Karl had spent the better part of the past day being pricked, prodded and poked with devices he’d never seen before, or would care to see ever again. He was getting that bored and angry with no one telling him anything, not even the cute nurse the Commander had assigned to keep an eye on him was working anymore.

     “I keep telling you I feel fine! When can I get the hell out of here?” Karl asked yet another doctor, or scientist. He couldn’t tell them all apart with the white lab coats on.

    The nurse was just about to try and calm him down again when the Commander walked into the room and beat her to it. “Cool it Karl, you know the routine when a foreign body enters the blood stream.”

     “Yes sir, but I’m telling you I feel fine. In fact I feel better than fine actually.” Karl said now he thought about it.

     “I’m sure you do, but the lab guys have found much higher levels of vampire anti-bodies than they have ever seen in anyone before, so they think it’s best to keep you here where they can keep an eye on you, just until the anti-bodies have been flushed from your system.” The commander explained what the doctors had told him as he looked at the IV pumping a clear liquid into Karl’s arm.

     “Have you managed to find out anything about the girl at the school from this morning sir?” Karl asked with a sigh. He just wanted to feel like he was doing something, even if it was just brain storming with the Commander. “Have you found out why she was putting up blank posters all over the school and then screaming that he needed her to get a message to the slayer?” Karl asked with a frown.

     “No, other than the fact this new vampire calling himself Spike compelled the girl to do it for him.” The commander growled. “But we’re still no closer to working out what these things say, of anything at all.” The commander added as he threw a rolled up poster down on the bed for Karl to look at.

    Karl picked up the poster and unrolled it. “It’s a message for the Slayer.” Karl said as he read the poster.

     “You can see something on it?” The Commander asked as he tried to look at the poster again for some reason.

     “Yes, I guess having his blood in my system means I can also read what other supernatural’s can.” Karl said as he read the whole poster before letting out a gasp. “I knew I should have taken that bastard down when I had the chance.” Karl added as he slapped his fist down on the bed he was sat on.

     “What is it Karl, what does the poster say?” The Commander asked.

    Karl took a deep breath and then read the poster out to the Commander and the lab coats that were now in the room with them.

    Dear Slayer or whatever your real name is.

    If you’re reading this, then you saw what I did to the child I got to deliver my message. Please don’t worry yourself with her well being, for she will be fine again in a day or so, and won’t remember ever helping me deliver this to you. I wish I could say that all the other children will be as safe, but that will all depend on you.

    Meet me tonight at midnight, in the same place I saw you stake the two vampires, so I can have a chat and find out a little more about you and why you seek to kill my kind.

    If you fail to show this evening, then I will kill one child tomorrow, then two the next day, and three the day after that, and so on and so on until you finally show up, or I run out of children.

    I look forward to meeting you at midnight.

    Spike

     “Do we have any idea where this place might be?” The Commander asked Karl.

     “No sir, do you think she’ll even bother to show up, or if she even got the message.” Karl asked looking worried about this Spike carrying out his threat and killing innocent children, just to get a point across to this Slayer.

     “All we can do is hope she did get the message, and she cares enough to turn up for his meeting.” The Commander said feeling pretty useless at the minute. “She did seem to show up quite fast the other day when you and your men were there looking around, so let’s hope she does the same tonight, and she puts an end to this new vampire menace.” The Commander added as he tapped his finger on the poster still in Karl’s hands.

     “Let me take a team out and see if we can track down the place of the meeting for you sir?” Karl said eager to get out there doing something to help track this blood sucker down.

     “I’m sorry son, but if I let you go out while you still have that vamp blood in your system...” The Commander trailed off, not needing to finish.

     “I understand sir.” Karl said with a sigh. “I just want to help catch this bastard.” Karl added holding up the poster.

     “You already have son. You worked out what the poster said.” The commander chuckled as he turned to leave the room. “Now get some rest! That’s an order!” He shouted as he left the room to organise a couple of teams to patrol the town, and see if they could track down the location of this meet between the Slayer and this Spike.

    Karl had to chuckle at the Commanders orders to get more rest; He’d been lying around in this same boring white room since his men bought him back last night. Karl wasn’t sure how much more resting he could deal with.

