Sire

By KnightMare24

Trapped. The small enclosed space seemed to grow smaller and Rachel felt like she'd go insane if she spent one more moment in here. Where was she? Her fist smashed up at the top of whatever was holding her and it cracked. It gave. But the dirt that started to fall into the darkness with her felt cold. Dirt.

The fear hit her harder, along with an aching in her gut. Both told her one thing she had to get out of here. She'd always hated small spaces. Her desperation must have given her strength, because she was able to rip a larger hole into the lid and she moved to dig her way out as fast as she could.

"Pretty little Kitten." The red haze of memory made little sense as she worked frantically to move through the loosened dirt. How far under was she? Pain, sharp pain in her neck and arms that held her in a steel grip. Rachel gasps and froze for a moment at the memory. "Oh, she's a screamer isn't she?" That same singsong voice reached out from her memory and Rachel knew she should know this. Should remember this. She dug faster. Up, she had to get up.

"I'll think I'll keep you kitten. You'll like that won't you?" A shiver went through Rachel's body but she dug on. "I'll make you special. Childe, no weak little minion for you. My childe." The voice was soft and Rachel paused. Childe… she didn't want… no…

The steady sound, beat came to her ears and Rachel didn't think it was imagined. It helped drag her out of her thoughts and back to digging her way out of this. The steady beat was a welcome distraction, she focused on it as she moved faster. It was hypnotic.

Air. She felt air on her hand. Rachel reached around desperately and shoved her other hand up as well, pulling herself out of the dirt. Her eyes took in the sky with relief. She was free. The comforting beat was louder.

Rachel used her hands to grab onto the dirt above ground and drag her body out. "Oh God." She gasped when she finally felt even her legs break free.

"Well, that's a strange thing for something like you to say." The voice was above her. Rachel turned onto her side and stared up at a blonde girl. The steady beat was louder, closer. "Well, you done resting? I wanted to get home early enough to finish my homework."

"What?" Rachel stared up at the impatient girl as she moved to sit up. The ache in her stomach intensified and the beat… heart beat, seemed to call to her. Rachel's eyes widened as she remembered the redhead that had cornered her and the way her face had changed.

A quick glance backward showed the hole she'd been in and a stone. Rachel ignored the her audience and crawled towards it quickly.

Rachel Mathews, beloved mother…

"Oh God." She gasped as her hand moved out to touch the headstone. "What did she do?"

"Buffy?" The familiar voice got through Rachel's stunned mind and she turned to stare at the redhead standing behind another headstone.

"What did you do?" Rachel's voice rose as she stared at her. "I…" She just shook her head in shock as she watched the redhead stare at her in confusion. She watched it change to understanding and horror. None expressions Rachel remembered on the face of the monster that did this to her. "Beast." She growled out, unaware that her own face had shifted. She ignored the sharp point of her own fangs on her lips. "monster." Rachel curled her feet underneath her and leapt at the redhead.

The blonde tackled her out of the air and Rachel struggled to push her away. She managed to toss the small blonde into the air and moved quickly towards the redhead.

********

Willow watched with wide eyes as the vampire came right at her. "Buffy." She called out, hoping for a save. The hatred in those eyes, those inhuman eyes, made her heart pound. "Look you really don't want to do this." She told the vampire as she took a step back and reached into her pocket for her own stake.

"You did this to me." The woman growled. "Tortured me… I'm no ones Kitten, Sire."

"Oh god." Willow paled. Vamp Willow did this. It hadn't even occurred to her that her double might have turned anyone.

The look of shock crossed the vampire's face before the female turned to dust and Buffy was the only person visible once again. Willow's jaw just opened and closed, but no sound would come out. It took a few tries. "Buff?"

********

Golden eyes stared from the trees as the blonde girl, Buffy moved to hug Willow. Kristin didn't blink as she watched this with a little pang of jealousy. "Sire." She whispered to the winds and then watched as they both moved to leave. She kept her distance, as she followed them to a house and watched as Willow hugged Buffy and went inside. Kristin noticed the way Willow's arms seemed to hug herself as she did that.

After the blonde left Kristin moved to try and shake the dirt from her hair as she debated about what she should do. She watched the light in the upstairs window go on and wished she could see inside of it.

