Brave to the bone [Cordelia, Buffy, Spike, Axel]

[Wesley Wyndam Price]

Walking around Sunnydale had become such a commonority for Wesley, as of late. Whether it be searching for renegade slayers who chose to do their own things without taking into consideration what he thought, or searching for supernatural 'hot spots,' he had noticed that darkness always appeared to have been the setting. Oh, and abandoned alleys which he feared would be full of bloodthirsty vampires and/or demons of the sort. Not that he couldn't handle himself, but he'd prefer to not have any confrontations with the evil creatures of the night. That was Faith's apparent job, though it didn't seem to interest her much at the current moment. Nothing appeared to interest the young brunette at the moment, except attending parties and roaming the streets like a crazy-child. Oh, how did he get himself into such a predicament. He couldn't just have a sensible slayer who took her work seriously and was willing to work with him. Was that too much to ask? Apparently, it was.

Wesley hadn't let these uncertainties bring his morale down, as he had decided to take a trip to Sunnydale High, which he knew was still open in some areas due to late at night study sessions. He thought this was rather strange, but never questioned it. After all, he didn't want to exactly break into the place. That was very un-watcher like, but regardless, would be a last resort. He did have the burgular-instincts of a cat, if the situation did arise. Hopefully it didn't, though, mainly because he was currently wearing his standard dress code of a grey suit. The fence was also rather high...And had wire on the top. Just the thought of that cutting through his suit made him cringe inside. It appeared that wouldn't even be a possibility. What a relief to have late night study sessions. If only it was in a town not plagued by vampires of the sort.

Stepping through a corridor, he looked around, as if he shouldn't be here. There were lights, and the doors were unlocked, so that was a good sign. He was here because of his extensive research and findings from the watcher's council on the supernatural hot spot, present under this school, ironically. That explained some of the crazy students he had encountered in his tenure in Sunnydale, so far. Though he couldn't blame the students, now could he? He could almost sense the evil running through the walls, like a corruption. A disease. A plague. The Hellmouth was told to be located under this school. As he reached the door to where it was apparently highlighed on the map, he chuckled slightly. The sign read "The Basement." Now that was just too convenient, and easy. As a skilled watcher, he was trained to look for signals such as these. Of course it would be located in the basement, of all places. Where else would the great evil be located? The library? That was just absurd.

Opening the door into the basement, he moved down the stairs slowly and carefully. He had been trained to take precautions and be aware of everything which could strike. Before he took another step, he heard a noise deeper down into the dark tunnel, and gasped softly, before running back up the stairs and closing the door behind him. He sighed with relief, knowing he had just escaped a great evil. He didn't know how to tackle the situation though. He couldn't go back down there, unprepared. He had his supplies located in his car out the front. He wouldn't have the time to get to them though. Hmm...It was definantly a tight situation. He turned around, though was quickly shoved into the wall by two people running past. At first he thought they were students, but then realized. Vampires. In the school! He found his way back to a standing posistion and ran down the corridor, but they were gone. No one was there. He decided he needed to follow the tracks of them. They were obviously up to something, and he would soon find out.

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[Cordelia Chase]

Late night study sessions? Yeah right, did Synder really think that girls like Cordelia would ever lower themselves to publicly behave in a manner more suited to the Rosenberg’s of the world? While some of her classmates took the time to get their dork on. Cordelia preferred to use the schools late hours to both design and perfect the choreography that would be used by her girls during Sunnydale High’s next big game. Beads of sweet rolled down the beauty queens forehead while her breaths started to sound strained as she reached the end of her latest practice of their routine.

You might be asking yourself what a girl who was known for making disgusted sounds at the slightest bit of dirt and insisted on keeping herself well groomed at all times was doing working out enough to sweat and smell of something other than brand perfume. Well the answer to that was simple cheerleading was Cordelia’s passion. It was something that she could be proud of, a task that required actual skill despite what her critics liked to think. It was something that she was able to achieve on her own without the aid of daddy’s credit cards or her mother’s socialite friends.

Plus it helped that her hobby had only added to her popularity providing her with an opportunity to gain control of the schools ‘in crowd’ as a lowly sophomore. This was a feat that very few, if any, girls in the history of the school had achieved before her. Not to mention all the longing looks she received from the jocks and male audience members throughout the game. These were looks that a girl like Cordelia with deep rooted insecurities hidden beneath layers of viciousness needed in order to feel good about herself. Not that she would ever admit it to anyone else, even Buffy who she trusted. That was leverage that she would never allow anyone to use against her.

She snapped out of her thoughts as she finished the routine with a particularly complicated cartwheel and series of movements that highlighted the cheerleader’s natural athleticism. It was the one thing that Cordelia had always been proud of, that she only had to be shown a move once before being able to mimic it perfectly. Harmony and the other girls had often complimented her on it acting like she was the second coming, or something behaviour which had more than once made the beauty queens eyes roll. Yes she liked to be complimented and appreciated, but at the same time she didn’t like it when others acted over dramatic. That just made her think they were mocking her. After all she had been a cheerleader for how many years now? It wasn’t that big a deal that she could pick up the moves for routines quickly.

It was just as she moved over to sit on the bench and watch Buffy who amazingly didn’t seem all that tired despite practicing for as long as Cordy finish her routine that Cordelia jumped out of her seat and started to look around her suspiciously. She could have sworn she had heard the sounds of footsteps and men talking, which couldn’t be right as everyone else was in study hall. She was probably just being paranoid... She had found herself feeling overly jumpy ever since that horrible night in the park when she had barely escaped from that guy whose face had shifted from one of the most gorgeous she had ever seen to something truly grotesque. Clearly the result of drugs...

Still it would help to be careful right? “Buffy did you hear that?” Her tone was spoken lowly in a meek and frightened tone which the high school queen hadn’t realised until after she had finished speaking. Mentally cursing herself for the moment of weaknesses. She looked at Buffy clearly unnerved hoping that the other would brush her worries off as being ridiculous despite how embarrassing that may be rather than confirming her fears.

