Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 8
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. grrrr
Everything up to the episode Empty Places has happened, just a few changes from the last season. One: Wood and Caleb did not show up. Two: So obviously much changeings to endings of series. Also the weapon that Buffy got is changed to an actual scythe.
Author's Note: ' ' indicates Buffy's demon. ( ) indicates human thoughts
Buffy was awoken by a strange feeling of... emptiness. Getting out of her bed she looked around and found nothing seemed wrong, except her demon was completely silent for the first time since rising. Noticing that night had fallen Buffy walked out into the hallway listening for the others. Hearing nothing she headed towards what had been her mother's room, but was now Willow's. Opening it a crack the slayer vampire looked in on the sleeping redhead. Willow lay asleep on her side with her back facing the door. Moving with unnatural silence and grace Buffy went and sat down on the bed without disturbing the witch. Gently reaching out and brushing the red locks behind her ear, she revealed Willow's cheek and neck. The slayer let the back of her fingers graze over the exposed skin. Bringing her face closer, the vampire placed a feather light kiss on the girl's cheek before shifting her face and slowly lowering her mouth to the bare neck before her. Gently sinking her fangs into Willow's neck, the redhead stiffened having been brought awake by the slight pain. The only noise the witch was able to make out was a sighed 'why?' then she fell limp into the bed.
Buffy moaned as she slowly came down from the high of draining her friend dry when she heard Dawn's voice calling for her. Suddenly the scent of blood hit her nose for the first time that night and three things happened at once: Buffy's surrounding wavered then vanished, and she found herself on her bed; second: Dawn was standing in front of her holding a bag; and third: her demon's laughter.
Seeing Buffy's fear stricken face Dawn placed the bag she was holding onto the nightstand. She went to sit next to Buffy only for her to skitter away and curl into a ball and begin rocking. The slayer's sister asked, "Buffy what's with the wiggens? You sounded like you were having a good dream?"
The vampire lifted her head a little, "Dream? It was only a dream?" she whispered to herself.
"What's wrong?" Dawn repeated.
Wiping back the few loose stands of hair that fell into her face Buffy answered, "Noth-nothing. Just your everyday nightmare." 'Ha! More like a fantasy. You know you wanted her blood, to make her like us.'
"You sure?" seeing Buffy shudder then give a small nod, Dawn kept an eye on her sister as she went over to the brown paper bag she brought and handed it to her. "The others got you some blood on their way back, thought you might be a little hungry."
"Thanks," she said, accepting the bag, "but I'm not really hungry right now." She put the bag down on the bed. (I would never want to do that to Will!) the slayer thought at her demon.
"Oh, ok. Everyone's downstairs and they found some stuff on your sire, so um, if you want to listen in feel free." At this point Dawn was a little uncomfortable being with her sister. She just really did not know how to act around her. Should she act as though nothing was wrong? Ask her about it? In the end she simply let Buffy set the pace they would go. "I guess I'll go then."
Even after Dawn left, Buffy was still sitting on her bed looking at the blood, caught in her internal conversation. 'Oh? I was under the impression you hated her, what with the hissing at her and everything.'
(I do, I mean I don't... I, I don't know.)
'What's not to know! She brought you back as a vampire, possibly the worst thing you could ever think of happening and then goes to ask you for your help.'
(Yes, but Willow would never have done something like this without a good reason,) Buffy thought while continuing to stare at the blood bag.
Making a disgusted noise at Buffy's thought the demon opted for a topic change 'We can figure your feelings out later; right now drink up. I'm sure you'll need your strength when your kill your friends,' Buffy's demon tormented her.
"Shut up! I'm not going to kill anyone," the slayer unconsciously yelled out loud. Noticing this she hissed at her demon, "It was only a normal dream, not anything else."
'Fine, believe what you want. I'm too hungry to argue right now anyway so go drink some blood,' the demon replied indifferently.
"No, I'm not going to drink blood. I can still eat normal food. Being a slayer once has to give me some kind of a perk."
'Doesn't work that way, girly, you're a vampire now - as in undead. So it's blood or nothing,' her demon pointed out.