Her sire didn't even acknowledge her. That made Kristin feel painfully invisible. Willow must have been able to sense her and she wasn't coming to the door.

**********

Willow's heart beat a bit too fast as she hesitated at the library doors.  She'd been the one to argue that VampWillow should be sent home.  She'd talked the others into doing that.  

The look of pained shock on that vamp's face last night haunted Willow's dreams.  Willow looked up what she could on the woman and the guilt was gnawing at Willow's heart.  Rachel Mathews had been a mother of two.  She'd worked at a flower shop not far from the Bronze.  

"I'm telling you Giles, those vamps weren't normal."  Buffy's voice carried out to Willow's waiting spot.  For once Buffy had managed to beat Willow to school in the morning.  It could have had something to do with the fact that for once Willow actually considered skipping class, but that would be bad.  It would be adding mistakes to mistakes already made.  "I staked three, three weird vamps in one night and the only thing I can think of is they all bought their fangs from VampWillow.  It was a defective fang sale and everyone was buying."

"What can you tell me about these vampires?"  Giles' curiousity probably meant a lot of research after school tonight.  Willow still stood still straining to listen in.

"Hey Willster." Xander's voice actually made Willow squeak as she spun around.  "Why aren't we marching in and demanding books to read?"  He grinned at her teasingly and Willow took a deep breath to try and stop the pounding of her heart.  He pushed the library doors open and she was forced to follow or look suspicious.

"I'll talk about that... thing later Giles."  Buffy looked guilty.  Willow suspected that the slayer didn't intend to tell Willow about the other two vampires that VampWillow made.

They started towards class immediately because Willow had been late and Buffy also seemed eager to leave the library.  "You okay Will?"  Buffy asked softly.

"Fine." Willow hugged her books to her chest and lied.  "How was patrol after you dropped me off?"

"Uneventful." Willow took a deep breath at Buffy's lie and clenched her books tighter.  The slayer was probably just trying to protect her, but Willow deserved to know if she had vampires around that would be calling her sire.

How were those vampires different?  Rachel had been more human than they usually seem when they come out of the grave.  She'd been horrified that she was a vampire.  She'd caressed the word mother on her tombstone with her fingertips.  What were the other ones like?  Why were they different?  

Was Willow so strange that even as a Vampire her minions would be somehow wrong?  Did VampWillow do something to make them different?  Could that be done?  Willow felt like turning around and going back to research but they were already at their first class.

Willow hadn't even been paying attention to Buffy's talking as they walked and that became painfully clear when the slayer stopped and stared at her.  Yep, Willow was not paying attention gal today.

**************
When she got out of her last class she moved to the library more quickly than she had in the morning.  Where she hadn't wanted to face the others with what VampWillow had done, she was now desperate to hear about the other vampires.  Did they hate her?  Did VampWillow torture them?  Did they stare at their own tombstones like they were mourning the loss of life?

The pointed looks that Buffy sent her and the way they didn't talk about what needed to talk about finally got to her, although it looked like Giles would have said something if Willow hadn't.  "Buffy, just tell us.  What were they like?"  Willow gave her best resolve face as she stared down her overprotective friend.

“Will.” Buffy sighed and Willow gave the best resolve face she could muster as a response. She could see Buffy wilt as she gave in. “Well, the first one I found was kind of weak. He growled and had a normal grr face, but he just didn’t have the grr strength. His prey was beating him when I got there, a kinda scrawny teenage boy, I think I’ve seen him in computer class.”

“Whoa, brutal. What’s this world coming to when computer nerds can pick on vampires.” Xander joked and Willow just gave him a small glare.

“The next one was strong enough. I thought she was normal, but then she sniffed me and said,” Buffy blushed, “Something that made me think she was one of VampWillow’s as well.”

“What did she say Buffy.” Giles asked while still looking at a book. “It might very well be important.”

“It wasn’t.”

Giles looked up and Willow waited. “Fine, fine,” Buffy snapped at him. “She said ‘Are you the Mistress’ kitten? I can smell her on you?’ and then I kicked her away because she was like way too close to my neck for that sexy I’m gonna nibble on your neck in a good way, not a blood sucky way, voice. I think she was kinda gay too. Then when we fought and she was staked, end of story.”

