Chapter 32<\/b><\/p>\n
Spike growled. \u201cWhat the hell? Peaches?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, much for the nice guy approach. What\u2019s happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t leave Cordy, right now. I want you to go to this address, kick the door in if you have to. Talk to Lorne\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLorne?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s green, you\u2019ll know. Tell him everything that has been happening with Dracula, everything, then get him to give you a list of any possible, likely or unlikely sources of information on Dracula\u2019s whereabouts\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreen, so he\u2019s demon, I can beat it out of him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust tell him who you are, sing a few bars of something and no violence will be necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201dSing? I\u2019d rather pound.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSing. He\u2019s a great babysitter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Why didn\u2019t you say so?\u201d Spike rolled his eyes and grabbed at the address. \u201cGive me your car.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel growled. \u201cYou\u2019ve your own.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, but I like yours better.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine.\u201d Angel growled. \u201cIf you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cheerleader, the squirt and now the car?\u201d Spike shook his head reaching for his pants. Spike decided to put aside his wonderings.<\/p>\n
It was kind of nice in a weird way to have his grandsire need him for something other than ridicule or abuse.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Spike was about to kick in the door, but what the hell, the squirt needed all the baby sitters he could get if the list of his enemies was really as long as Angel said. He leaned on the buzzer, never letting up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell\u2026Hey, it\u2019s after hours, beauty sleep time, I don\u2019t have to let you in. Closing time, invite to all demons retracted. Come back on 80\u2019s appreciation night.\u201d Lorne went to slam the door.<\/p>\n
Spike struck out his arm blocking the door. \u201c\u2026Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking..when I hear the silly things that you say\u2026.I think somebody better put out the big light cuz I can\u2019t stand to see you this way- Alison, I know this world is killing you\u2026.Oh, Alison, my aim is true, my aim is true, my aim true\u2026.<\/i> Can I come in now, Peaches said after some tunage, no violence would be necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne stepped back. \u201cObliviously you didn\u2019t get your singing talent from your grandsire, or your taste. I myself am more into the golden oldies crooners, but I can appreciate some Elvis Costello, he’s way better than Barry Manilow, especially butter cakes version. Sometimes, it makes you wonder about Angelus doesn\u2019t it?\u201d Lorne shivered.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of them can sing, you are so welcomed here – a member of the family that can carry a tune. Come in, and tootsie roll, I doubt the world is really killing your slaying beauty, it\u2019s just confusing for her, death can do that to you. Your heart is true. Hers? I would have to hear a chorus or too. So, what\u2019s up, lemon drop?\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike just stared at the green demon cloaked in a bright orange and green silk robe. \u201cWhat do you know about Buffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToo much, actually. A while back, there was this big flux in the big guy and the Princess\u2019 auras surrounding the heroic blonde\u2019s supposed death. Don\u2019t you find it funny that things that die, don\u2019t stay dead anymore, not that I want the slayer dead, she\u2019s one of the good guys, but it makes you wonder. Why are you here? All I\u2019m getting is mixture of Buffy, Angel and the Princess, but no real sense, danger to someone, but\u2026.oh, the Princess. Dracula? Damn, thought he was dead. There you go. Is Cordy all right? The buttery delicious croissant can\u2019t be taking this well, growling a lot is he? Has he busted up the hotel yet? No, well lets see if we can stop this before that begins. Tell, pumpkin cakes, that I\u2019ll have the list at the hotel in a couple of hours. Did you want a drink or was that it? Oh, lollypop, you\u2019re an unusual vampire, not all gloom and doom; take advantage of what\u2019s offered to you, take it and what you want can\u2019t be that far behind. And the squirt is cute isn\u2019t he? Come back when the crisis is over, take a whorl on stage bring the heroic blonde. It\u2019ll be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike didn\u2019t know what to make of the demon; he hung on to the purpose of his errand. \u201cPeaches, wants the list.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, he\u2019ll get it. Rush, rush, that\u2019s cupcakes for you. I know he\u2019s all enraged, don\u2019t need to read him for that; the Princess is in danger, but if he wants a good, accurate list and not a sleep groggy mishmash of guesses, he\u2019ll have to cool his buttery buns a bit. I\u2019ll be along in the early morning hours. Shoo, unless you plan sing to me again.\u201d Lorne fluttered his hands at the blonde vampire.<\/p>\n
Chapter 33<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cPeaches, who the hell have you been hanging out with and what\u2019s his deal? He was wearing orange and green silk and called me a lollypop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel was already half way down the main staircase. He had been waiting for the other vampire to return.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least you aren\u2019t a pastry. The list?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said unless you wanted a groggy guess list, you\u2019d have to wait until morning, it was going to take a couple of hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel growled but nodded and headed back upstairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBarry Manilow?”<\/p>\n
Angel stopped and growled again, never turning around. \u201cNothing is wrong with \u2018Mandy\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUhuh.\u201d Spike\u2019s gaze followed the dark vampire up the stairs. Spike shook his head. That used to be Angelus, the Scourge of Europe. It must have been his skill at killing that made Angelus the talk of the old days; cuz Angel was just a dork.<\/p>\n
