0 comments/ 19314 views/ 1 favorites Buffy vs. Dracula By: BlissfulZimZum666 Buffy Summers lay in bed unable to get to sleep. She closed her eyes, opened them. She fidgeted about, closed her eyes again then opened them. She looked at the clock and then looked over to Michael who was asleep next to her. Buffy frowned and then got up. Buffy ran through a graveyard. She was chasing a vampire. She leapt onto a headstone, tackled the vampire and they fell to the ground. They got up at the same time. Buffy kicked him in the side. He kicked at her but she ducked. Buffy pulled out Mister Pointy and staked the vampire. Buffy stood panting and looking around. Michael was still sleeping. Buffy climbed into the bed and snuggled up next to him, closing her eyes. The next day Buffy and the gang went to the beach. Buffy and Michael were throwing a football to each other. Michael threw the ball to Buffy, and she caught it. “Ha! Touchdown! Oh yeah. Go team me.” Buffy said and she does a victory dance. Michael grinned at Buffy. Buffy threw him the ball; he caught it with a frown. “Anybody ever tell team you the quarterback throws like a girl?” Michael asked and threw the ball back. Buffy caught the ball, frowning, “I do?” Michael gave a ‘well, yeah’ shrug. Buffy frowned, took a grip on the ball and threw it. It hit Michael in the face and he fell down. Concerned Buffy said, “Ooh, sorry!” Willow, Tara, Anya and Kaz were lounging on beach blankets while Xander was sitting by a fire pit, trying to light it. Michael got up and ran at Buffy. “No, don’t, no…” Buffy shrieked as Michael tackled her. “I’m exhausted just looking at those two. All the splashing and jumping and running... Shouldn’t relaxing involve less exertion?” Xander asked. “Absolutely. Exertion can lead to sweatiness.” Anya “Which can cause the pain and heartbreak of stinkiness. Better to just stay put.” Tara added. “I think we’ve just put our finger on why we’re the sidekicks.” Willow said smiling. Buffy and Michael approached. “Game over?” Willow asked. “Uh, Buffy slayed the football.” Michael said holding up the deflated ball, then tossed it aside. “Where’s my burger?” Buffy asked. Xander was still trying to light the fire. “Yeah, man, I’m starving. Cow me.” Michael said as he and Buffy sat down. “The, uh, fire’s not cooperating. It’s comforting to know that I lack the culinary finesse of a caveman.” Xander said. Willow gestured at fire, “Ignis incende.” The logs burst into flame. Xander fell backward onto his butt in the sand. “Willow, check you out! Witch-fu.” Tara smiled at Willow. “It’s no big. You just have to balance the elements so when you affect one, you don’t wind up causing...” A huge clap of thunder interrupted as dark clouds appeared out of nowhere and it started to rain. Everyone jumps up shrieking and started frantically gathering up their stuff. “I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it!” Willow yelled. They all grabbed their stuff and ran off. That evening the storm still raged. Outside a castle a truck drove up. Two guys got out and went to the back of the truck, where they removed the tarp and began to pull out a large box. “Come on, hurry it up, I’m getting soaked.” One guy said. “I’m trying. Geez, this thing weighs…” the second guy didn’t finish. They gave a pull and the box fell to the ground, cracking open slightly, leaning at an angle with one end on the ground and the other leaning on the truck. A little dirt leaked out of the cracked corner. The first guy was annoyed, “Nice. Good job.” The second guy knelt to check out the broken corner, “Look at this. Guy’s carting dirt around.” “Leave it. We’ll, we’ll turn it on its side.” They began trying to right the box. “Dirt. Man, rich people are…” A hand burst out of the box and slashed his throat. He screamed and staggered backward; blood came spraying out the wound. He fell to the floor and his blood began to pool on the floor, mixing with the rainwater. The other guy watches in horror as a body began to burst out of the box. Inside Giles’ apartment Willow was typing on a computer as Giles looked on. “There you go. All set.” “Thank you, Willow. Obstinate bloody machine simply refused to work for me.” Giles said and walked off. “Just call me the computer whisperer.” Willow said standing up, putting something in the scanner. “Let’s get scannin’. I want to see this puppy go.” Giles put a pile of old books on her outstretched arms. “Start with those.” Giles told her. Willow scowled, “Start? Where is finish?” “Willow, it’s essential that we begin archiving the library. I mean; most of these texts have no duplicates.” “But ... now? Doesn’t winter seem more like archiving season?” Giles looked surprised, “Well, you don’t have to, Willow, I mean, you’re, you’re welcome to leave if, uh...” “No. It’s fine.” Willow said sitting back down. “It’s just, you’ve been Mr. Project all summer. You know? Labelling the amulets and indexing your diaries.” Giles gave Willow a little smile. “I draw the line at making giant rubber band balls. That’s when you’ll just have to get a life.” Willow opened the scanner and takes out whatever was in it. Giles cleared his throat, “That’s what I’m trying to do, actually, is, um, get a life.” He sat down. Willow wasn’t looking at him; she didn’t realize he’d turned serious. “It might go better if you left the house.” “Willow, um... you mustn’t repeat what I’m about to say. Especially not to Buffy.” Willow looks confused and