[Spike]

Babysitting. There was no other bloody word for it. He, Spike, William The Bloody, Slayer of Slayer's, guy that Billy Idol fuckin' stole his look off...had been relogated to no more than common babysitting duties. He growled, grinding his teeth together, half wishing he could chew through the neck of the irritating, barely out of the ground fledge that he was being made to...well, being made to bloody be with! Spike, even though he was a vampire who adored company and hated being solitary...was not a vampire who enjoyed watching of the kiddies.

"Angelus knew I could bloody do this by myself, the soddin' poufter. Don't see why I should have to have your still muddy arse in my way at the same time." He grumbled to himself even as he strode through the empty corridors that made of the network like high school. The evil already in this place, even before he had stepped inside, made him tingle. He shivered, almost pleasently. It wasn't magic, so it was all good. Quite exciting, if you looked at things in the rose coloured light of everything having the possibility of being exciting. Like Spike did.

They were there on a job. It was quite simply that, a job which Spike could have bloody done on his own, which Angelus knew. The bastard. Get in, get the Slayer, not allowed to kill the slayer, oh no, get out. Simple. Any vampire could do it, perhaps, and Spike wasn't like any other vampire of course. He was...different. Good differences as well as the rather bad ones.

He stopped, tipping his head up and scenting the air. Still in the human planes, of course, even as the delicious scent of two...three? No, to young bodies. Supple, deliciously so, the blood pumping around them. And the third, which they brushed past without a thought. Nothing special. Even Spike had to know that his impatience was not a good trait to allow during this mission. "Ignore the old one," he muttered, seemingly irritated at having to share his expertise with a bloody fledge. "Want the young ones, don't we? And, by the way? Don't you bloody dare cock this up, matey, or I will gut you for my girls garters. If she wore garters. Y'know."

The blond vampire still hadn't allowed himself to even glance in the direction of the fledge...no, of Axel. Calling him that made it easier, really, not that Spike ever gave a damn. He turned slightly, to follow that scent - a hunter on the prowl. Odd, really, because Spike wasn't much of a hunter. He was more of a fighter than a hunter, and more of a lover than a fighter. But that wasn't important in the slightest. He did glance at the other, younger, more idiotic vampire as he came to a halt behind a set of doors from beyond which the scent of the two girls, one most definately Slayer, was coming from. "Are you ready?"

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[Keith "axel" Parker]

This was embarassing. He was being treated like a child, or something. Sure, he could be referred to as a 'child' in vampire terms, with vampires such as Spike, Angelus, Darla and Drusilla being much older...But he was nowhere near the magnitude of any 'child' as they called him. Though he was amused that they had given him the task of kidnapping a slayer. But he wasn't amused at the fact that they had provided him with such minimal knowledge on her and what she was capable of, the fact that she was an inexperienced slayer therefore seen to be little threat. Add that to the humiliating fact that he had to undertake this task with the assistance of a blonde idiot, who had no taste for well...Anything decent. Did they really have such little faith or expectations for him? Hell, at least they had let him on board and not just decided to slay him, or anything. That was always a good thing.

What did he know of a 'vampire slayer', really? They were really strong, always girls and kicked vampire butt? That was very helpful, but apparently Spike had a plan of action and knew how to and where to locate the girl. He had been told she had a 'to die for' body, and was a brunette. Well, that really did narrow it down, didn't it? If he had a dollar for every one of those girls he had encountered in his time in Sunnydale, he well...Would have gone to Los Angeles by now, or something. For now, his plan was to let Spike act like he was in charge, or something. But if Spike thought he was taking all the credit for this, he was dead wrong. Axel would make sure he was recognized from this. It was a huge opportunity to make a name for himself. He just...Couldn't kill the slayer. Shame. He wanted to taste one, heard they were good. Why did they need to feed her to the stupid crazy woman anyway? Wouldn't she be better off just being put into the ground, or something where she wanted to be, apparently. She was extremely irritating, and Angelus and Spike irritated him even more for apparently loving her psycho crap. At least Darla had some sense...Or not.

When Spike begun muttering things to himself, which he could clearly understand and hear, he sighed softly wanting this to be over already. "Stop whining, already. You think I like this anymore than you do, blondie? I'd much rather be delivering the slayer to Angelus myself, and cure that god dam annoying woman. I'm hoping mental instability is just a side effect of her lack of strength, and not a permanent thing?" So, maybe he was out of line and all, but he was never afraid of saying what he thought and sticking to it. What was this vampire going to do anyway, drive him off the edge with more of his terrible singing to Drusilla? Enough was enough already. Being a vampire was supposed to be more exilerating than this, not like a soap oprah. God he hated those.

Now Spike was giving him a lecture on how to be a vampire? He really didn't need to be hearing this. "I'll leave the old one for you, mate. The young ones are mine," he stated with a grin. "Sorry Spike, but with that hairstyle and accent, your just lucky you have the strength to manhandle the girls yourself, because they wouldn't be coming willingly.." He liked teasing Spike, it was pretty funny, especially seeing his responses. Sure, he knew his loss wouldn't impact on them, but they had a mission to adhere to. If Spike went about stuffing a stake through his chest, it wouldn't look too good for him, he thought. Darla did like him, after all.

And then Spike glanced at him, with the 'are you ready' signal. He was more than ready. He was ready himself, he didn't need Spike being here, he could handle it himself. But, whatever it took, he supposed. "I'm ready for anything...Jeez, can we just get this over with, already?" He rolled his eyes, pushing through the doors, where the scent of the two girls was growing stronger. He could sense a stronger force, obviously the slayer, which brought an evil grin to his face, as he liked his lips, before looking back at Spike. "You can just stay back here if you want...Keep the 'old one' entertained, or something." He continued walking, not caring what Spike was doing, before looking on in surprise when he saw who the two girls were. He then smirked. This was perfect. The two beauties he had met in the Bronze. "Well, well, well...Ladies. Didn't think you'd be seeing me again, did you?" But this was odd. There was no way the brunette one was a slayer. He had encountered them both, and she was extremely wimpy, though bold in essense. The blonde one had the power. After all, she startled him with a powerful blow. They must've gotten it mixed up, or something. Obviously

Moving foward, he stalked the two ladies, eyeing the blonde more strongly, however. "So, your the one with all the strength, huh? Should've realized who you were after our last encounter huh...Won't make that mistake again, babe." So he could get some payback on the blonde bitch, and have his fun with Cordelia after all? Man, this night was getting good!