“Oh well.” Giles took his glasses off and polished them while Willow blushed and looked down, using her hair to hid her face. “Yes well that could very well be our Willow she, ah, smelled.”

“What were you doing with Will scent all over you?” Xander asked and Willow felt her blush intensify at the not so hidden glee in his voice.

“I walked her home Xan, get your mind out of the gutter.” Buffy told him.

“So maybe the problem is all over now that Buffy staked them.” Willow looked up, her eyes a little pleading. “They were strange, well that last one sounded normal for a vamp, but now they’re gone and well, all’s well that ends well.” Willow felt sick thinking of what VampWillow had been up to. There were humans that looked at Willow differently around school as well because of that vamp, but being called sire last night had been, well, very wrong.

“That may be Willow, but VampWillow was only here for a night and for her to have three childer in that time is very unusual. It sounds familiar to me but I just can’t place it yet.” Giles shook his head. “We need to research this.”

“Oh man,” Xander groaned. “Even when their dusted already we have to work.”

“Oh and Buffy?” Giles spoke while picking up a book. “See if you can have Angel ask around. Perhaps the local vampire population can shed some light on this.”

Willow picked up a nearby book and started to read, but she couldn’t get rid of the memory of those angry vampire eyes and the blaming. That vampire hadn’t wanted to be a vampire and that was new, unless you thought of Angel, but could she have had a soul? Willow decided to look into that as well.

……………………

“There is a ritual that older stronger vampires do to show how strong their blood is.” Angel was reporting and Willow watched him carefully, not wanting to miss anything. “It’s called a Chaining, and what they do is turn several vampires in a row. The stronger those vampires come out, the number vampires that actually rise, show how potent the Master’s blood is.” Angel looked right at Willow. “There are three levels of vampires that rise, Childer are the strongest, then there are Minions which are the majority of all vampires in Sunnydale, and then as the blood gets weaker with each turning there are the Pets, the weakest of all vampires. They don’t even call them vampires and those don’t live long without a Sire because they are so weak.” Willow felt a wave of pity for the weak vampires, but she just glanced around to the others while Angel continued. “VampWillow did a Chaining while she was here, to prove her blood. There were seven, which is very ambitious for such a young vampire. It would have been ambitious for a Master.”

“You mean there are four more out there?” Buffy interrupted.

“There might not be four left.” Angel shook his head. “If they’re weak the regular nightlife of Sunnydale will take care of them.”

“Darwinism Vampire style.” Willow muttered, and it bothered her to think of this.

“Exactly.” Angel gave Willow a weak smile. “But there is a good chance that not all rose. I’ll keep an ear out, but for now it might be a good idea if Willow didn’t patrol with Buffy for a little while. VampWillow didn’t endear herself to her Childer.”

“Yes, Willow, it would be best if you didn’t patrol with Buffy, at least for now.” Giles spoke up.

Willow just nodded as she struggled with the idea of these vampires existing.

“This Chaining is something I have heard of. There may be something in my books.” Giles’ voice was clearly an invitation to research. “The more we know the better able Buffy will be to deal with this.”

“It isn’t like it’s hard.” Xander spoke up. “Angel said these were these vamps are the Kmart blue special version. We could just sit back and wait for the blood suckers to kill them for us.”

“They weren’t all weak Xan.” Buffy didn’t look at Willow and Willow could feel the tension. “Some of VampWill’s clan are Childer, and I only saw a Pet and two Minions. Out there is at least one stronger one, isn’t there Angel?”

“I doubt that VampWillow’s blood was too weak to make at least one.” Angel’s announcement was weary, “And they’ll be drawn to Willow.”

…………………….

Kristin hugged herself as she wandered the darkened streets, her stomach cramping from the hunger. She really should have tried to hunt yesterday, but she’d stayed near Willow’s house for most of the night before seeking shelter for the day, hoping that her sire would sense her and call her inside. That never happened.