concerned, “Uh-oh.” “You promise?” “Oh, God. Well, I guess. Now that I know there’s something to know, I can’t not know, just because I’m afraid somebody’ll know I know, you know?” “Did that mean yes?” Giles asked not following Willow’s reasoning. “Yeah.” “We’re doing all this because I, I want you and the others to have everything you need at your fingertips. You see, I’m, I’m going back to England.” Willow looked shocked. “You’re ... what? But you can’t! You’re ... Buffy’s Watcher!” Giles sighed. “I mean, in a fired way, but...” “Well, it’s become quite obvious that Buffy doesn’t need me. I-I don’t say that in a self-pitying way, I’m, I’m quite proud, actually.” He smiled gently. “But what about the rest of us? We still need to be watched! Personally, I can’t get through a day without a little hairy eyeball.” Giles laughed softly, “I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s, it’s just not so. You’ll be fine. You all will.” He got up. “And you know, we’ll, we’ll stay in touch. You can always call me whenever you like.” “When are you gonna tell Buffy?” “Soon. It won’t be easy, but, um... I know she’ll understand.” Willow was feeling down, she couldn’t imagine life without Giles. Who would be the British, fatherly figure who was always there to spew out information on the current demon-baddie. Buffy sat eating dinner with her Mom. “Thanks, Mom. Everything was yummy.” She put her napkin on the table. “Hey, you up for dessert? We could, uh, take a drive, get some ice cream.” Joyce suggested. Buffy stood, “You know, I, I would, but I kinda have to get out on patrol.” Buffy began gathering up the dishes. “Now? It’s 8:30.” Joyce said a little surprised. “Well, vamps don’t really care what time it is. You know, dark equals dinner bell.” She begins carrying the dishes to the kitchen. Joyce stayed seated, “Right, of course.” She looked around at the empty table. “You know, I’m gonna have to get used to this place without you again. It gets so quiet.” Buffy came back in, “You know, maybe we should make a regular date of this, when school starts.” Joyce nodded, “Mm.” “I’m sorry.” Buffy kissed Joyce on cheek. “Duty calls. It’s a total drag.” Buffy left. Buffy was busy punching a vampire in a cemetery, looking like she was having plenty of fun. She punched him several times and then grabbed his shoulders and kneed him. He got up and she was on his back. Buffy didn’t notice a cloud of fog, coalescing into a man. It was a man with a pale face. The vampire threw Buffy down. She got up and charged, ducked a punch, punched and then kicked him. She tried to kick again but the vampire grabbed her and lifted her over his head, then threw her down. She got up again, and jumped on him with her legs around his neck. He threw her down, as he did she used her legs to flip him over and then stake him. Buffy stood up looking satisfied, and began to stride away purposefully. She walked between the gravestones and suddenly stopped, she whirled around. “Very impressive hunt.” Said a man’s voice. A man was walking forward out of the darkness. He was very thin and pale, had long hair, and spoke with an accent. “Such power.” He said. “That was no hunt. That was just another day on the job.” Buffy told him. The man was wearing a long flowing cloak of black and red. He walked toward Buffy. “Care to step up for some overtime?” Buffy asked. “We’re not going to fight.” He replied. “Do you know what a Slayer is?” “Do you?” he asked smirking. Buffy looked intrigued. “Who are you?” Buffy asked. “I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula.” The man said. Buffy’s eyes widened and she looked delighted. “Get out!” Buffy said. Willow and Xander were walking through the darkened graveyard, holding plastic cups of iced coffee. “Xand ... what if somebody had a secret, and that somebody promised somebody else that they wouldn’t tell anyone?” Xander nodded, “News flash, Will. Everybody knows.” “No, thi-this isn’t about me and Tara.” “Oh.” Xander was a little disappointed. “Well, not that I wouldn’t be all ears if you wanted to tell me a secret about you two. Even if it was very, very naughty.” Willow grinned, “Sorry, this is of the non-naughty variety. And I’m not telling you.” She nodded firmly. “Okay. Want to see if Buffy’s hanging around the headstones? “Sure. So if I was gonna tell you, which I’m not going to....” “So lemme get this straight. You’re...” Buffy spoke in Dracula’s accent, “ ‘Dracula.’ The guy, the count.” “I am.” His fangs were visible now. “And you’re sure this isn’t just some fan boy thing? Cause ... I’ve fought more than a couple of pimply overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat.” Dracula looked a little annoyed, “You know who I am. As I would now without question that you are Buffy Summers.” He walked toward her, looming over her. Buffy was surprised, “You’re heard of me?” “Naturally. You’re known throughout the world.” Buffy smiled bashfully, “Naw. Really?” “Why else would I come here? For the sun? I came to meet the renowned ... killer.” “Yeah, I prefer the term Slayer. You know, killer just sounds so...” “Naked?” Dracula asked. “Like I ... paint clowns or something. I’m the good guy, remember?” “Perhaps, but your power is rooted in darkness. You must feel it.” Buffy frowned and pondered this for a Moment. “No. You know what I feel? Bored.” She lunged at him with her stake. Dracula dissolved into smoke. As Buffy straightened up looking confused, he reappeared behind her. She turned, lunged again. He dissolved into smoke again. Buffy looked around. “Okay, that’s cheating.” Buffy said. Xander and Willow walked merrily up to Buffy; unaware that Dracula was about. “Hey Buff, what’s up? Xander asked. “You look like you just…” Willow began. “Get out of here. Now.” Buffy told them sternly. “Fine, but I was gonna give you a sip of my double-mint mocha, but…” Dracula appeared behind Xander. “Behind you.” Willow and Xander turned and saw Dracula. “Hi.” Willow said a little surprised. “Nice. Look who’s got a bad case of dark prince envy. Behind him Buffy was holding her stake, looking concerned. “I have no interest in you. Leave us.” Dracula said. “No, we’re not going to,” then in Dracula’s accent, “ ‘leave you.’ And where’d you get that accent, Sesame Street?” Then Xander pretended to be the Count from Sesame Street. “Vun, two, three – three victims. Mwa ha ha!” Dracula looked annoyed. Buffy whispered, “Xander, I’m pretty sure that’s Dracula.” “Wow, really?” Xander hurried to stand behind Buffy. “Hey, sorry, man, I was ... just jokin’ around.” “This is not the time.” Dracula locked eyes with Buffy. “I will see you soon.” He spread his cape out and moved toward them, turning into a bat and flying over their heads as they all ducked and yelled. The bat flew away, squeaking. They straightened up and look around. The bat came back and flies around Buffy’s head. She covers her head with her hands. “Bat! Ooh, bat!” Buffy said trying not to panic. The bat squeaked and flies away again. “And then Buffy’s all, ‘Look out!’ ” Xander was saying excitedly. The whole gang was in Giles’ apartment. “And then frigging Dracula’s standing right behind us.” Xander sat on sofa where Anya and Willow were already sitting. Buffy, Michael and Kaz were standing around.) “And then, he lunges at us, like whoosh!” Willow said with hand gestures. “He totally looked shorter in person.” Xander added. “I told you he’d heard of me, right? I mean, can you believe that?” Giles nodded patiently. “Count Famous heard of me.” “ I couldn’t believe it the first twenty times you told us, but it’s starting to sink in now.” Michael said. “I’m sorry. Am I repeat-o-girl? I was just ... blown away.” “It’s not that surprising that he’s heard of you, Buffy. You are the Slayer.” Michael reasoned. “I guess. Just - the way he said it, you know, I mean, he made it sound so...” “Sexy? I bet he made it sound sexy.” Willow said grinning. Tara came up behind her. “Kinda. He of the dark penetrating eyes and lilty accent.” Buffy sat down. “I wonder if he knows Frankenstein.” Xander mused. Tara sat on the arm of Giles’ couch and gave Willow a glass of soda, “You thought Dracula was sexy?” “Oh! No. He, he was ... yuck.” Willow reassured her. “Right, except for the whole tall, dark, and handsome thing? Yucko.” Anya said. “How would you know?” Xander asked. “Well, we hung out a few times.” Anya told him and Xander looked jealous. “Back in my demon days, you know, once or twice. He’s pretty cool.” Anya sighed wistfully, then remembered herself. “You know, from, from a whole ... evil thing perspective.” Xander scoffed, “Please. He was no big whoop.” “No big whoop??” Willow asked incredulously. “What about that thing where he turned himself into a bat? That was awesome!” “It must have been, yes.” Giles said, then everyone looked at him. “I must admit, I’m sorry I missed that.” Willow suddenly realized, “Me too! The whole time I was thinking, ‘Gosh, I wish Giles were here, he’d know what to do!’ ” Giles smiled tolerantly; he knew what she was trying to do. She was hoping she might be able to convince him not to leave. Willow spoke to the others, “Didn’t you guys ... think that?” “Actually, I was more thinking, ‘Bat!’ ” Buffy said wiggling her hand near her head. “How come he can do that?” Xander asked Giles. “I, I have no idea. There’s a great deal of myth about Dracula. I imagine the trick to defeating him lies in separating the fact from the fiction.” Giles told them. “ Great point! That is so Giles, to think of something like that, you know?” Willow said, then to the others. “That, that we ... would have never...” she trailed off. “So we should take things slow with Dracula. I mean, he said that we would meet again, but I would like to avoid that until we do some serious homework.” “I don’t know. I mean, Dragula may have a bunch of swell party tricks, but he’s still just a vampire. I say we load up with stakes and crossbows and go after him now.” Michael said. “Second.” Xander added. “What did you just call him?” “Errm… oh you mean Dragula?” “Just ignore him, he just making references to song’s you’ll never have heard.” Kaz said. “He has a habit of doing that. But I third the suggestion.” “No, Buffy’s right. Dracula’s too slick to fall for the usual stuff.” Anya said. “So we hold off. No killing until we know exactly what we’re dealing with.” Buffy said. “You’re not just saying that because of those dark penetrating eyes of his, are you?” Michael asked. “Noooo, his eyes were…” Buffy got up and went over to Michael. “There were… there was no penetration.” Then embarrassed she said, “Cross my heart.” “All right. Willow, you and Tara find out everything you can about the actual legend of Vlad the Impaler on the Internet.” Giles said. “Willow and Tara nodded. “And, uh, I’ll check the library.” Everyone started to get up. “You guys, we’ll reconvene here in the morning.” Buffy said. Everyone