    Sara and Sheana soon had their homework done, even with Jenna distracting them. They found Jenna’s distraction to be a welcome relief to the evening. It made everything seem normal for once. They helped Jenna get cleaned up before they went down to have some dinner, and also explain what happened at School, and what they needed to go out and do later. Sara could tell the minute she walked into the kitchen and saw her mother stood next to Prue, that she already knew about the message from Spike, and what he wanted Sara to do.

     “Hi mum, Sandy.” Sara smiled as she helped Jenna take her seat at the table, just before her and Sheana started helping to bring the bowls of food over to the table.

     “Is it true what Prue’s just told me about you going to meet this Spike person at midnight? Even though you don’t have your Slayer powers?” Karen asked as she blocked Sara’s path back to the table after she’d grabbed a couple of bowls off the side.

     “Yes it is mother.” Sara said, not wanting to make eye contact and let her mum see the fear in her eyes. “I don’t have any other choice.” Sara pointed out as she tried to step around her mum, but was stopped when Karen grabbed her shoulders and forced Sara to look her in the eyes.

     “You always have a choice Sara!” Karen snapped at her.

     “I know, but a choice that doesn’t lead to people dying?” Sara asked almost pleadingly. “How would you feel if you were the parent of the child Spike kills tomorrow if I don’t meet him at midnight?” Sara asked, as she tried to make her mum understand the reason for her going.

     “I could be the parent in morning Sara! Don’t you understand that?” Karen said as she pulled Sara into a hug with her.

     “Yes I understand that mum, but at least I stand a better chance of coming back.” Sara said trying to calm her mum back down as she felt her shaking is her arms.

     “Normally I’d agree sweetie, but at the minute you’re nothing more than a teenage girl yourself.” Karen explained her worry for Sara’s well being if she faced this crazy vampire and his witch girlfriend.

     “Sheana and Prue will be there to back me up mum, so if things get out of hand, they will be there to help out.” Sara said as she played down the meeting, even if she didn’t feel any better about it herself still.

     “I do understand your reason for going Sara, but I don’t have to like it.” Karen said as she hugged Sara even tighter. “Just come back to me alive and in one piece.” Karen added with a sigh.

    Dinner was a quiet affair with little being said. Sara and Sheana still did the dishes after they had all eaten desert. Jenna helped them like she normally did, and then it was a waiting game as they watched the clock slowly move its way around to midnight. Sara had morphed into her Slayer armour, so she could get used to the tight corset on her tender belly. Sheana had also done the same so she could check to make sure she did have some magic in her. It turned out Hypatia was right, and Sheana could feel the magic flowing from the crystals in the suit and making her feel much better, but she could still feel the drop in power to what she normally felt.

     “How you feeling now sis?” Sara asked Sheana as she watched her magical sister forming a blue ball of energy in one hand.

     “I feel good Slayer.” Sheana grinned as she sucked the blue ball of magic back into her suit. “I wish I had the power to make you stronger, but I fear it would leave me with nothing more to offer if I did.” Sheana added with a pout.

     “I’d take you over a power boost any day sis.” Sara said as she stepped over and pulled Sheana into a hug with her. “I have a feeling it will take more than just strength to win against this version of Spike anyway sis.” Sara added with a smile when they broke the hug.

    Prue entered the bedroom dressed in her black hunting gear like they had all worn the night they rescued the men in black from the Krennan demons. Everyone in the pub had seen Prue with the Slayer, so Prue never bothered with the balaclava this time, but she did have a gift for Sara.

     “I want you to have this, so if you get a chance you can drive it through Spike’s heart.” Prue said as she handed Sara a solid silver spike. “If you can’t drive it into his chest, just stick it any place you can, and it will slow him down enough for you to drive a wooden stake through his heart.” Prue explained.

     “Vampires don’t like silver?” Sara asked as she looked at the shiny silver stake in her hand.

     “It’s poison to us Sara, but only if it’s driven into the body.” Prue said. “Get that into him, and he won’t be much stronger than you are right now.” Prue added with a grin.