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[Cordelia Chase]

Post Key

[/li][li] Regular coloured text and bold is Cordelia's thoughts and words
[/li][li] Blue coloured text and bold is Buffy's thoughts and words

Buffy watched as Cordelia finished another practice run of the routine she had co-ordinated earlier in the session. She grinned as she noted the sweat on Cordelia’s head and the slight pant to the other girl’s breath. It seemed that these town folk were pretty lazy even by L.A standards. After all she had just finished completing a similar routine and didn’t feel in the slightest bit tired and it wasn’t like Buffy was known for exercising. She started to walk in the direction of Cordy deciding that they had done enough practice for the day when the other girl looked up at her talking about something or other she thought she had heard. Man that jerk in the park must have really done a number on Cordelia. She just seemed so scared instead of the loud, obnoxious girl whose verbal lashing had chased off a stalker at the Bronze. She wanted to go over and comfort her friend, but she knew Cordelia wasn’t the type to appreciate such a gesture. “Can’t say I did, but I can go and check it out if you’re like. Maybe one of the girl’s forgot something?” Truthfully she thought Cordy was acting like a nut job, but there was no harm in checking it out, right?

Cordelia watched Buffy resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the blondes’ question. She could tell the other girl was trying to humour her, but still she reasoned it was nice of her not to call her out for her moment of weaknesses like Harmony and so many of the others they hung out with would have done. "No, no it’s fine. It was probably just the wind.” She stood planning to go through a final practice run of the routine when she heard it. The sound of someone asking another person were they ready, she knew it! She knew she had heard someone earlier and that she wasn’t going crazy After this initial self-congratulations panic set in. That was a man’s voice... Oh god this was not good, not good at all.

It was just as this realisation set in that Cordelia heard the sound of the door opening and heard a man talking to another about keeping an old one entertained. An old one, wait had he just insulted her somehow? Her face was wrinkled in thought as she looked over at Buffy whose posture had stiffened the moment the doors had opened. It seemed Buffy wasn’t any more keen on these interlopers than she was. The two girls stood their expressions fear filled, but also holding that stubbornness that indicated they weren’t going to be ruled by that fear. When she saw who it was Cordelia’s fear disappeared as she suddenly started to feel more comfortable. While the girl beside her appeared to get even more agitated if that was possible. He was just a boy, a good looking boy that she’d have went for under better circumstances she could handle him.

“Oh hey its stalker boy.” At his first question she raised an eyebrow questioningly “Can’t say I really thought about whether I’d be seeing you again. So I suppose it’s a surprise and not a very good one at that.” Her words were spoken in an acidic tone as she looked him up and down sneering. Her inner bitch at the fore. How dare this punk come in here like he owned the place while trying to intimidate her and her friends? She stiffened as she felt someone tugging at her only to realise that it was Buffy “Come on Cordelia. Something’s not right... Let’s just leave it.” Buffy’s words were spoken anxiously and Cordelia noted the girls hands were balled into fists like they had been that night at the Bronze. Man her blonde friend really didn’t like Axel and she resisted the urge to rub the spot Buffy had pulled at earlier. Jesus she had some grip on her.

“Didn’t you learn from our last encounter? Neither of us are interested. Now you’re decent looking and not one of the dweebs. Why don’t you go off and annoy some girls who would be interested in the whole bad boy stalker vibe?” Oh it was such a Cordelia thing to do give someone a compliment and an insult all rolled into one. When he moved forward looking at Buffy who was still staring at him her expression timid clearly just wanting to go. Cordelia glowered at him as he started talking some nonsense about strength. What the hell? Was he on drugs or something? “Look I don’t know what you’re talking about. Does Elvis talk to you maybe? Or do you just want money?”

(Ok in case I didn’t make it clear. Cordelia as a non-slayer doesn’t sense anything is wrong and just thinks Axel’s a typical guy who she happily puts down on a daily basis hence her boldness. Buffy as a Slayer is more aware of her surroundings and senses that something wrong. Since she doesn’t know she’s a slayer and hasn’t went through any of the training/character development we saw in canon. We get intimidated and scared Buffy) [/blockquote][/size]

[Spike]

Stop whining? That was it? This little kiddie dared talk to him like that? Well, he had some spunk, Spike could give the little blighter that, perhaps. Bit to flashy. Bit too much of a prick, actually, but most fledges were. And even those that weren't, Spike didn't care for. Most vampire's didn't care about anyone other than themselves, after all, and Spike did follow that mostly. The only exception to that was Dru, but she never seemed to pay attention to the rules. Neither did he though. They were a good match. This little prick though, Spike didn't like him at all. Too young, too cocky, irritating, full of himself, and didn't have anything that Spike could hold to him which might prompt even the smallest bit of respect. He snorted with laughter though, so the kid was quite amusing. "You? Deliver the Slayer? Alone? Purlease. Your life is depending on the fact that you do, because you'll be staked if you don't...which only goes to show how unlikely it is that you will. Angelus wouldn't set a managable task to a kiddie that he actually wants to get rid of, you little prick."

In fact, he might have only done that because of Darla. Even Spike held Darla in respect, ish, because the lady commanded it. And she had a soft spot for this kiddie, hell help them all. Spike honestly could not see the attraction. The boys eyes were too small and squinty for one thing. And he was rude. Damn rude. The blonde vampire growled. "No then, kid, play nice. Don't say anything to me about my princess that you won't say to her face." Dru was older than him. Stronger as well. And more in control...and if this kid was badmouthing her to him, it just showed how wimpy he was.