said, “uh-huh,” and left off. Michael pulled Buffy aside. “What’s your plan?” Michael asked. “Big sleep. My count encounter wiped me out.” Buffy said. Michael nodded, “I’m kinda wired. Maybe I should just let you get your rest.” “You sure? I mean, maybe if you just lie down with me... Buffy gave him a suggestive look. Michael grinned, “Nothing you are about to say will lead to rest.” “I guess you’re right. I’ll see you in the morning?” “Mm-hmm. With donuts.” “Mm. Heaven.” They smooched. “See? A little sugar and I’m all yours. Dracula Schmacula.” Anya and Xander walked down a street. “I doubt he’d remember me. I was just a silly young thing. I mean, like seven hundred or so. But he did say that this guy I cursed was doomed forever, which was really sweet, don’t you think?” Anya said. “Adorable.” Xander said although he was rather jealous. “It was a great spell. I made this jerk incredibly fat, like a human minivan.” They passed the Espresso Pump, on the rooftop of the Espresso Pump, a wolf was growling as it walked along the roof following Anya and Xander. “You should just mention my name if you see him again.” Anya said. “Or better yet, why don’t you just go sit on top of a crypt and flaunt your neck cleavage until Dracula shows up? Then you two can talk private.” Xander said, narked. “Oh please, don’t tell me you’re jealous.” “Oh no, just because you’re panting over the guy.” He stopped walking. “I am not panting. Now stop being silly. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She kissed him. “You don’t wanna come back to my place?” “It’s whites day, remember? The bleach smell makes me nauseous.” Anya walked off. “Fine. I suppose Dracula doesn’t use bleach, huh? He’s a darks-only man.” The wolf was still watching him. Xander rounded a corner on a dark street. He jumped in shock when he saw Dracula waiting for him. Xander sighed, “Great. Perfect.” He suddenly decided he wasn’t scared. “You know what? You’re not so big.” He looked Dracula up and down. “One round of old-fashioned fisticuffs, you’d fold like a bitty baby.” Dracula scowled. Xander rolled up his sleeves, “Okay, let’s do it. And no poofing. Come on, puffy shirt. Pucker on up, cause you can kiss your pale ass…” “Silence.” Dracula said. “Yes master.” Xander said and shook his head. “No, that’s not…” Dracula made a hand gesture, “You will be my emissary, my eyes and ears in daylight.” “Your emissary?” Xander asked not understanding the meaning of the word. “Serve me well. You will be rewarded. I will make you an immortal. A child of darkness that feeds on life itself... on blood.” In Dracula’s accent Xander said, “Blood?” then speaking very quickly, “Yes! Yes! I will serve you, your excellent spookiness.” Dracula frowned. Xander was still speaking too quickly, “Or master. I’ll just stick with master.” “You are strange and off-putting. Go now.” Xander nodded, turned to go, then turned back. “But master, how can I find…” Dracula had gone. “Brilliant. What an exit! Guy’s a genius!” Xander giggled crazily and walked off. Buffy vs. Dracula Michael opened a crypt door and walked in. Candles were lit everywhere. He walked in, looking around. “Well, well.” Said a voice from the dark. Spike emerged from the shadows holding a crossbow. “Well if isn’t the Slayer’s lapdog.” “I’d put that down, unless you’re bucking for one hell of a headache.” Michael said indicating the crossbow. Spike hesitated, then put the bow down. “I can’t be too careful. I got quite a few demons after me these days.” Spike said. “I’m looking for some information. Might pay a little.” Spike shrugged, “I’ll play.” He went over to a couple of chairs. “What can you tell me about Dragula?” Michael asked. “Dracula?” Spike scoffed. “Poncy bugger owes me eleven pounds, for one thing.” He put a cigarette in his mouth. “You know him?” “Know him? We’re old rivals.” He lit the cigarette. “But then he got famous, forgot all about his foes.” Spike pointed at Michael. “I’ll tell you what. That glory hound’s done more harm to vampires than any Slayer. His story gets out, and suddenly everybody knows how to kill us.” He sat down. “You know, the mirror bit?” “But he’s not just a regular vampire. I mean, he has special powers, right?” “Nothing but showy gypsy stuff.” Spike said making a hand gesture. “What’s it to you, anyway?” “He’s in town. Making his presence known.” Spike smiled, “Drac’s in Sunnydale-way?” he put feet up on a cassock. “I guess the old boy needed closure after all.” “Actually, he’s gunning for Buffy. But I’m out to find him before he gets another shot at her.” Michael said sitting. “Tough talk, cowboy. But you’re not gonna catch him napping in a crypt. No, the count has to have his luxury estate and his bug-eaters and his special dirt, don’t he?” “So you’re saying I should check out mansions, that sort of thing?” “No.” Spike said standing. “I’m saying ... you should go home to your superhoney. Have a nice, safe snog. You’re out of your depth on this one, boy.” He turns his back on Michael. “You’ve helped Buffy before, so she has a problem with killing you now that you’re helpless.” Spike still was turned away. “I don’t.” Spike turned to face him, walked up to him. “I’d like to see you try.” Michael stood, and got in Spike’s face. “Would you?” They stared each other down. Finally Spike looked away. “Pfft.” Spike said. Michael walked to the door. Spike called out as Michael was at the door, “You’re never gonna find him.” Michael left. To himself Spike