     “I feel our odds going up all the time.” Sara smiled as she slipped the silver spike into her boot out of sight.

     “Just keep it nice and simple Sara. If you see a chance to end this, just do it.” Prue said as she looked Sara in the eyes, or the Slayer in the red tinted sunglasses that hid Sara’s eyes. “Spike’s ego may be his down fall if he’s true to form and wants to entertain the crowd like I expect he will.” Prue added looking smug.

     “He won’t be so cocky when I’ve done with him.” Sara said in her sexy slayer voice with a smile.

     “Just remember Slayer, keep it simple, and don’t let him get to you with his banter.” Prue warned when she saw the smug smile on Sara’s face.

    Prue was still having serious doubts about Sara facing Spike while not having her powers to help her. She’d seen Spike in action, and even she worried about facing someone of his age and abilities.

    Sara, Sheana and Prue all returned to the kitchen where Karen, Sandy and Jenna were all sat at the table looking worried. Karen was up out her seat and running over to hug all three girls looking worried for them.

     “You be careful, and come back to me.” Karen warned as she hugged all three girls at the same time. “You two did get all your homework done right?” Karen suddenly said. This made them all laugh at the bizarre question.

     “Would you ground us if we said no?” Sara asked with a giggle, which sounded so different to Karen’s ears, due to the voice device Sara was using to sound older.

     “Yes I would young lady. Slayer or no Slayer, you’re still my child and I want you to keep up to date with your homework.” Karen scolded Sara.

     “Well I’m sorry to disappoint you mother, but Sheana and I got all our homework done when we got in from school.” Sara smiled as she gave her mother another hug.

    Sara took one last look at her mobile and saw she had a bunch of missed calls from Jo. Sara had put her phone on silent when she got home from school, she couldn’t stand to listen to him try and talk her out of doing what she was about to do. Sara had half expected him turning up on the doorstep, but luckily he hadn’t. Sara had no idea what she was going to say to him tomorrow, that’s if he was even talking to her still by then.

     “He’s going to be upset with you tomorrow.” Sandy said when she saw the missed calls on her sister’s phone.

     “I’ll worry about that tomorrow sis.” Sara said as she gave Sandy a hug.

     “You do that baby sister; now go send this Spike asshole on a one way trip to hell with a one way first class ticket.” Sandy said sounding like a bossy big sister should.

    Sara gave her mum, sister and Jenna another hug before she stood and waited for Prue and Sheana to do the same. Then Sara got ready to blink herself, while Sheana got ready to blink her and Prue over to the pub, or just outside the place. In a flash Sara found herself stood outside the pub, and then a second later she was joined by Sheana and Prue.

     “How you doing Witch?” Sara asked to make sure Sheana still had some juice left for later if they needed it.

     “Just fine Slayer; now focus on the matter at hand.” Sheana said as she started walking towards the pub before Sara could ask anything else that could give this Spike a clue that something was wrong with them both.

    Understanding the reason for Sheana speaking like she did, Sara soon got into her Slayer mode and walked quickly to catch up with Sheana and then enter the pub with Sheana and Prue on either side of her. It didn’t take Sara long to spot which one Spike was. Sara had to admit that the real life spike did look a little like the Spike from the TV Show, but he looked bigger and much more powerful. The main difference between the Spikes was the fact this one had a long blond ponytail and wore an expensive looking suit while holding a walking cane. Sara found herself thinking he looked more like an elf from the lord of the rings movies.

     “Bout bloody time you showed up darling.” Spike said as he slammed his cane into the ground as he sat up in the chair he was seated on in the middle of the room. “Thought you were going to chicken out and not show.” He added as he picked up the glass of red wine, or something else that looked red which Sara really didn’t want to think about.

     “I make it still five to midnight, so I’m not late.” Sara’s sexy Slayer voice said as she stepped up to the table with Sheana and Prue stood just behind her.

     “Where are my manners?” Spike said just before he kicked another chair out at the table he was seated at. “Take the weight off your pins for a bit while we have a bleeding chat.” Spike added.