Spike hated wimps. They had no place in this world, and more often than not he was the vamp who covered the mercy-killing side of things. Wimps were only there to get rid of.

And now this kid was trying to prove he wasn't one of them. How utterly delightful. Spike wished a bit more skill had been used for their entrance. He didn't much like the flair option, he had to admit, he was more into the mystery. Blue eyes rolled upwards as the smarmy git spoke words which were not enough to hold the blonde vampire's attention, and then he leant against the doorframe, effectively blocking the exit for the two girls inside. He looked bored, if anything, just waiting for this to be over....though, when the words started to be exchanged, and the blonde one grew nervous, and the brunette seemed strong (the Slayer? Obviously. Slayer's were cocky as hell, in his experience), he did chuckle a little.

Perhaps this would bring some entertainment to him as well, before he had to wade in to clean up the little bastards mess. The comment of the brunette's about the bad boy thing amused him even more, and he snorted. She thought kiddie-wink here was a bad boy? Oh, please. "Bad boy's don't look like they want to run back home to mummy," he murmered, already resorting to rifling through the pockets of his duster, looking for his lighter. But otherwise, stayed out of the way. Let the kid try to prove himself.

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[Keith "axel" Parker]

Did the imbecile known as Spike really believe that Axel wouldn't say what he had just said about Drusilla to Spike, to her face? She was a dumb bimbo who would probably take what he said as a compliment, or something. She was just so messed up...What did Spike see in her? Well, actually, he didn't need to know the answer to that. It was clearly obvious from his short time with Spike so far, that he was almost as deluded as she was. And that was really saying something.

He shot Spike a glare as he begun badmouthing him in front of their targets. Really? Was he really going to continue this war between them in front of the two girls, just as a way of humiliating him? He snickered softly, now making it more obvious he was directing his attention to Spike through his movements. "Are you done, yet? And you call yourself superior to me? Your a weirdo Spike, plain and simple. Your hair is weird, your clothes are weird, your accent is weird, your skin is weird, hell the way you walk is weird. Your just weird." He shot a glance towards the girls, before back at Spike. "Why don't you just stay back here, and let the non-weird person handle this, yeah? Go have a smoke, or something...Its what you do best." He paused, before realizing he wasn't finished in dishing out his own badmouthing towards Spike. "Oh, and why don't you run back to your 'mummy' Drusilla? Maybe she can comb your hair and make it all nice neatly and make you look more like a British queer than a 'badboy.'"

He took a few steps foward, looking back at Spike with a hateful glare, before continuing towards the two girls with a smirk. "Now, where were we ladies? Oh, that was right, you were doing what you do best Cordelia, running your mouth. Unfortunately for you, this is the part where you die. As for you..." He took a glance towards Buffy with a grin. "You get to live a little longer. Unfortunately. You see, cute little Spike over here needs to look after his mummy, after all. Make her all bright and new." He chuckled slightly, glancing back at Spike, before turning his face into a serious one towards the two girls. This would be fun. "So Cordy. Would you like to die now, or join us in the party and die then? Its up to you. I want you to enjoy yourself too, you know."

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[Cordelia Chase]

Cordelia didn’t notice Spike’s presence to begin with as her attention was solely focused on Axel and determining the best way to put this little piece of shit back in his place. She had dealt with his type before. In most cases her own warning i.e. verbal lashings were enough to get them to back off and if they weren’t... Well she was sure that the threat of setting her daddy’s lawyers on them ought to do the trick. It had always worked for her in the past so why wouldn’t it now? She reasoned. Buffy on the other hand noticed Spike the moment he stepped into the room his presence effectively guarding the door. A shiver ran down the blonde’s spine as the discomfort she felt in Axel's presence now and that night in the Bronze intensified to the point where it was almost unbearable.

It was only when Axel turned to glare at Spike and started talking to him, well actually insulting him would be more accurate that she noticed his presence. She looked the blond up and down first noting his short stature, which she knew she could match with the right pair of heels and then grimaced at the out of date clothing he was wearing. Seriously that coat looked like something her mother would have worn back in the early eighties. Still there was something about him more so than his younger counterpart that told Cordelia that she ought to watch her back. After this examination was complete her attention shot back to Axel who she eyed with clear distain as he was finishing his little tirade. “Are you quite finished? Why don’t you leave the insults to the professionals? Besides if you want a non weird person to handle it then neither of you is qualified for the job dumbass.” Her words were spoken particularly coldly her inner bitch completely and utterly brought to the surface.

Upon Axel’s next words the cheerleaders blood ran cold at the cool way the intruder had just stated it was time for her to die. There was just something in the way he had spoken perhaps the matter of fact tone used that told her he was being serious. She looked at him her distain turned to anxiety as she made a blood curdling revelation. She wasn’t dealing with a stalker... She was dealing with a fricking psychopath. Buffy looked at him glaring her hands balled into fists as she suddenly found herself summoning courage she never knew she had. “You’re not going to be hurting anyone...” Cordelia then turned to look at Buffy her expression one which clearly read ‘Are you nuts’. No Buffy clearly hadn’t realised what they had gotten themselves into and she had to stop her before she did something stupid. She resisted the urge to smirk as the wheels in her mind started to turn forming a plan... yes that could work.

She looked at her fellow cheerleader making sure to make eye contact before her focus moved to a dissembled indoor goal post that lay on the ground for a second before turning back to Axel hoping her friend would take the hint. When Axel next spoke she started to back off allowing her facade to drop and the terror she felt to be seen by all. “Please don’t hurt us.” She shuttered as she continued to back off before seemingly collapsing to the wall her panic overtaking her. When she found herself in the right position and noticed Buffy had moved beside said parts. She quickly reached in to her hand bag taking out a bottle of pepper spray and quickly sprayed it in Axel’s eyes. It was a little something she had been carrying around with her since that attack in the park.