Her eyes swept over the streets searching for someone walking alone. When she noticed a young girl Kristin crossed the street to try and intercept. Her body tensed as she imagined finally eating, she was so hungry. Her teeth ached as they started to descend, but Kristin kept her human face and looked up at the girl. Her own feet slowed as she looked into a much younger face than she’d expected. She noticed the woman was actually a young girl.

When the girl nodded at her with a slightly nervous smile Kristin moved to the side and watched as the girl walked past. She’d planned to follow and then pull the girl into the alley, but Kristin stood staring after the girl for a little too long. “too small.” She whispered to herself. “Kid, go home, it’s not safe after dark.” She yelled out bitterly and turned to walk further. Her stomach screaming at her for passing that one up. “I’ll find something bigger.” She told herself as she continued down the street.

It was a little after two when Kristin noticed the man leaving the bar, and how he swayed on his feet. She started to walk faster to catch up with him. This time she was going to do it, she told herself as she came up behind him. He was so unsteady Kristin wondered what it would do to his blood, but she wasn’t able to be picky now.

Kristin grabbed him tightly and yanked his head to the side. Her face morphed and she bit savagely into his neck, the taste of blood making her body sing. Yes, hungry, she sucked hard at the struggling man’s neck.

“That’s mine.” A cold voice spoke and Kristin ignored it, until something grabbed her hair and pulled her head away. “You heard me bitch, that’s mine.” Kristin turned to see a large male vamp staring at her. “Go get your own.”

“This is mine.” Kristin growled and hugged the human to her body. He struggled and it was hard to hold him still.

The male vamp shook his head and suddenly Kristin was yanked away from her prey. She’d looked all night for that. She screamed in frustration as the male bit her prey, and she started to get up to stop him.

“Don’t do that.” Another voice spoke and Kristin noticed the others. She could feel they were like her only the power radiated more strongly in them. “You’re a Pet and Pet’s only get leftovers.” A man who must have been a biker before he was turned snarled at her.

“Pets have to earn their left overs.” Another vamp smiled wickedly and Kristin took a step back, suddenly more afraid than angry. She turned to run. “Get Her!” Someone yelled and Kristin pushed herself harder to escape. She was slammed to the ground viciously and tried to defend herself from the hands tearing at her.

“No!” Kristin screamed, but no one ever noticed anyone screaming in Sunnydale.

……………..

Willow groaned as she woke up and heard the remote control fall to the floor. She shifted carefully on the couch so she didn’t fall off and considered all the reasons falling asleep to old movies was bad, mostly related to how her back felt when she woke up on the couch. A soft thud at the front door had her listening hard and Willow got up, glancing out the window and noticing it was almost dawn, a little late for Buffy.

Another thud had Willow hesitantly moving to the door. Looking out the window she saw a crumpled form on her porch. “Oh God, Buffy.” Willow moved to open the door quickly, reaching down to check on her friend, when she noticed brown hair and not blonde.

“Sire, help me.” A tearful voice pleaded. “Help me, please, help me.” Willow felt her blood freeze and she stepped back into the house so that the vampire couldn’t touch her.

The vampire didn’t try. Willow stared at the growing puddle of blood and the dark bruises and torn clothes and her eyes widened at the abuse this female appeared to have gone through. “Please Sire.” The voice was soft and hurt and Willow felt tears in her eyes as she took a hesitant step back out onto the porch to carefully turn the vampire, who didn’t have the strength to stop her and Willow stared into scared yellow eyes. Willow’s eyes trailed over the ripped shirt and the blood and knew, just knew that Darwinism in the vampire world was alive and well and this poor creature was the latest victim. “Help.”

The sun was about to rise and Willow nibbled on her lip as she considered that all she’d have to do was go inside and this vampire would just die on her own when the sun hit the porch. “Oh man, this is such a mistake.” Willow muttered to herself as she reached down to gently grip the female under the arms. “come in.” She uttered her invitation as she pulled the vampire into her house. The vampire in question passed out on her before she got her inside.

Willow dragged the vampire into the downstairs bathroom, while wincing at the trail of blood that followed. “You are lucky it’s a Saturday.” Willow spoke as she stopped pulling and stared down at the vampire on the floor. “I guess,” Willows hands shook as she kneeled down beside the vampire and hesitantly reached out to the ruined shirt, “I guess I need to see the damage. I’m really sorry about this but I’m going to have to take off your shirt. I promise it’s all medical, nothing bad.”

