One Last Reason
by zenithar
One Last Reason
[reviews]
Disclaimers: BtVS is Joss' world, I'm just fiddling with it. Takata and his lyrics are property of Kim Harrison (if you haven't read her books, READ THEM! They're awesome, I swear) All credit goes to Harrison for the bits of her world that I steal. One last thing, the line "It'll hurt like the son" is Harrison's as well (not sure if I need to say that or not for such a short line).
Author's Notes: Thanks go to Rebelrsr for their help in proofing this. Also want to make the comment that a few ideas for this fic were sparked by the books written by Kim Harrison. The sparks will be a little more obvious in later chapters, but I just wanted to give forewarning that I will be tweaking Joss' world to fit a touch better with Harrion's. One last little note: I am still working on Fallen. Just needed a change of pace, so I'm not sure when the next chapter for it will be up.
Walking through the crowd of students in Sunnydale High was a petite blonde side by side with a tall brown haired boy. The small blonde was wearing red leather pants with a black t-shirt, muttering to herself, "I can't believe I called her reliable. I mean could I get the metaphorical boot any further in my mouth?"
The teen dressed in a green sweater and jeans grabbed her arm and moved the two of them to the side of the hallway so they could talk. "Whoa, slow down there, Buffy. Everyone makes mistakes when it comes to their friends," the boy said and shrugged his backpack off and onto the ground to be more comfortable.
"Yeah, but not when it comes to their best friends, Xander," Buffy wallowed in her self pity.
"Buff, I think it was obvious Willow is having a bad day," Xander argued, "There wasn't anything you could have done that would have made things better."
Harrumphing and crossing her arms, she snipped back, "Well you not helping would have made things better."
Xander ran a hand through his unruly hair as he said, "Alright, you've got me there. So what are we going to do about it?"
"Apologize to her, just as soon as we find her," Buffy said as she stood up on her tip toes to try and look over the throng of passing students. Hearing the bell ring, Buffy gave up her search and turned back to Xander. "After school you check out the library to see if she's there; I'll go check her house and the Bronze."
"Roger that, Buffster. Meet up at the Bronze later?" he asked and bent over to scoop up his backpack.
Nodding her agreement, the small blonde took off for her next class. When school ended, the blonde practically sprinted out of the building heading for her best friend's house. Finding no one home, Buffy started to make her way to the teen club. By the time she made it to the club the sky was overcast making it surprisingly dark. Reaching the old warehouse that had been converted into a dance club, Buffy could hear the blare of hard, fast music playing. Stepping inside, the girl started scanning the place for her redheaded friend. Catching sight of red hair and a jock from school getting into a fight, she moved without thinking. Breaking the hold the redhead had on the jock and throwing him to the ground Buffy yelled, "Hey, get the hell away from her!"
Nodding up from the ground as he shook with fear, the jock scurried off. Turning back around to face her best friend, Buffy received the biggest shock of her life. Standing before her was her best friend of three years decked out in a full leather get up. Black, skintight leather pants left little to the imagination, and the corset she had on gave definition to curves that were normally hidden under fluffy sweaters. The blonde's face went completely slack as she took in her friend's new look. "Ugh, meh, um... Wow Willow, the new look is... great!" Buffy stuttered out, wiping away the bit a drool that slipped from her mouth. "I knew you were talking about changing things, but isn't this a bit drastic?"
The redhead simply squinted her eyes and glared. "It's you. I don't like you," she said in an eerie voice that seemed to drip venom. Turning away Willow stalked off through the back door of the Bronze leaving Buffy standing stock still.
The blonde was shocked at what her friend just said. Not only had she sounded like she hated her, but there was something dark in her voice, something she never thought could even exist in her friendly, kind hacker. (No, no, something's not right. I'm not going to just let her storm off for a second time today,) Buffy thought, (I'm not going to let this fester.)
Following the redhead out the door, she found herself in an alley. It was empty save for a few boxes and dumpsters. The only source of light came from the lamp that hung above the door she just left. Quickly looking to the exits of the alley, she spotted Willow about to leave. Buffy hurried after her, calling out, "Willow, stop. Something's obviously wrong; please let me help."
The leather clad girl, stopped but didn't turn around. "This world is wrong. It's boring," her cold voice carried on the soft wind passing through the back street.
"Wrong? Boring? Will, you're not making any sense," the blonde said hopelessly.
Ignoring what Buffy was saying, the redhead started talking again. "This world's no fun, but I think you could help with that, Slayer."