    Sara would have preferred to remain standing, but she also remembered what Hypatia said about trying to get out of the place without it becoming a fight to the death, or whatever you called it when you staked a vampire, due to them already being dead.

     “Thank you.” Sara nodded her head as she took the offered seat and sat down facing Spike.

     “Join me for a drink?” Spike asked as he suddenly produced a second glass and then a bottle of wine or Sara still hopes it was wine.

     “Thanks for the offer, but I’m fine at the minute.” Sara said as she put a gloved hand over the top of the empty glass to stop Spike pouring anything into it.

     “I can get you a tankard of ale. I know you drink that.” Spike grinned as he remembered the Slayer having a drinking contest with Armen the landlord.

    Sara thought she was going to be sick at the thought of ever drinking ale again, but she managed to force it back down while keeping a cool look on her face. “You wanted a meeting so we could talk, not so you could wine and dine me.” Sara said in a cool voice. “I know you have a thing for Slayers’ but I’m really not interested. I like my dates to have a pulse.” Sara added the last bit in a whisper.

     “Don’t get me bleeding started on that subject.” Spike snapped looking more than a little upset about it. “I never should have compelled that yank to put me and Dru in his telly show.” Spike added as he calmed himself down again.

     “Why did you get him to put you in his Buffy show, if you knew there was a chance you’d become a laughing stock because of it?” Sara asked. “Come to think of it Spike, how did you get him to put you in his show?”

     “Said I’d bloody bite him if he didn’t.” He shrugged. “Beginning to wish I’d bit him anyway now.” Spike grumbled just before taking another sip from his glass. “So what’s your story then Slayer? Do you have a first name, or is it just Slayer?” Spike asked.

     “Slayer will do just fine for now.” Sara said with a smile.

     “I’m planning to kill you tonight darling, so there won’t be any other time for us to chat like this.” Spike said in a calm voice as he poured himself another glass of wine out. “I can’t have you going round killing my fellow vampires, even if some of them are wankers and they do deserve it like those two the other night.” Spike added just before he picked up his glass again.

     “Our first date and you already want to kill me? I must be slipping, or I just need to find a better perfume.” Sara joked, not wanting to sound scared. “I think you’ll find I’m not that easy to kill.” Sara pointed out.

     “This isn’t a date you tramp!” A raven haired woman snapped as she lunged for Sara, but was stopped by Spike’s cane being raised and forcing the angry woman to take a step back.

     “Calm down Dru baby. She’s just trying to get a rise out of us.” Spike said in a calm voice. “I’ve not done talking with her yet.” He added as he lowered his cane once Drusilla had taken a step back and was now stood just behind Spike.

     “I think the Drusilla in the TV show was prettier.” Sara said as she looked the real Drusilla up and down. She found it hard to believe this woman was a witch and a vampire. Sara thought she looked a little plain and boring.

     “I’m going to kill you for that bitch!” Drusilla shouted as she went for Sara again, but was once again stopped by spike.

     “Dru darling, don’t make me tell you again.” Spike said through gritted teeth. “Step back and shut up until daddy's done speaking.” Spike said in a calm cold voice that must have had more meaning to Drusilla than anyone else, because she did as he was told looking worried.

     “We can carry on this chat another night if you and your unstable girlfriend need time to sort out your relationship.” Sara said as she tried to get Drusilla to attack again. Sara had pulled the silver spike out her boot and was ready to drive it through Drusilla’s heart this time.

     “Dru and I have all the time in the world, unlike you Slayer.” Spike pointed out. “But I would like to know what made you think you were a Slayer?” Spike asked.

     “I just wanted to meet interesting people like you William, and then kill you.” Sara said in a cold hard voice as she gripped her hand around the silver stake.

     “Do you have your very own Angel lurking in the shadows? Just waiting to come to your rescue?” Spike asked in a mocking tone.

     “I’m sorry, but I don’t have an Angel, or an Edward to protect me.” Sara smiled. “Don’t tell me that you want to be my Edward.” Sara added with a grin.

    Sara had finally struck a nerve with Spike as he flipped the table out the way, sending it flying into a group of demons stood near the bar. Sara used the time to form the helmet around her head to offer a little more protection from any blows he got in above her shoulders.