said, “Not before he gets to her.” Buffy lay in bed, asleep and alone. Fog poured in through the window from outside, it flowed across the floor and toward the bed. A breeze came up, ruffling the sheets. Buffy woke and sat up with a gasp. Dracula was standing at the foot of the bed. “You are magnificent.” Dracula said. “I bet you say that before you bite all the girls.” “No, you are different. Kindred.” “Kindred? Hardly, I…” “Pull your hair back.” Buffy looked surprised but pulled her hair back from her neck. Dracula stood admiring her. “This isn’t how I ... usually fight.” Buffy looked a little self-conscious. She glanced at the window. “You think you can just waft in here with your music video wind and your hypno-eyes...” Buffy trailed off. “I have searched the world over for you. I have yearned for you.” He sat on the bed next to her. “For a creature whose darkness rivals my own.” He put his hand on her chin and moved her head aside. He saw the scar where Angel bit her and touched it with his fingertips. “You have been tasted.” Dracula smiled slightly as he trailed his fingers over her cheek. “He was…” “Unworthy.” Buffy stared at him, looking scared. “He let you go.” Dracula looked her in the eyes. “But the embrace ... his bite ... you remember.” Buffy was uncertain, “No.” Dracula caressed her face again. “Do not fight.” Dracula put his hand behind her neck. “I can feel your hunger.” He leaned down to bite her neck. Buffy gasped but doesn’t pull away. Buffy lay asleep in bed the following morning. She woke up. She sat up looking a little confused. When Buffy was dressed, she stood looking in the mirror. She fiddled with her hair, she noticed something, and pulled her hair back to expose two bite marks on her neck. She looked at it for a Moment, then grabbed a scarf and ties it around her neck. Michael leant over with a donut. “Here’s a jelly one, you want it?” Michael asked. Buffy half sat, half lay on Giles’ couch with the donut being held in her face. Jam oozed out of the donut kind of like blood. “No.” Buffy said a little agitated. “Got it! Got it. Mine, mine.” Xander rushed out of the kitchen and grabs the donut. Michael looked at his hand where the donut had been a split second earlier, he then licked sugar off his fingers. Giles stood in the kitchen. Xander walked in little circles, nibbling quickly at the donut. Michael looked in the box for another donut. Willow on a chair in the corner. “Well, I think we have Dracula factoids.” Xander sat on a stool eating the donut, “Like any of that’s enough to fight the dark master.” Everyone gave him a strange look. “...bator.” Xander added. “A lot of it we already knew.” Michael walked to the table opposite the couch and sat on it. “Turnoffs: wood, fire, crosses, garlic. Turnons; nice duds, minions,” then wistfully, “long slow bites that last for days...” “Yeah, I did a little research too.” Buffy looked distracted. “Dracula likes to live in style. Which means we can rule out the usual dumps vampires haunt.” “Ah! But he’s smart enough to figure that we probably already know that. I’m guessing he’s lying low.” Xander said licking his donut. Giles came out from the kitchen. “Actually, my research backs Michael up. Drac isn’t the lay-low type.” Giles gave Michael a glass of milk, “So we can, uh, check out the nicer places. Don’t you think, Buffy?” Buffy wasn’t paying attention. Xander was moving from chair to chair and tapping fingers nervously. “Buffy?” Buffy blinked, and tuned back in. “Yeah. We’ll check all the swanky places first. What else did you guys get?” “Well, Willow has most of it, actually.” Giles said. Willow sat up, “Only because you gave me super pointers! I never would have...” Giles put up hand to stop her, “Just go ahead, Willow.” “OK. Dracula’s modus operandi is different from other vampires. He will kill just to feed, but he’d rather have a connection with his victims. And he has all of these mental powers to draw them in.” Buffy looked thoughtful. “He, he can read and control minds... appear in dreams...” Distractedly Buffy said, “Uh huh.” “Makes sense. That stare ... he just kinda ... looked right through you. Didn’t you feel it, Buffy?” Michael looked at Buffy, he leant back and supported himself with his hands behind him. Buffy paused, “No.” she got up. “No, I didn’t.” “See! Buffy didn’t feel it. I think you’re drawing a low of crazy conclusions about the unholy prince.” Xander said. Everyone gave him a strange look again. “...bator.” Xander added, again. “The point is, though he goes through the motions of an intimate seduction, the end result is the same. He turns them into a vampire.” Buffy looked as if she hadn’t considered that. “Well… That is intimate. Dracula’s gifting these ladies with his own blood. And blood…” Xander noticed a spider on the desk next to him, glanced around to see if anyone was looking. “Blood is life.” Everyone looked confused. “According to them.” He slammed his hand down on the spider. “Um ... Just be aware that he, he tends to form a relationship with his prey.” When no one was looking, Xander scooped the spider into his mouth and chews. “It’s not enough for him to take her. She must want to be taken. She must ... burn for him.” Buffy looked uncomfortable, fiddling with her scarf, “That’s ... interesting. I’m gonna go find him.” She started to leave. Everyone got up. “You shouldn’t go by yourself, Buffy. I mean, this guy’s seriously dangerous.” Michael said. “It’s cool, I