"Slayer?" Buffy asked in a confused tone as Willow turned around. She never called Buffy by her sacred position. The smile she had on didn't seem to fit the normally shy hacker. It was leering and more than a little dangerous. Her eyes were twinkling with mischief, and not something that a juvenile delinquent would think of. No this was darker than that, much darker. The Slayer actually took a step back from her friend's look and tried to talk again, but her voice only came out as a small whisper, "Willow? You're scaring me."
"Aww, poor baby," she said patronizingly, "You're going to be so much more than scared when I'm done with you."
The next thing that happened completely knocked the ground from under the blonde. She couldn't seem to breathe, much less move as she watched her best friend's face shift and change to reveal a demonic visage of Willow's pale features. It seemed to take an eternity as the green eyes switched to gold and her smooth forehead to become ridged. The worst part was when the redhead smiled again at her, long fangs protruding and gleaming in the glow thrown by the light.
Walking over to the blonde with a noticeable sway to her hips the vampiric Willow licked her lips in anticipation. She only asked one thing, "Wanna be bad?"
¬_ _ _ _ _
School had just ended, and Xander was headed to one of the places Willow would show up— the library. Pushing the doors open, Xander called out, "Willow, you here?"
Looking up from where she was sitting, the redhead spotted her childhood friend across the table that had several piles of books. "Hey, Xander," she said dryly. "Going to try and make things better like you did at the fountain?"
"Um... I am going to try and make things better, but not like that," the boy said hesitantly. "I really didn't mean to make you feel bad earlier, I just meant it was good to be responsible. Sorta like the opposite of me," Xander finished, looking at his shoes.
Pushing her chair back, she stood up and went around the table to Xander. Shrugging her shoulders, Willow said, "Hey, it's alright. I was just having a bad day. Getting some alone time and looking up stuff for Giles helped me relax."
"You're really alright now?" Xander asked, looking Willow in the face. She nodded her head, and Xander let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Ok, that's good. Now we just need to catch up to Buffy and tell her the good news. By the way, where's Giles?"
"Back here," a British voice floated out from the further book stacks.
"Oh. Hey, Giles, we'll be at the Bronze if you need us," the teen said as he and Willow left.
"Ah, alright, I'll keep researching the Mayor's ascension," the old librarian answered back, not knowing he was talking to no one. "What ever the bloody hell that is," he mumbled to himself.
_ _ _ _ _
Black spiked hair waved back and forth as Oz scanned around for his friends. He was sitting at a table in a yellow t-shirt and slightly below the knee shorts, hoping to catch some glimpse of a familiar face. The sea of moving bodies and low lighting did little to help in his search. He knew none of his friends would be on the second floor of the Bronze, so he kept his eyes level, constantly brushing across the two entrances of the dance club. Having once been a warehouse, there was plenty of room for the dance floor and table area. The second floor wasn't much more than a place to stand, but it did offer a good vantage point for the rest of the place. Hoping to get a better chance of spotting the Gang, Oz headed for the stairs. Still searching the crowd, his eyes stopped on a black haired woman. She was wearing a leather jacket with a fur collar, giving her a dangerous look. The ripped and tattered jeans added to her appearance rather than making her seem poor. When her sky-blue eyes met Oz's own brown ones, he felt like she knew all of his secrets, looking straight through him and connecting with something deep within.
"Hey, Oz. Why aren't you up on stage?" Angel asked as he seemed to appear next to the werewolf, breaking his eye contact with the girl. The vampire's clean shaven face and haunted look made the old vampire appear timid, but Oz knew he was anything but. He was dressed in his usual black slacks and button shirt. Add in the full length leather duster, and he completed the image of a dark, mysterious, and broody vampire.
"One of the guys hasn't shown up yet. We've got the stereo playing to cover till he shows." Just then the current song playing ended. Changing his direction from the stairs to the stage, the werewolf tagged one of the people setting things up. "Hey, put Takata on." Nodding, the staff member went to switch CD's. Turning back to Angel, he asked, "You looking for Buffy?"
"As always," he smoothly answered.
"She hasn't shown; in fact, no one has," Oz said. "They said they would."
As if summoned, Xander and Willow walked in. The two friends looked around for the rest of their little group. Spotting them over near the stage, they made their way over just as a slow drum beat started reverberating through the warehouse. Immediately recognizing the intro, Xander spoke up, "You guys have Footprints of the Ghost going?" giving a name to the song.
"Yeah, just got Takata's newest CD. Thought I'd play it for everyone while one of the guys gets here," Oz said in his usual calm voice.