“Back the fuck off asshole.” With that said she kicked him in the groin full strength before moving with Buffy who had picked up one of the aforementioned discarded parts. She nodded at her friend who started to swing said part with all of her might in the direction of Spike’s head. Cordelia just hoped that her friends aim proved true and they were able to get out of here. If it didn’t well a little screaming never did anyone any help. “HELP, CAN SOMEBODY HELP US.”

[Wesley Wyndam Price]

Danger. He could sense it in the air, as if an impending apocalypse was arising from around the corner. The feeling surreal, his hands quivering gently as if he was next. As if they were coming for him. But they wouldn't, they didn't know who he was, and what he was able to do. He had knowledge that could stun enemies into their doom! Yes, he also had a large arsenal of weapons and gagdets within his bag, ready to pop out and strike at any moment. With his help, of course. He begun walking foward, sensing the danger as being stronger and stronger. Sometimes his senses for danger was a burden, but it was a task only a man such as himself could endure and strive under. Then there was the "ahh!" Staring down, he noticed a rat crawling past him, in fear. He withheld his gasp softly, before coninuing on, no longer focusing on the rat, which he oddly questioned its reasons in being in a school. A supposedly clean school, at that.

It was all part of the danger, he thought to himself. The Hellmouth was located in the bridge of this school, in its core. It was more than likely an evil, poisonous rat. Infected by the hatred and darkness the Hellmouth possessed, able to manipulate an individual to its own will and bidding. It was as he continued investigating the halls, he heard the plea for help. A scream! Now his senses were really kicking in! Either that, or they were just a rather loud screamer. He investigated the direction it came from, and he quickened his pace up the hall, hearing distant voices becoming more and more clearer as he approached. They were coming from the gym, or at least near thr gym, he noticed. He made his way carefully in, not wanting to put himself into the same vulrunability that this girl was obviously in. He needed to approach with stealthiness and precision. These were things he was good at, no doubt.

"Get away from her, evil creatures!" He glanced into the room where the echoing noise was coming from, noticing that there was two girls present. "And her," he corrected shadily, looking at the blonde girl with a sympathetic expression. And two men, presumably vampires, from the way the blonde one was dressed. He looked like someone from a bad rock band, and that was saying something. He glanced at the girls, then back to the vampires with a stern apprehension plastered onto his face. He hastily pulled out a cross and a crossbow from his bag, aiming them both towards the men. "Beeee back, vampires. I should say, I am a master of the art of killing your kind, in the most painful of ways. You should know that my precision with this bow is comparable to none. I will strike you down in an instant, if you don't leave these innocent girls to peace." He moved foward slowly, covering his ground, still focusing on the vampires, when he accidentally clicked the crossbow, sending an arrow pacing into the dark haired man's knee. Oh dear. He didn't want any of their sudden surprises rendering him vulrunable, but it was too late for that now. It was now his duty to protect these girls from these vicious cannibals. Who right now, would be rather angry cannibals.

Glancing towards the two girls awkwardly, he noticed they were still standing there in fear. "Ladies, that was the part when you were supposed to run..." He sighed, putting his attention back to the vampires directly in front of them. Silly young girls. Couldn't they do anything right? They were going to die, and yet the chose to stand there like frozen puppets rather then run when Wesley presented himself. Oh...All puppets were reletively frozen, unless they had a puppetmaster controlling them. Hmm. That gave him an idea. "Run!" He stated with more boldness and force. He threw his crossbow towards the dark-haired vampire who was focusing on the arrow in his knee, and threw one of his crosses at the peroxide blonde vampire, before taking off, also leading the girls on towards the door. If they were quick enough, they might be able to barricade it shut. Surely it wouldn't be vampire proof, but it might hold them off long enough to get back to his car. He still had the question in the back of his mind, though. What were vampires doing in the school?

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[Spike]

Ah. Big hard vampire talk, now. Right. Spike could nod and pretend to look interest through anything Fledgie had to say. He'd been doing that with both Angelus and Dru for years now. Lean back against the wall, and pretend to be interested. In fact, he wouldn't have been paying attention to anything the moron said...until he'd mentioned Dru. Then a snarl had ripped his way out of his lips, and was flung in the younger vampire's direction. Which did suprise Spike, actually. In any subject other than where Dru was involved, he didn't generally do the 'Grrrr' bit. He preferred the old fashioned, ish...or was it modern? Was hard to keep up, really...method of talking. Axel deserved a snarl though, from an older vampire to one barely out of the grave. Stupid idiotic little kid.

Trying to look all hard as well. Big and tough, and it really wasn't working. He looked just like a petty human trying to figure out why a girl had ditched him, and wasn't that just a bundle of laughs to have to view. Once again, the blonde vampire found himself cursing Angelus' bloody existance for dumping him in this situation in the first place. He found himself rather amused by the brunette (the Slayer, right? Angelus had said she was a brown head, and the smell in here was really too mixed up to figure it out by himself, and it was giving him a headache. Perfume. Eurgh), and her words, and even flashed a wink in her direction when he saw her looking him up and down. Probably judging him. Like he gave a damn.

The blonde wasn't as entertaining to watch, from his viewpoint, but he kept an eye on her none the less. A nice tasty treat, perhaps, if the kid would hurry up and get the job done so her could dump his ashes and go home to Dru. Nothing special about the blonde kid....although, he couldn't help but notice how she couldn't seem to, well...stand still. Unease, almost. He frowned, and would have thought about it further...if the brunette hadn't suddenly distracted him by kicking Axel right where it hurts.

He let out a bark of laughter, standing up straight and clapping his hands together gleefully. "Right in the wrinklies! Oh, nice work! Seriously, well done, what a way to knock the bastard down...Oh, no you don't!" He'd caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and spun on the spot, bringing a hand up just in time to stop what had promised to be a rather nasty collision of some heavy part with his head, wielded by the blonde girl. He frowned again, but in rather a...playful mood. Little tyke thought she was big and bad? Well, she did seem quite strong, anyway...that almost had him frowning again. "No. No, that is not nice. Had I done anything to you? Not then. Now, I have to....Huh?"

