absolute necessity for the creation of the blood exchange to work. So it can't be done at the moment. Unless........are you?"
"No. I'm not."
"Didn't think so. But if my observations are correct it should be any day now."
Buffy didn't ask when her observations took place. It didn't matter. "Day after tomorrow." Buffy stated briefly. "I'm always on time."
"Okay. You can be my guest until then. I promise to treat you with delicate care. I have to now don't I?"
Dusty looked over at her Slayers in the doorway. "Why don't you take Buffy down to see her Willow. And her sister" Dusty reached over and patted Buffy's wrist. You know? As a gesture of good will I'm going to have the girls release your sister. I'm sure your mother is frantic by now. At least she'll have one daughter to lean on. Oh. She won't know where she was or how she got here. Nor will she be harmed. Dawn will be sedated and dropped off in a quiet location. How's that sound?"