Two hours later a very pale Willow came out of the bathroom in blood splattered pajamas and a grim look on her face. The vampire hadn’t woken up once and that might have been for the best. “Monsters, well of course their monsters, but to do that to one of their own that’s just more monstery than monster.” Willow babbled quietly as she made her way toward the kitchen. She’d used all of her first aid supplies and still had opened wounds on the woman. Willow had dug wood out of her and some of the places she’d had to dig it out of were way too personal. The vamps that had gotten a hold of this one had tortured her, putting wood in her like that, from the looks of the scrapes and punctures they’d more than threatened to stake her.

She grabbed the phone book and slammed it down angrily on the table so she could flip through it and find a butcher or slaughterhouse, because that vampire needed blood or she still might not make it. Willow didn’t even let herself think about how normally it was their job to kill vampires, because to hurt someone this hurt as just wrong, and she wasn’t going to tell anyone that the vampire was here until the poor female was at least able to sit up. Willow could just imagine what Xander would say about it.

Once she found someplace that had the blood Willow went back to the bathroom. It had no windows, and the rest of the house would take work and be obvious if she tried to block the windows, so it was good that the vampire wasn’t moving much. Still, Willow stared down into the woman’s face and grimaced at the clear evidence she wasn’t healing like a vampire should. “I’m going to go get you some blood. That’ll be good right, some nice yummy blood.” Willow’s expression became disgust as she listened to herself babble. “Not that I drink blood, but you do and I’m sure for you it’s yummy. Me it would make me sick, but then I’m not a vampire.” She shut herself up and kneeled down beside the unconscious female. “I’ll take care of you, get you on your feet, but then you have to leave because I’m not really your sire, I’m a computer girl and research girl and scooby, and we kill things like you. I’ll be right back. You stay in here.”

All the while she was away Willow rushed, afraid that time wasn’t anyone’s friend. She rushed to the shop and ignored the strange looks she got buying blood, or the way the butcher glanced out at the sun and Willow walking out into it. She hurried past Xander’s house even though she knew he’d still be asleep, and when she finally got home and walked into the bathroom she was surprised to see her guest’s eyes opened and her body propped up against the wall in something that loosely resembled a sitting position. It stopped her completely and Willow stood staring at the vampire’s eyes while her heart started to pound. The vampire looked a bit scarier awake, it was easier to forget what she was when she wasn’t awake, but this one was in full grr face now.

“I brought you some blood.” Willow held out the mug she’d brought in.

“Sire.” The vampire’s word was soft and affectionate and Willow blushed at that. “Thank you.” Her hand came up but it was so shaky and Willow worried that the mug of blood would end up mixed with the vampires own blood on the floor. Willow really needed to clean the floors before anyone came by and thought someone was murdered in the house.

“Here,” Willow steadied the vampire’s hands as much as she could, but her own were shaking a little. “You drink as much as you need. I bought a lot and I can’t really keep it in the fridge or they’ll be questions and questions are bad, so you need to drink it all up.” The tears coming from the vampire’s eyes at that were a surprise and Willow stared for a moment before staring down at her own knees. “You’ll be safe here for a little while. You just get stronger.”

The vampire started to drink and Willow stared, wondering at how this didn’t gross her out just a bit more. The vampire kept looking at Willow as Willow refilled the cup several times, but she didn’t say anything. Willow found herself staring back, trying to imagine or remember that this was a soulless monster on her bathroom floor. The vampire’s grr face faded with the last cup and when Willow offered to fill it again the vampire shook her head no.