Ignoring her demon's information Buffy silently made her way to the kitchen avoiding the living room where she could hear everyone. Finding some leftover pizza she started chewing on it and continued to search the fridge for more food. (See. It doesn't taste bad or make me want to puke,) she thought at her demon as she mentally stuck her tongue at her.
Slightly baffled by the new knowledge the demon still pressed her earlier point 'You do know that even though this does taste normal you're not getting anything from it. Your hunger is still there and that hunger can only be sated with blood.'
Finishing the pizza slice, she slowly closed the fridge and sat down on a stool near the counter. Her demon was right. The food, as good as it tasted, did nothing to make the rumbling in her stomach go away. 'You know I'm right,' she said smugly, 'So if you're not going to snack on your friends go back to that blood upstairs.'
Growling softly, Buffy thought, (Don't even joke about that. We will never hurt my friends. If you shut up I'll go and drink your damn blood.) Once again sneaking through the house Buffy made her way back to her room.
Closing the door on her way in the vampire went over to the blood. (You had better be right about this.)
'Don't worry it'll taste great,' Buffy could nearly see her demon drooling.
Opening the bag and reaching in for the bottle Buffy let her demon's hunger show. After pulling the lid the slayer lifted the blood to her lips. Hesitating a moment longer she quickly took a short pull from it — which she immediately spat back out..
(What the hell?!) 'That tastes like shit!' Buffy and her demon exclaimed at the same time. "I thought you said it would taste good!
"What's up with the blood?"
Reverting to her human face and wiping the blood off her chin Buffy turned around. She found Xander standing in the doorway, "Um... it... the blood... tastes bad."
A confused look crossed Xanders face, "It should be fresh. We got the blood from the butcher when we were out earlier. Hey! Maybe you don't need blood because you were a slayer."
"No. I need blood," she said flatly.
"What about normal food?"
"That doesn't work either." Seeing his eye brow rise up in question, she clarified "I snuck downstairs a second ago for some food."
"Maybe you just can't have animal blood, but you can have other blood. But that would leave..." Xander trailed off.
"Human," she said lifelessly.
"I'm not helping here am I?"
Shaking her head slightly, "Not too much Xand. Look, we'll deal with my eating problem later; right now I'd like to see what you found out about my sire." Nodding his head Xander began leading the way downstairs. "Heh, there's another thing I never thought I'd say: my sire."
"Yeah, it's right up there with: Hey, I died twice, well three times now," Xander added trying to lighten the mood. Upon reaching the living room, Buffy noticed all the furniture had been moved back in and everyone was there save Willow. Anya was in an armchair as was Spike, Faith was sitting on the couch and Dawn was leaning against her with her head on her shoulder. That is until Buffy came in and Dawn immediately moved her head. Xander called out to the gathered Scoobies, "Ok, calling this Scooby meeting to session. What did we dig up on the Buffster's sire?" Xander said while rubbing his hand together.
Looking at each other, they were uncertain who should start. Surprisingly it was Spike who hit things off, "Biggest thing we found out was that she's been around for nearly three thousand years and has sired only six childer, including you," pointing at Buffy. "This means she's incredibly protective of her family and is probably trying to find you."
After waiting for someone else to say something Buffy spoke, "That's it? She's really old and wants me back?"
"Well if you want her personal info," Spike said indignantly, "you can read that," pointing at a rather large tome on the coffee table. Seeing her glair at him Spike rethought, "Alright we'll figure out all the little details while you do something relaxing, like patrolling."
"How do you see relaxing and patrol the same thing?" Buffy asked.
"You're all tense and the best thing for that is a good fight," Spike said getting up and reaching for the tome on the coffee table, "loosens the joints and emotions up."
'Do as he says, neither of us wants to read some dusty old book," Buffy's demon pointed out.
Faith spoke up, "I'll go with ya... for company is all."
Thinking for a moment before answering Buffy nodded her head, "K, I guess that works." Turning to Faith, Buffy asked, "So where do you keep the stakes?"