Many thanks to our betareaders, Wendy (a.k.a. Gwenky on IRC) and Kim
Colley. Kim and I are the only ones who have seen the movie. None of us
have even seen the series, so forgive us if there are glaring inconsistencies.
Any flames will be kept in storage for those cold winter nights.
Part Two
(Nearly three hours later)
Buffy woke up and began rubbing her eyes. Things started to come into
focus. She finally saw two figures at her bedside.
"Wha' happened?" she asked, incoherently. The two figures
were still fuzzy.
"Poor thing," cooed Janette. "You don't remember?"
Buffy closed her eyes again to try to remember what happened. Phone
call-then darkness. That was all she could remember.
"Uh-uh," she said shaking her head. "I don't remember."
The taller of the two fuzzy figures leaned forward to whisper in Buffy's
ear. "You don't remember calling me?"
Something in this man's voice made Buffy shudder. She could remember
something about hearing this voice before.
"Night...," she began
"That's right my dear," continued LaCroix. "I am the
Nightcrawler and you called my show. Don't you even remember that?"
"No," whispered Buffy, trying to focus her vision.
"You don't remember discussing your loneliness?"
"No."
"The malaise?"
"No," said Buffy shaking her head. The two figures became
more clear. A tall man and a lovely dark-haired woman smiled down at her.
The memories came back to Buffy. These were two of the vampires she was
going to kill. Buffy jumped back away from them and they continued smiling.
She couldn't get out of bed. She finally was able to escape and she ran
to the door.
"Before you go, there are some things you should know," said
LaCroix.
"Why would I want to hear anything you two had to say," answered
Buffy.
Janette tossed her a small hand mirror.
Buffy looked at herself and screamed. "You horrible monsters what
have you done to me?" she asked.
Buffy's long blonde hair had turned black. Her eyes were steel gray.
Her skin was white, like she had become a ghost. She was even wearing one
of those horrible, black dresses she had seen Janette wearing before when
Buffy had been stalking the Raven. Buffy could see in the dark room with
more clarity. What had happened to her?
"What did you do?" asked Buffy, again. She looked at LaCroix.
"Did you make me into a vampire?" she wailed.
LaCroix smiled. "No, I did not."
"I did," said Janette.
Buffy blacked out again.
* * *
"She took that well," LaCroix noted.
"Shhh, I think she's coming to," whispered Janette.
Buffy sat up again and tried to move away from Janette and LaCroix.
"Buffy, don't worry," said Janette. "We know this must
be frightening for you, but you did say that you were tired of your life."
"I did?" asked Buffy.
"Yes, you did," said LaCroix. "That is why we came for
you,"
"I did," said Buffy. She collapsed back onto the bed. It was
now a statement of fact. In fact, protecting the human race had become
a bit stale for Buffy.
She slipped her hand around her throat. LaCroix caught her hand. "Take
my word for it...they've healed by now."
Buffy nervously gulped. She still wasn't sure what to make of all that
had happened to her in the last few hours.
LaCroix rose from her bedside. "I'm going to go to sleep. Janette,
I take it you will teach Buffy all she needs to know."
"I certainly will," replied Janette.
LaCroix walked out and closed the door behind him.
Janette took one of Buffy's hand. "Well Buffy, there is much for
you to learn," she began.
* * *
(That evening)
"Don't worry, Nicholas. Our problem is solved," said LaCroix.
"I know," said Nick. "I was just wondering. Uhm, the
body isn't going to show up, is it?"
"What body," asked LaCroix, innocently. A smile slowly worked
it's way around his face.
"You didn't bring her across, did you?"
"Now, why would I do such a thing," chortled LaCroix.
* * *
Nick walked into the Raven and noticed a young girl sitting beside LaCroix.
She was wearing one of Janette's dresses and sipping on a large glass of
wine.
"Nicholas," LaCroix waved Nick over to the bar. "I'd
like you to meet Buffy, the newest member of our family." LaCroix
gave him a warning glare so Nick kissed her hand and took the barstool
next to her.
"I'm really sorry about those crank calls," said Buffy.
Nick shrugged, "It's okay," he said. "I'm sure it won't
happen again."
Buffy nodded her head and began drinking again.
"Excuse us, my dear, but Nicholas and I need to speak on an urgent
matter." LaCroix pulled Nick away from the bar.
"Okay," said Buffy with a smile, "But you will finish
telling me about living in Paris?"
"Of course, ma cherie," LaCroix said as he and Nick began
to walk to the other side of the bar
"LaCroix, what is going on?" asked Nick. "She's mortal,
but she thinks she's one of us."
"Janette's idea of revenge," said LaCroix with a rare smile.
"We dyed her hair, put colored contacts in her eyes to improve her
vision, and we've been mixing a special house wine for her with some added
nutrients. Janette told her it will take about a week for her powers and
fangs to develop. This may give her a taste of what life is like for us
on the other side. Perhaps, she will leave our kind alone afterwards and
concentrate on other creatures of the night."
LaCroix nodded to Janette and Buffy as they watched over several of
the young men, hungrily. The two women giggled and began talking together
again.
"Besides, by the time Buffy's vacation is over, Janette may decide
to bring her across anyway. It will do her good to have a child of her
own," said LaCroix.
Nick nodded. It would just be a matter of time, but he had seen and
heard of stranger things happening.
(The End???)
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