“I tried to hunt sire, I caught prey, I did.” The vampire looked down and Willow could see the fear in the way the vampire held her body, but the hunting talk was a stark reminder of what she had here. “They took my prey from me, it was mine and then they…” The vampire’s words cracked in pain. “I tried to be strong Sire, I tried to be strong so I wouldn’t shame you, but I couldn’t get away. They left me to die.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, well,” Willow grimaced, “hunting and killing and the grr isn’t really, but you’re a vampire and that’s what vampire’s do so I guess if you look at it in one way, even though it’s not really, well,” Willow sighed. “You didn’t shame anyone, you were strong and you came here which I don’t really understand why you’d do that but you did and now you’re looking well less pale, still vampire pale but not as bad and it’ll be okay.” The vampire was giving her a strange look and that was when Willow realized she’d been babbling. “This sire thing though,” Her words slowed wondering if explaining was really the right thing to do, but better to explain while the vampire was too weak to do anything if she got mad right, Willow reasoned quickly. “That’s kinda complicated. I’m not really your sire, I’m not even a vampire.”

“You are.” The vampire protested and moved just enough to feel pain because she flinched. “You’re my sire.” The vampire sniffed the air and tilted her head, getting a puzzled look on her face. “Heartbeat.” She whispered.

“Um you see,” Willow swallowed before pressing on. “I’m big with the magic and I did a spell, well it was a big spell and I didn’t know that it would do that, but it brought a double of me to this world and she turned out to be a leather wearing, crazy talking, kinda skanky vampire.” The vampire’s eyes went gold and Willow spoke quickly. “Which I’m sure it perfectly fine for a vampire, but that isn’t me.” The vampire stared down at the floor as she thought and Willow studied her quietly. “I sent her back. I didn’t know she’d been big with the making vampires when she was here.”

“She said I was lucky number six.” The vampire shook her head and looked up, her expression vulnerable and lost. “You’re my sire.” It was like she refused to accept what Willow was saying and Willow opened her mouth to deny it again, but the vampire spoke faster. “You shelter me, you’re my sire.”

“No, no, you aren’t hearing me. I’m not a vampire.”

“No, you’re human.” The vampire’s voice was stronger, more determined. “You’re magic, and you’re my sire.” Willow shook her head. “Please, without a sire,” The vampire looked scared. “You’re my sire.” It sounded desperate. “You’re my sire.”

“You need to get some sleep. You can have more blood when you wake up.” Willow moved to stand up, but the vampire reached out and grabbed her arm. Willow’s heart started to pound and her face paled as she tugged on it and didn’t get free.

“Please, you’re my sire.” The vampire pleaded. “If I have no sire they say I’m anyone’s and they can do anything they want to me. Please. I told them I had a sire. I told them she was strong and beautiful and vicious and if I don’t have a sire…” The vampire let out a sob. Willow hesitantly reached out her other hand and gently patted the vampire on the shoulder.

“No one is going to hurt you here. You just relax and get better.” Willow let out a breath in relief when the vampire let her arm go and leaned back. “I need to clean up the floor and you just rest.”

“I’ll be a good childe, I will.” The vampire was still pleading and Willow felt like she was in the twilight zone. This was a hellmouth version of the imprinting baby birds did. One thing Willow knew was that she wasn’t going to tell the vampire she wasn’t her sire again, not without backup. Willow rubbed at her wrists and wondered if it would bruise.

“You just rest. Knock on the bathroom door if you need me, but don’t come out. There is sunlight all over the place.” And just to be on the safe side Willow was going to open a few more curtains to keep the vampire in the room. It was better to know where the vampire in the house was and not have the sneaking, just in case the vampire decided Willow would make a better lunch than sire. “You have a name?” Maybe Willow could do a little research once the floor was done.

“Kristin,” The vampire’s voice was softer and she looked down, as if afraid to meet Willow’s eyes. “Kristin Peters.”

“I’m Willow.” Willow gave Kristin a small smile. “Willow Rosenberg.”

“I know.” Kristin looked up and smiled just a little. “Thank you.” Willow didn’t know what the thank you was for, but she backed out of the bathroom, careful not to let any light in.

Her mind felt like it was spinning as she scrubbed at the floors. What she really wanted to do was research, but it wasn’t like she could hide this mess if anyone came over, not that they did very much lately, what with Xander being with Cordelia and Buffy being so busy with slaying and Angel, well, Willow thought it was very likely that she wouldn’t see anyone today and for once that was really a good thing. It would give her time to think.