got it.” Buffy opened door, and left. Buffy walked through the courtyard outside Giles’ apartment. Michael came out after her. “Hey.” He grabbed her arm and stops her. “Take off that scarf.” “What? No.” Buffy put a hand over the scarf. Michael gave an ‘I knew it’ nod, “You’re under the thrall of the dark prince!” Buffy scoffed, “I am not under the thrall of the dark prince.” “Then take off the scarf.” “Oh, let go of me! This is ridiculous.” Buffy tried to break her arm out of Michael’s grasp but he held on. Michael ripped off the scarf as the others came out too. Everyone looked at Buffy’s neck. She sat on the edge of the stone fountain and put her head in her hands. “Why didn’t you say anything?” Giles asked. “Cause she didn’t want to worry us, right Buffster? It’s nothin’. Just a scratch.” Xander said. “Two deep, puncture-y scratches.” Willow said. Buffy looked apologetically at Michael. “I’m not sure why I tried to hide it. Uh, there was just this voice, and it was, it was telling me to cover it.” Buffy told him. “And what did I tell you?” then to the others Michael said. “That’s thrall.” “You’re saying Dracula has some sort of freaky mind control over her? You’re watching too many creature features, man.” “But it does seem like he has this ... control over me, I ... even though a big part of me is resisting.” Buffy said. Xander grabbed a fly off a nearby leaf and ate it. “No, that’s okay. I shouldn’t take this personally. I mean, what with Angel, I mean, it’s understandable that there would be transference. I mean, they’re both broody immortals.” Michael said. Buffy looked dismayed and got up to walk close to Michael. Buffy firmly said, “I am not transfer-y.” Then more quietly. “I swear to you. I’m your girl, and I’m gonna stay that way.” “Okay. But you are not going anywhere near him again.” Michael said. “Uh, Michael’s right, you should - you should stay out of sight. Let the rest of us look for Dracula.” Giles advised. “I can’t go home. He already got inside once.” Buffy told them. “You can come over to my place. I’ll make sure you stay put.” Xander offered. “Good. Um, Michael and I can, uh, can... search for Dracula, and Willow, you and Tara could uh, could do a protection spell on Buffy’s mother’s house, and prevent him from returning.” Giles suggested. Willow nodded, “Got it. How’d he get inside anyway?” “He seemed so nice and normal. A little pale.” Joyce Summers said. Willow and Tara were working magic on the front door of the Summers’ residence. “A good Sunnydale rule of thumb? Avoid white-skinned men in capes.” Willow said. “I’m not like this. I don’t invite strange men over for coffee, it’s just ... Oh, when you girls are older you’ll understand.” Joyce sat on stairs. “It’s hard to date. Sometimes you just ... feel like giving up on men altogether.” Willow and Tara snuck little looks at each other and tried not to grin. Joyce didn’t know about them being lesbians. The sun was setting on the horizon. Giles and Michael walked through the grounds of a mansion. Michael had a notepad and Giles carried a bag. “Another bust.” Michael said and crossed something off on the notepad. “And it’s getting dark. I should have turned up a better lead. There must be an easier way to find him.” “Too late to worry about that now. If we hurry, we can hit these last places.” They left the estate. “How come I have to be here Slayer-sitting while the other guys get to look for Dracula?” Anya asked annoyed. Buffy and Anya were sitting on the couch while Xander paced around his basement room. “I mean, just because I’m…” Anya began. “What time is it?” Xander interrupted. Anya checked her watch, “Uh, almost six.” She stood up so she was standing in front of an open closet door. “Look, I mean, I’m the one who knows him, I-I’m the one who had a really good look at him, and so, I mean, what…” Xander pushed her into the closet and shut the door. “Hey! What?” Anya called. Xander put a chair under the doorknob to hold it shut. Anya was banging on the door and yelling. Buffy sat oblivious through all of it. Xander turned to Buffy. “I’m supposed to deliver you to the master now.” Xander said, still talking too fast. Buffy looked up at him. “There’s this whole deal where I get to be immortal. You cool with that?” Xander asked. “Take me to him.” Buffy said, almost monotone. She stood. Anya was pounding and yelling. Xander and Buffy walked up to the castle in the dark, they walked up the steps. The inside of the castle had the typical wooden furnishings. There were torches and candles everywhere. Xander led Buffy in. “Master? I deliver the Slayer. She who you most desire.” Buffy walked in behind him, still looking kind of catatonic. Xander gave a little bow. “Sorry, whom.” Dracula was standing by the fireplace, wearing black pants, red shirt and a black vest. He turned slowly. “So now comes the immortality, right? You do the thing, and…” Xander said. “Leave us.” Xander stopped talking. “We must not be interrupted.” Dracula said. “You bet.” Xander said and left. Buffy and Dracula stared at each other across a long table. “I knew you’d come.” Dracula said. “Why? Because I’m under your thrall?” Buffy asked and whipped out Mister Pointy and dropped the dazed expression. “Well, guess again, pal.” “Put the stake down.” Dracula said. “Okay.” Buffy put it down, then looked at her hand in surprise. “Right. That ... was not ... you.” Buffy was unconvinced. “I did that. I did that because ... I wanted