He blinked. More people, coming in? Bloody hell, this was meant to be a school! What's more, a quiet, closed for the day school! What the bleedin' hell was another moron doing here? With those words...they rather bemused Spike. And he couldn't help but add helpfully, after pushing the blonde girl away rather (actually, quite a lot) roughly. "You could have just said 'Go to Hell', you know. Catchier." He barely got the words out before everything was a bit of a blur, with the weirdo new man being...well weird. What was he doing there again? He would ask, except that would mean actually having a conversation with one of these people rather than just chatting. He snarled, again, but this time not just at the moronic vampire he was stuck with, starting forward...and then staggered backwards as something large, and heavy, almot hit him in the face.

He brought his hands up automically to stop it, to catch it, ducking his body back automically...and then cried out...more like snarled out, actually, because hell if he would cry, as the holy item attacked his skin like acid. He dropped it as quickly as he could, growling out swearwords as loud as he could, shaking his hands to try to lessen the pain. Ouch. "Bloody, stupif, fuckin'...Hey, what the bloody hell are you still doing?" he trailed off to roar angrily at the younger (yet, admittedly, bigger) vampire. "Get your lazy arse up, and go get them! You're job, ain't this, mr Big Bad Vampire. Go!"

Jesus, soddin', wanker, bollucks, that hurt. Holy items. Only Christian holy items, it seemed, but still...they were bloody annoying. And a small sound coming from the fallen figure of the blonde girl was annoying as well. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, as she started to move away from where he'd thrown her...and he snarled, turning around and stomping his boot down on her neck. The gurgling cry of pain and the sligh creaking of bones made him calm down a little, and he ground his boot down before stepping over her now motionless form, kicking her once in the side for good luck. He didn't care if she was dead or not...she probably wasn't. Looked like she was still breathing anyway, from what he could see in the two seconds that he spared for her before he turned towards where the other human's had gone, still wringing out his hands.

He growled again, face plains shifting as the demon came to the fore. He was going to spend most of his energy now on killing that bloody moron of a human man who made his soddin' hands hurt...well, couldn't leave witnesses.

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[Keith "axel" Parker]

He snickered at Cordelia's comment. She just never stopped running her mouth, did she? Maybe he just needed to give her a reason to run her mouth. "Leave the insults to the professionals? Girl, I'm evil, are you stupid, or something?! What, you want to compare who can dish out the best insults with someone who is purely evil? Wow, thats really making you look like a lovely lady, now isn't it?" He grinned, before moving foward more, only to be attacked by a can of pepper spray that Cordelia retrieved from her back. Fuck! That stuff really stung like a bitch! He held his eyes in pain, severe pain like he hadn't felt in a long time. He had never had pepper spray in his eyes, and he was quite thankful that he hadn't, until now of course. Unfortunately for him, that wasn't the last of the onslaught of 'Cordelia Chase', as soon after, he felt a burning pain in his groin area, where her kick landed. That vampire durability really didn't work too well in the private areas, it appeared. Fuck.

He now held his groin in pain, still trying to regain sight in his eyes. Wow, he was really going to look like the fool to Spike now. After more rubbing, he could finally begin seeing, again. Only now someone else had decided to join the party. An older man, it appeared, armed with a crossbow and a cross. What was everyone's damn problem in this town? Couldn't they just go away and let them, being the vampires, do their job with these two girls? They wouldn't be missed anyway, they were obviously the high school drama queens. Nobody wanted to put up with them anymore. He was doing them a favor. A big one, which they could repay him with by letting him feed on them. Was that too much to ask from the idiots?

He almost wanted to laugh at the man's words, trying to act 'heroish' and tough. That was until he inadvertedly shot a crossbow bolt into Axel's leg. He clasped his knee, falling to his knee slightly in excrutiating pain. Good thing it only came in threes, because he was really getting over all of this crap happening to him! Everything from then on appeared to be happening in fast motion, as he soon felt a full crossbow hit him in the head. Ouch! Was that really necessary, really? Why couldn't they pick on Spike, or something? Oh, thats right, they did. They threw a cross at him. Wow, you stupid British idiot, that was really intended to do a lot of damage, wasn't it? He was now feeling great anger towards this British man for picking on him in this encounter. He didn't even know him!

What made matters worse, was that they were now escaping. Well, at least Spike had knocked out the blonde annoying brat. Unfortunately, he wished it was Cordelia who got the boot to the neck. He didn't respect Spike, but he had to applaud him for that shot. He just hoped Spike hadn't killed her. Not only because it meant they could have fun with her later, but because she is the actual slayer, to Spike's dismay. How terrible would it have been if Spike had killed the blonde, and ruined their chances at bringing Angelus the slayer? If he wasn't already going to be dusted, he definantly would be after this situation. Cringing at Spike, he shot him a dark glance. "I just had pepper spray in my eyes, a hard shot to the groin, a crossbow boly shot into my knee, and a full crossbow flung at my head! What did you get done to you, you little ponce? Oh thats right, you got a cross thrown at you. Big whoop! Why don't you get off your ass and do something productive. Oh, and to top it off, you nearly killed the slayer we were supposed to get. Great job!" He pulled the bolt out of his knee quickly, feeling some pain, but hissing softly. "She's the one we came for, isn't she? They obviously got it wrong. She couldn't have survived a blow like that if she didn't possess all this 'slayer strength' you described." He glanced at Buffy sternly.