A low male voice came over the speakers as a guitar started to pick a slow tune. "The ghost is leaving footprints. In the sunshine. Past the gate." A bass slid into the song as it picked up tempo.
"You guys seen Buffy?" Willow asked.
"No," Angel answered. "I'm sure she'll show."
Xander shook his head, "Something's up. She should have been here way before any of us. She left right after school to look for Will."
"You're right, something feels off," Angel agreed.
_ _ _ _ _
The Slayer staggered back as the demon with her friend's face sauntered toward her. 'Oh God, she's dead. I failed her,' Buffy thought as self loathing and despair rose up inside her. 'I messed up, and now she's dead.' Looking into the frighteningly beautiful face of the vampire, tears built up in her eyes. 'I never told her. I never told her how I felt, how my feelings had changed for her.' As her vision blurred and her mind became even more hazed, she lifted a hand up to cup the vampire's cheek. The redhead surprisingly leaned into the touch, though Buffy hardly registered it. "I never meant for you to get hurt, Will, and I know I could never harm you. I love you too much." Her voice was choked with emotion. Looking into the startlingly beautiful gold eyes, Buffy's breath caught. "Even without your soul, you're the most gorgeous thing in the world." Salty tears ran down her face as she looked at her best friend.
Turning her head and rubbing her face into the palm, the vampiric Willow was practically purring. At hearing the confession, a devious smile slipped over her face. "Shhh, it's alright. Don't cry. I'll make everything better," the demon said soothingly. Bringing their faces closer, the vampire placed her lips over the blonde's. At first, the Slayer didn't react, but when a cool tongue brushed against her mouth, her own tongue reached out to meet its cooler counterpart with surprising intensity.
The reaction was stronger than the vampire has expected, as guilt, desire, and anguish poured through her from the kiss. Slipping her arms down around the shorter girl's waist, she pulled her closer. The vampire broke the kiss and looked Buffy in the eyes. Seeing her lust and devotion in the dilated amber eyes, the vampire gave a nearly unperceivable nod. Buffy somehow caught its meaning and tilted her head away, slowly displaying her scarred neck to the redhead's hungry gaze. 'I think I'm going to stay in this world. I've never had a Slayer before and with her we might be able to make this world fun,' the demon thought with slow building anticipation.
_ _ _ _ _
Buffy felt unreal after sharing the heated kiss with the vampiric Willow. Breathing heavily to catch her breath, she noticed the smell of leather, ash, and something that was uniquely Willow. The incense was like redwood after a storm. Knowing it came from the redhead, Buffy pulled the scent deep into her and released it.
Seeing the small nod, the Slayer knew exactly what the vampire wanted. With Willow dead, there was no reason to not accept what was being offered. Baring her neck for the vampire, she said one thing, "I'm glad it was you, Willow."
Smiling at the willingness of the blonde, the vampire kissed her neck gently. Keeping her mouth close to the flesh, she grazed the skin with her fangs, drawing twin pale lines. Not hard enough to puncture but enough to send a jolt of sensation running though Buffy who drew in a gasp at the touch.
"It will hurt like the sun, but then it will feel good," the vampire whispered huskily, "really good."
Shivering in anticipation and fear, Buffy waited for the bite. When it came, it was so much different from the Master's. While his was meant to simply deliver agony and death, this one was meant to release and give new life. She cried out in pain as the fangs cut through her skin as they felt like twin searing flames. When the hurt didn't recede, Buffy began to panic. Suddenly the impulses began to shift. Screaming in pain changed to moaning in bliss as the burning feeling melted into pleasure. Feeling the demon that had been her friend drain her life blood felt right, fitting. Panting from both the ecstasy and blood loss, Buffy's mouth turned up into a smile. The last thing to go through the girl's mind was Willow sitting under a tree in the park with the sun high above.
The Slayer's blood was better than an aphrodisiac; it was the nectar of the gods! Like burning liquid, the blood slid down her throat. The red elixir filled her body, spreading its warmth and strength throughout the vampire. Willow could do nothing other than draw more of the ambrosia into her. Buffy's strength fled from her body, making her legs weak, and Willow followed her to the ground. When she heard the Slayer's heart beat slow to near nothing, she released her mouth. Biting her own wrist to make it bleed, she shoved it into Buffy's mouth. Convulsively latching on, she drank the demon tainted blood. At last, the Slayer fell limp in the redhead's hands. Setting her on the ground, the vampire stood. It was done — a Slayer had been turned.