to.” Dracula watched her. “Maybe I should rethink that thrall thing.” Buffy looked around nervously and gave a little whimper. Michael and Giles walked up to Dracula’s castle. “I’ve lived in Sunnydale a couple of years now. Know what I’ve never noticed before?” Michael asked. “Uh, a castle?” Giles offered. “A big honking castle.” Michael confirmed. They walked toward it. Michael and Giles opened the castle door and entered, looking around. Michael pointed down one hallway. Giles nodded and went down it. Michael went the other way. Neither of them saw a woman with yellow eyes and vampire teeth peeking out from the shadows, smiling. “Stay away from me.” Buffy said. She was frightened, none of her enemies had ever had this much power over her. If she couldn’t resist Dracula, then this could be the end of her. “Are you afraid I will bite you?” Dracula walked slowly toward her. “Slayer, that’s why you came.” “No. Last night ... it’s not gonna happen again.” Still walking toward her Dracula said, “Stop me. Stake me.” Backing up a little Buffy said, “I...” she glanced at stake on the table. “Any minute now.” “Do you know why you cannot resist?” Dracula asked. “Cause you’re famous?” “Because you do not want to.” Buffy shook her head nervously, “My friends…” “They’re here.” Buffy looked at Dracula in surprise. “They will not find us. We are alone.” Buffy looked anxious. “Always alone.” Buffy continued to look anxious. Dracula began to circle around her, “There is so much I have to teach you. Your history, your power ... what your body is capable of...” Buffy shook her head, “I don’t need to know.” “You long to. And you will have eternity to discover yourself.” He came back around in front to face her. “But first ... a little taste.” “I won’t let you.” “I didn’t mean for me.” Buffy looked determined and resolute. Michael moved through the dark hallways. He tried a door but it was locked. He turned away, but then the door opens and Xander came out. “Nobody harms my master.” Xander said. “Your master?” Michael asked. “You want him? You come through me.” Michael punched Xander in the face. He fell down. “Okey-dokey.” Michael stepped over Xander and went through the door. Giles walked through another part of the castle. He tried a door and it opened. He stepped into the darkness beyond and fell off a ledge to the floor some eight feet below. “Oh, good show, Giles. Uhh... at least you didn’t get knocked out for a change.” Giles said to himself. He turned over on his back with a groan. “Oh ... oh, ladies.” Three vampire women appeared and began crawling over him. “You would ... be the three sisters, yes?” They began kissing his cheek and rubbing his chest. “E-excellent, right. Uh, I’d heard that you were myth ... obviously erroneous.” One of them ripped his shirt open and began caressing him. “Aah! Ooh, that’s, uh, that, uh...”he giggled “Tickles! Ooh, uh... oh, dear god.” Dracula held up his arm and rolled up the sleeve. “What are you…” Buffy began. “All those years fighting us. Your power so near to our own...” he cut his arm with a fingernail till blood welled up. “...and you’ve never once wanted to know what it is that we fight for?” He held his arm out to Buffy. “Never even a taste?” Buffy looked conflicted, “If I drink that…” “I have not drunk enough for you to change. You must be near death to become one of us. And that comes only when you plead for it.” Buffy stared at his wrist, “I’m not hungry.” “No. Your craving goes deeper than that.” Buffy stared at him. Whispering Dracula said, “You think you know ... what you are ... what’s to come. You haven’t even begun.” Buffy remembered that she had heard this before, in a dream, Tara had said it to her. Buffy looked at his arm, at his face. She took his hand in both of hers and put her mouth on his bloody wrist. “Find it. The darkness. Find your true nature.” Buffy’s eyes were wide. Buffy saw a very quick series of shots flashing in her mind. Most were of her fighting, but some were of the First Slayer. She also saw a vein with blood corpuscles rushing through it. Buffy lifted her head. Softly Buffy said, “Wow.” She suddenly shoved out her hand and pushed Dracula away. He landed on the table and slid across it on his back. “That was gross.” Buffy said, completely normal again. She walked forward as Dracula got to his feet. “You are resisting.” Dracula said. “Looks like.” “Come here. Come to me.” He held out his hand. “You know, I really think the thrall has gone out of our relationship. But I want to thank you for opening up my eyes a little.” “What is this?” “My true nature. You want a taste?” Dracula growled and lunged at her. She jumped over his head, whirled round, kicked him, punched him twice, and kicked him into a wall. He span back, grabbed her arm, punched her and flung her across the room. She landed on the table on her back. Michael walked up to an open door. “Buffy? Are you in…” Michael stopped himself before falling into the pit. “Giles! Giles!” Michael pulled out a cross and held it up. The three female vampires hissed and slunk away. Michael tossed the cross to Giles, who caught it. “Come on, come on. Grab my hand.” Michael said. “Thank God you came.” “Come on!” “There was no possible escape.” Giles said just standing and looking at Michael. Still staring back toward the sisters, Giles took Michael’s hand and Michael pulled him up. Giles noticed his foot has only a sock on it. “Oh, my shoe.” Giles pointed back into the