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[Wesley Wyndam Price]

Seeing that Cordelia was rather frozen in her stance, he sighed, grabbing her by the arm and leading her into a running posistion. The blonde girl was knocked unconscious. There was nothing they would be able to do. He knew Cordelia would hate this idea, wanting to rescue her friend, but unfortunately, hard decisions needed to be made. It was what he had learned during his training and education in becoming a watcher. Sometimes you had to lose people in order to save yourselves. It may seem selfish, but Wesley's duty was to keep this girl safe also, and himself. If what he had read about Spike was as true as he knew it to be, putting up a fight against him wouldn't solve anything, and would ultimately get all three of them killed.

Now outside of the door, he closed the door, finding a nearby chair and placing it in the handle to barricade them. For the time being. He glanced at Cordelia, holding her head to face his own, showing a nervous and anxious expression on his face as he focused on the girl. "I know what you just saw was...Terrible, and you don't want to leave your friend, but I have reason to believe that they were after you for a particular reason, both of you. I don't think they want you dead...They want you for something, I'm not sure of. We have to leave her, for now. I think she is safe for the moment, until we re-group and find a way to save her." He sighed softly, before grabbing her and continuing to move down the halls. He knew that the vampires wouldn't be trailing behind too far. He just hoped his fluke of a crossbow shot would slow the two down long enough for them to get to the car.

Mid run, Wesley once again posed a question towards the young girl. "Can you think of any reason those two va...Men were after you? Did they mention anything...Say anything which may hint at their intentions?" He was eager to know, it was important. If Spike was involved, it meant business and not just pleasure. They were after something and definantly plotting something rather big, he thought, which could pose a serious danger to many people's lives. If this girl knew something which could be of use, they might be able to stop it before it hits full force, and work out what might happen to the young blonde girl who they left behind. Now at the car, he opened the door for Cordelia, before hopping in himself, and starting the engine.

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[Cordelia Chase]

It was only as she ran towards the door Buffy in tow that her brain succeeded in processing the meaning of Axel’s or Keith as he would always be known to her words. It was clear from her momentary victory over him and what he had said that he didn’t know anything about her, or how she worked. She was Cordelia Chase a girl who not only held the title of ‘vicious bitch’, but displayed it for all the world to see to ensure they didn’t forget it. So he might have been evil and all, but if he thought that gave him an automatic ability to outwit her in the verbal put down stakes well he was sadly mistaken. It seemed that wasn’t the only area where he was ridiculously arrogant if his current position was anything to go by. He should have killed her and been done with it, but hey he was a man. It was in their genes to be a little dense and this was one instance where that stupidity wasn’t something she was prone to complaining about.

She smirked for a moment forgetting herself when Spike appeared to be congratulating her on the epic put down she had just put the boy through. She knew it was a mixture of luck and circumstance rather than skill on her part, but she could still be proud of herself for it right? It was just as this thought crossed his mind that Spike caught Buffy in the middle of the swing, disarming her friend and threatening to do harm to them. Damn it why couldn’t things go right for her! Just this once… was that too much to ask? And you just know had she of spoken the last thought aloud it would have been spoken shrilly and whiney enough to burst an ear drum.

She was opening her mouth to begin screaming once more panic officially setting in as he pushed Buffy away from him when saviour entered the room! Ok, ok so maybe he was a little geekish looking and a tad over dramatic what with the whole evil creatures bit, but if he got her and Buffy out of there unscathed he was so getting a reward! Wait a minute what? Had he just said Vampires if the situation wasn’t so terrifying she’d have giggled and called him nuts, but as it was she just stood and stared, the initial adrenaline wearing off making way for mind numbing paralysing fear! So consumed in her fear was she that she didn’t even notice the arrow hitting Axel adding to his pain.

It was only when she heard Wesley shout in a loud but authoritative tone she wouldn’t have expected from the little she had seen from him that she snapped out of it. Right they were in danger, danger they couldn’t defeat which meant they had to run. Screaming as she watched Spike’s hand burn from the cross that Wesley had thrown at him only for him to then ‘kill’ Buffy. Soft sobs escaped her and before she knew it she was running with Wesley away from the scene Wait! What the hell were they doing…? She just couldn’t just leave her body there. For them to do God only knows what to Buffy’s body… to defile it. She cried loud screeches escaping her as she watched the mysterious stranger put a chair against the door creating a distance between them and the creatures that haunted them.

Then he started to talk about saving her, what the hell was he blind? “What is the matter with you? Didn’t you see that he crushed her neck…? She’s already dead.” Cordelia screeched tears streaming down her cheek at the last word. “We can’t, we can’t just leave her there… I can’t fail her like that!” These words were spoken lower with heavy sadness behind them, but also a sense of determination she owed it to Buffy to retrieve the body. She would get the bastard who did this to her back even if it was the last thing she did. Then it began again the running and the time just escaping her notice and before she knew it she was in a car with him driving off as he grilled her with questions. “I, I don’t know…” She just stared at him her face grim as she tried to recall. She had to do this for Buffy… Come on Cordelia think! “Keith I mean the younger one he talked to the blond about making mummy all new again or something? He was very vague…” She shuttered as she spoke her entire composure gone, her usual good looks ruined by blotches of makeup and mascara all over her face. “He… He said something about Buffy being the one to have all the strength…. That he should have known from that night we met at the Bronze.”

She just stared at him a hard look entering her expression “Now tell me whoever you are! How do I kill a Vampire” She watched him for a moment deciding it was best if she cut him off in case he decided to try and put her off. “And don’t try and deny it… As nuts as this whole thing seems I know what I saw. You called them Vampires, the blonds hand burned when you threw a cross at him!” She paused then small sobs escaping her as she found herself still trapped in the grief for the friend she lost. But there was also a dark glint in her eye… the glint of someone who wanted revenge.

[Spike]

Stupid humans. They were escaping, and the brunette was with them, and he should really, y'know...chase after them...but he couldn't be bothered. His hands hurt, and it was the fledge who'd get it in the bloody neck. Spike could just sneer and blame him. It was what he did, and despite the fact that Angelus didn't much listen to him (which was sorta taken for granted, seein' as Spike was a vamp who didn't listen to him either), Spike knew he would listen to a wet eared fledge even less.