Angel, now wouldn’t it be nice to be able to call him and ask, Willow thought a little bitterly as she tossed the washcloth back in the bucket. “Hey Angel,” Willow pretended she was talking to him, “I was wondering if you could tell me more about Pets and Sires and how to heal a vampire from a vicious attack? Why you ask, oh no reason, I am just curious. No, no need to visit, just tell me and while you’re at it do you have any idea how a VAMPIRE could insist I was her sire and not listen when I tell her I’m HUMAN? What do you mean I’m crazy, no really, I just was curious. Please don’t call Buffy.” Willow let out a sigh. “This is just great. I had to let her in too, I’m sure they’ll all be so lectury about that. Willow you mean you actually dragged a vampire into your home? I can just see it now. No, I can’t tell them yet. Maybe I can get Kristin to just leave and there is that uninvited spell.” Willow stared out at the porch and noticed she’d have to hose it off. Could she really just patch the vampire up and send her back out there for more? Willow’s mind filled with visions of the damage the vampire had been in, and that was with her claiming she had a Sire. No, there had to be something Willow could do. No one deserved that, not even a bloodthirsty vampire, and Kristin wasn’t like the other bloodthirsty vampires anyhow. She just seemed so fragile.

Willow needed books. With a glance at the bathroom door, she made up her mind. She’d clean the porch and then tell Kristin she’d be going out.

………………

Kristin stood wobbly when she felt the tension fade and somehow just knew the sun had gone down. She could hear the soft heartbeat in the house and she wanted to go to it, but she just moved to the door and knocked. If she wanted Willow’s protection, and she did, she was going to obey the order to stay in here if she had to, but the room was loosing its appeal fast.

She tugged at the sleeves of the shirt that Willow had given her, thinking it really did look bad on her, but it was better than nothing. Seeing the damage had been upsetting and now she just saw fuzzy pink. The rest should heal, but it was apparently healing too slowly, from the look on Willow’s face last time she’d looked at them.

Footsteps came towards the door and Kristin heard them slow. “Can I come out?” She asked through the door.

“Um, Ah,” Willow stammered and Kristin slowly opened the door and looked at the redhead, Kristin had to lean heavily on the doorframe after a moment. “You want more blood?”

“Yes.” Kristin smiled just a little, “please.”

“Okay.” Willow took a step back and then turned to Kristin. “I guess with the sun down you can come to the kitchen with me.”

“Thank you.” Kristin took slow steps as she followed.

“Um, you know the rules of the house are that you don’t bite anyone in it right?” Willow pretended to be casual but Kristin smelled the fear in the air and was surprised that a witch strong enough to do a spell like she did was afraid of Kristin. That had to be a hard spell. Kristin knew this Willow was powerful, she banished the one that had bitten Kristin after all and that Willow was strong.

“Okay.” Kristin sat down heavily in the chair as Willow poured more blood into a mug. “Do you think it tastes better warmed? The prey I had tasted better than this.” The scent of fear filled the room more thickly and Kristin inhaled deeply. It smelled good. It took her a moment to realize what she said might have been rude and she quickly tried to do damage control. “Not that I don’t appreciate what you give me. I do, I really do, but I was just wondering if it would be better warm.”

“We’ll just microwave some and see.” Willow’s smile was a little fake and Kristin frowned a little as she saw it and watched Willow put the mug in the microwave.

Kristin stared into the mug when she was handed it, taking a deep breath, but it still didn’t smell that good. She did her best to hide her grimace as she took a drink and gave a weak smile to Willow. “Better.” She lied to her sire, but she really didn’t want to anger her. Kristin was probably lucky the vampire that made her wasn’t here last night and it was this Willow, because a vampire might have been disgusted with Kristin’s weakness in losing her first prey like that, Kristin’s hands shook a little.

“Hey,” Willow’s voice was soft and Kristin looked up at her, stared at her. Willow fidgeted a little so Kristin looked elsewhere.

Kristin set the mug of blood down so hide the shaking of her own hands after finishing it so she didn’t have to smell it anymore. “Sire?”

“Call me Willow.” The redhead corrected her and Kristin could hear the nervousness in Willow’s voice. It didn’t inspire confidence and Kristin was really at a loss as to what would be acceptable. She wanted to make herself valuable enough that Willow would keep her, but she had little to offer.