    Even though Sara was still quicker than a normal human, she was still much slower than her normal Slayer self, which was a bad thing with how fast Spike was. He had already got in a couple of good body blows while Sara was trying to find a good way to attack. Spike was hitting her with so much force that she could feel each blow even with the protection spell and dragon skin armour.

    Sara didn’t like the way this fight was going, or more of a beating actually, due to her not being able to keep track of Spike to even try and stick the silver spike in him.

     “You’re the same Slayer that defeated a Krennan? I find that hard to bleeding believe looking at you now.” Spike said as he moved at lightning speed and came at Sara from the side as he drew a long thin blade from his walking cane and spun round on Sara with it.

    Thanks to the protection spell and the dragon armour, the blade never cut her, but the force of the blow was enough to knock Sara off her feet. She was just getting back up again when she felt a blow to the base of her spine that knocked her back down again as she let out a scream of pain. Sara had felt a sharp stab in the lower part of her back just before it ripped up and down into her legs. The thing that worried Sara more than the pain in her back was the fact she could no longer feel her legs.

    Prue could tell by the scream of pain Sara just let out, something was wrong. She also noticed that Sara was trying to drag herself across the floor without moving her legs. Prue was quick to attack Spike while Sheana kept an eye on Drusilla.

     “Slayer! Get out of here now!” Prue shouted as she kept Spike busy.

     “Do you really think you’re a match for me Prudence?” Spike asked as he tried to attack her with his blade.

     “Why don’t you fight me and find out?” Prue said blocking his path to Sara, who was still sat on the floor behind her.

    Prue had grabbed the silver stake from Sara’s hand on her way to block his path towards Sara, so she was able to keep him back for a short time, but Prue was soon over powered and found the silver blade taken off her and then driven into her own shoulder. Prue looked shocked that the silver spike had got through the protection spell Sheana had made for her, but she was in too much pain to think about it at the minute.

    Sheana saw that Prue was in trouble, and she had no choice but to grab her and blink the two of them to safety. Sheana just hoped Sara was able to do the same.

    Sara was still trying to fight the pain in her back and the numb feeling in her legs as she saw Spike step over her. She looked up just in time to see him punch her right in the face, or mask, as she still had it protecting her head. That was the last thing Sara remembered.

     “Now I plan to peel you out of that suit like I was peeling an orange.” Spike said to the slumped form lying on the ground, but just before he had time to start, she suddenly vanished. “No!” He shouted as he saw his victory taken from him in blink of an eye.

    The pub didn’t seem too bothered by the fact Spike didn’t get to see the life drain from the Slayer’s eyes; They were all cheering the fact Spike just beat the slayer.

    Spike and Drusilla were looking forward to tasting the slayers blood, but seeing her beaten on the floor would have to do, and Spike had felt something break in the Slayer’s back when he kicked her, so even if she lived, she’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

    Hypatia had been sat with Samantha in the study focusing on the scene at the pub when she was suddenly on her feet and running for the hallway after hearing Sheana shouting for some help with Prue.

     “Prue’s been stabbed with a silver blade!” Sheana said in a panic. “I need to blink back and help Sara.” Sheana added as she turned to blink back to the pub, just as Sara appeared on the floor in the hallway.

    Sara wasn’t moving which worried Sheana and the others. Hypatia picked Sara up while Sheana and Samantha helped get Prue up to the healing room. Hypatia lay Sara on the bed in the middle of the room and then put a hand to Sara’s forehead before focusing on making Sara’s slayer armour retract for her.

     “You foolish child. I warned you not to fight him like this.” Hypatia said to the unconscious girl.

     “Will she be okay?” Sheana asked once she and Samantha got Prue sat in a chair so Hypatia could pull the stake out and help to heal the wound.

     “We’ll know better once she wakes up, but from what I sensed in her mind as Spike kicked her in the back, I think her back has been broken.” Hypatia said looking worried.

To Be Continued Next Tuesday  

Story by SaraUK

Edited and Posted by SamanthaK