pit. “Silly me, I’ll just pop…” “No Giles!” Michael pulled him away. “No more chick pit for you. Come on.” They get up and move off down the hall. Buffy ran across the room. She barrelled into Dracula and they fell to the floor, rolling. He was on top. Dracula punched her, Buffy punched him, then she grabbed his shirt and flipped him over. Now she was on top. Buffy punched him a few times. Then Dracula caught her fist and flung her off him. He was grinning. They both got up, grab each other and fell down again. Buffy was on top. She brought both her hands down but Dracula blocked and flung her away again. She flew backward and hit the wall. Buffy stood up again, she grabs him, he flipped her across the table and then jumped onto it. Buffy hit him with a chair and then swept his feet out from under him. Dracula punched her. Buffy grabbed a torch and he rolled away just as she hit the table with it. They faced each other across the table. Buffy vs. Dracula “A guy like you should think about going electric. Seriously.” Dracula growled and turned to smoke. Buffy looked around, saw where the smoke was converging on a balcony at the top of a flight of stairs. Buffy dropped the torch and ran toward the smoke. She grabbed Mister Pointy off the table as she ran. Buffy leapt to the top of the stairs, and staked Dracula just as he appeared from the smoke. He looked shocked. “How do you like my darkness now?” Dracula growled, fell down the stairs and exploded into dust as he fell. Buffy sauntered down the stairs. Michael and Giles rushed in. “Buffy! You okay?” Michael asked. “Yeah. Chock full of free will.” “And Dracula?” Giles asked. “Eurotrashed.” Xander rushed in holding a torch. Xander had returned to normal, “Where is he?? Where’s the creep that turned me into his spider-eating man-bitch?” “He’s gone.” “Dammit! You know what? I’m sick of this crap. I’m sick of being the guy who eats insects and gets the funny syphilis. As of this Moment, it’s over. I’m finished being everybody’s butt-monkey!” Giles, Michael, and Buffy nod and try not to laugh. “Check. No more butt-monkey.” Buffy said. “It coulda been worse. At least you weren’t making time with the dracy-babes like Giles here.” “I was not making time! I, I was, uh, just about to kill those, uh, loathsome creatures when Michael interrupted me.” Giles said wrapping his torn shirt around himself. Michael grinned, “You were gonna nuzzle ‘em to death?” Michael and Buffy grinned and started to walk away. “Of course not! I was in complete...” the others had walked off, “control.” He walked out too. Smoke appeared at the bottom of the stairs and began to converge. As soon as Dracula had fully appeared, Buffy staked him again. He gasped. “You think I don’t watch your movies?” Buffy asked rolling her eyes. “You always come back.” Dracula exploded into dust again. Buffy folded her arms and watched. The fog began to collect again. “I’m standing right here!” The fog dissipated. “I love it when you get like that.” Michael said. “You wanted to see me?” Buffy asked. Giles got up as Buffy walks into his apartment. “Yes. Thanks for coming. Can I offer you some tea?” “Oh ... no, thanks.” Buffy noticed a plate on the table by the sofa. “Ooh, cookies. How come I rate the little cookie treatment?” “Well, actually, I have something to tell you.” Giles came over with a teapot. They both sat on the sofa. “Actually, I have something that I’d like to talk to you about, too.” “Oh, well, you go first, by all means.” “No, go ahead.” “No, I insist.” Giles said pouring tea. After a Moment, Buffy said softly, “You haven’t been my Watcher for a while.” Giles stopped pouring. “I haven’t been training ... and I haven’t really needed to come to you for help.” Sadly Giles said, “I agree.” He set down the teapot. Buffy gestures helplessly, then got up to pace. “And then this whole thing with Dracula ... it made me face up to some stuff.” Giles looked concerned. “Ever since we did that spell where we called on the first Slayer ... I’ve been going out a lot.” Giles looked surprised. “Every night.” “Patrolling?” “Hunting. That’s ... what Dracula called it.” Buffy paced. “And he was right. He understood my power better than I do. He saw darkness in it.” Giles was looking very concerned. Buffy sat down again, “I need to know more. About where I come from, about the other Slayers. I mean, maybe ... maybe if I could learn to control this thing, I could be stronger, I could be better. But ... I’m scared. I know it’s gonna be hard. And I can’t do it ... without you. I need your help.” Buffy paused. “I need you to be my Watcher again.” Giles stopped frowning. Buffy sighed, then laughed nervously, “Boy, I just, I just keep talking, don’t I? I’m sorry, you-you had something you wanted to say?” Giles smiled, “No ... it’s nothing.” He picked up his teacup. Buffy looked relieved. Buffy walked through the hall in her house and peeked into her Mom’s bedroom. “I’m outta here.” Buffy moved on toward her room. “Michael and I are going to the movies.” “Okay. Have a good time.” Joyce called back. Buffy went into another room and saw the back of a girl with long brown hair. “What are you doing here?” Buffy asked. The girl turned around, looked surprised, then gave Buffy a sour look. Buffy didn’t look too pleased either. “Buffy? If you’re going out, why don’t you take your sister?” Joyce called. Both girls turned to look at the doorway, looking annoyed. “Mom!” Buffy and Dawn said in unison.