So he just stood there, looking at his hands with a frown. Bloody human with that bloody cross. Spike would enjoy using it to carve out his cuts when he found him, and find him he would. When his hands were healed. Turning them in front of his eyes he could see the shape of a cross, clearer when he put the two of them together. In red. Burns sucked, and they stang like hell when they were healing. They also, to be frank, looked hideous on his pale skin. Dru hated them.

He was distracted by complaining. Oh, brilliant, and here was him thinking the human's had left. But then he remembered the vampire was still there, and that made him groan. "Oh, grow up," he sneered, looking up from his critical examination of his hands to direct a glare towards the other vampire. "Quit your whining. I'm not the one who's doin' this to stop meself being staked on sight next time I come across Angelus, am I?" He smirked suddenly. Oh yes, Axel was a vampire who had to prove himself. Otherwise he'd be dust. There was no point for Spike to be the one to dirty his hands when the kid could do it and make it much more entertaining.

But then he paused, and frowned, looking down at the blonde girl on the floor. Inhaling deeply..he had to see that maybe the comically wounded vampire had a point. She was somehow still breathing, and the scent of Slayer was still strong in the air despite the brunette had gone. Frowning, he dropped into a crouch beside the prone body, tipping his head to the side. "Oh, so I see...Strength? Could have nearly taken me out with that blow...still breathing...still moving slightly as well..." He rolled his eyes, "I didn't kill her. Or even aim to kill her. Just wanted to hear that lovely little bone crunch. Calmin', y'know...But this is the Slayer.."

A slow grin spread over his face, and he clasped the blone girl by the shoulders, standing up so he lifted her with him. "Ain't this our lucky day..." His lucky day. Axel's lucky day. A point in his favour to stop him from being a pile of dust later on. And Dru...his Dru...He chuckled. Blood was still flowing through this little bit of a girl...Slayer blood. His Dru would be strong again.

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[Wesley Wyndam Price]

When Cordelia begun tearing up, he sighed. This was not what he wanted, nor needed right now. Wasn't it obvious to this girl, that their lives stood in the balance right here and now, and that tearing up and having a panic attack wasn't going to solve any of their problems except perhaps get them both killed. This was why he stood strictly to watcher code. He hated involving innocents in this who had no knowledge of the supernatural, because for starters, they didn't understand it. And also, they couldn't handle it when the truth came out. At least with slayers, although they still experienced the shock, there was some innate characteristic which learned to accept it quicker than others. He wasn't as used to dealing with average humans. This could be difficult.

He did feel remorse for the girl. Her friend was back there, and she witnessed a crunching blow to her friend's neck. That was enough to send anyone off the rails, but at least she was somewhat holding herself together. For now, at least. He couldn't help admiring her compassion though. She had just gone through a traumatic experience and yet she was still more than willing to go right back into the face of death and help her friend. He smiled, more sympathetically than anything else, also as a means of attempting to calm the girl. "I admire your compassion, but we can't go back there. It is my responsibility to ensure your safety as well. And I can't do both things unfortunately. I am under a good impression that your friend, although wounded, is going to be okay. For now, at least. If you really want to help your friend, you'll help me get you out of here so that we can figure this out. In a safe location." He didn't want to mess with Spike, he had heard gruelsome stories about him after all. He hadn't expected him to be in Sunnydale, but since the gates of the hellmouth were apparently opening, it figured as much that a vampire like him would just happen to play a role in that.

Cordelia's explanation was confusing, at best. Especially taking into consideration her current nauseating condition, in other words, an emotional wreak. Making mummy all knew again? This was rather...Bizarre, to say the very least. But from his readings, he knew that vampires commonly associated such terms with their sires. In this case, Drusilla. Just the thought of her made him shiver and give Cordelia a rather cautious, also fearful expression. From what he had read and heard about Drusilla, she was extremely dangerous and unpredictable. But last he heard she had been fatally wounded. Ahah! He glanced at Cordelia, his eyes gleaming as if he had solved a puzzle or something. It wasn't the kind of puzzle he wanted to solve, however. Things just kept getting worse and worse. And worse.

Her description of 'Buffy', who he presumed was the blonde girl lying unconscious in the room was rather baffling, to say the least. "The one with all the strength? Are you sure?" He asked, a curious, yet look of concern was placed on his face. That was rather impossible. The one with all the strength was Faith Lehane, the vampire slayer. There was only one into every generation. That meant that only one could exist at a single point in time. They must have assumed Buffy was the slayer, instead of Faith? How they made such a bad assumption was above him, but it was still a means of investigation. Thoughts suddenly became clearer, as he thought of Faith. If they were after the slayer, presumably for her blood, as blood is life, to heal Drusilla and make her strong again, then Faith would be in serious danger if they found out that they were wrong in their assumption and went looking for Faith instead.

But before he could embark on this mission, Cordelia decided to play more of a hinderance than a help in this gruelling situation. Her willpower was...Remarkable, but it would also be that same stupidity which got her killed. What had he done? A civilian was now involved and knew about vampires. If she told her friends, and it got around school, the safety of Faith and many others would be put into jeopardy. "Listen to me," he stated, glancing at Cordelia with a serious expression as he placed his hands on her shoulders gently. "I won't deny what just witnessed, because you are obviously smarter than that...But you must keep what you saw to yourself. If people find out about this, it could endanger the lives of many people. I don't think thats something you want, is it?" He looked on down the hall, hoping the vampires weren't coming yet, before turning back to Cordelia. "And you want to kill a vampire?!" He couldn't even comprehend a reasonable response for this. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you saw what they did to the girl in there with 'apparent strength.' How easily they took her down. They are extremely dangerous, and I won't allow you to put yourself into such a situation. I know someone who can help us though, and I hope you will come with me." He needed Faith, not only to alert her of her possible danger, but to eliminate this danger. It was kind of ironic, really. And if he knew anything about Faith, he knew where she would be on a night like this.

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