The only thing cool about the ensouled version was Angel\u2019s leather coat and convertible. Spike shook his head and headed back to his room.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Spike kept his eyes close. He almost jumped up and attacked, but he sensed who it was immediately. Why the chit was coming into his room was beyond him.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t for a quick tumble, he could tell that, thank god. Spike didn\u2019t need Angel going all territorial on him, proving how much of Angelus was still present in the vampire. But why was she there?<\/p>\n
He heard Cordelia move, a rustle of paper, and then the door closed softly behind her as she left. Curious, Spike opened his eyes.<\/p>\n
There was a note on his door. Even more curious, he reached for it.<\/p>\n
Spike, <\/i><\/p>\n
Angel and I\u2019ve gone to my apartment, I\u2019m telling you this cuz you may need breakfast before we get back. The blood is on the bottom shelf the refrigerator, can\u2019t miss it-it\u2019s red. Don\u2019t worry about taking the last bag. Angel already had his and we\u2019ll pick up some more on the way back. The mugs are in the upper left cabinet. Set the microwave for 2:10 on med high, the med high is important, you do it on high and it tastes bad, burnt or something, I don\u2019t know, but that\u2019s what Angel says. Oh, if you\u2019re feeling adventurous, the cinnamon is in the right lower cabinet. Remember, med high. Don\u2019t let Fred do it for you, she\u2019s a whiz at math but is clueless at the microwave. Oh, also, remember no cussing or smoking in front of Connor. You can tell him stories, but they have to be G friendly and he likes the vamp face. See ya\u2026C<\/i><\/p>\n
\n
Chapter 34<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cMortimor!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Master?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked you a question.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster, I do not have an answer for you. I can not explain why the young woman didn\u2019t come to you or how Angelus came to almost catch you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe DID not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, course not. I misspoke. What I meant to say is I do not know how Angelus was aware of your presence at the hotel or how that it was necessary for you to take flight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dracula spun on his heel piercing Mortimor with his glare. Mortimor bowed in deference to the Count\u2019s silent reproach. Dracula nodded and resumed his pacing. \u201cShe told him. How is that possible?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, Master, I do not have an answer for you. In the past, the enticement spell has cloaked your presence, drawing your choices to you unaware- that is of course until you wish them to be aware. I do not recall any of them ever speaking of your visits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dracula stopped directly in front of his servant. \u201cI\u2019m very mindful of these facts, Mortimor, that\u2019s why I\u2019m asking. Are you being deliberately obtuse? Are you sure this is even hers?\u201d Dracula held up a red silk negligee. \u201cOr perhaps it isn\u2019t personal enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster, did you not retrieve that article of clothing from the young woman\u2019s bedroom? And while it\u2019s been many, many years, it is my impression that lingerie is still considered personal to the female gender.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you even sure that it was the right address? She wasn\u2019t there as expected; she was with Angelus in his bed. How is that possible?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster, did you not earlier comment on her scent?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dracula glowered at the Englishmen. He brought the silk to his face. \u201cIt is she. Unique, sweet, I want her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, I\u2019m sure you will have her.\u201d Mortimor was too well aware of Dracula\u2019s talents for seductive manipulation and torture to be confident that vampire would fail in taking his new obsession even with the unusual occurrences of that night.<\/p>\n
Dracula paused and considered his servant. “Mortimor, I believe this to be your fault.” Silkily chastising the human.<\/p>\n
“I do apologize, Master. Though, perhaps you can inform me how I am to blame, so as not to make the same error again.”<\/p>\n
“Did you or did you not tell me that you believed that the young woman was not Angelus’ property, based on the information you received, is that not correct.” Raising his brows.<\/p>\n
“I do believe I made that conclusion.”<\/p>\n
“There. You did. Obviously, you were wrong.”<\/p>\n
“Obviously.” Mortimor hid his puzzlement. The information he had received about the young woman did not equate to that of vampire\u2019s property or human consort. Mortimor had never encountered a vampire that would allow such free will in either.<\/p>\n
The young woman had her own residence and there even had been rumors that she was an actress as well as a co-worker in Angelus\u2019 detective agency. The role of an actress had not changed much over the last century, they may not be labeled as whores in this age, but they still were required to sell their talent and beauty.<\/p>\n
The concept that a vampire would permit his property, much less his consort to offer herself to others was incogitable. Yet, she must be Angelus\u2019 property otherwise why would she be occupying his bed. A human willingly doing so was even more incogitable.<\/p>\n
“Had you not convinced me otherwise, I would have considered Angelus’ claim on her when I devised the spell. One must make adjustments. It is apparent he subjugates her will. How else could you explain such a lovely creature chose a barbarian like Angelus. His mark was a ruse, but not as you had me believe as a pretense of ownership, but one hastily applied.<\/p>\n
The true mark must be located in a position that is not visible. It is as I first speculated. Did I not tell you a bond existed between Angelus and the girl? I\u2019m sure I did.\u201d Dracula paused a small smile appeared. “I wonder where the mark could be. They are so many tantalizing possibilities. Shame on you, Mortimor for making me believe that a soul would cause Angelus not to claim the young woman. Disgusting, he may be, but he is still a vampire.”<\/p>\n
\u201cI beg your forgiveness, Master.” An uneasy feeling came over Mortimor, a thought he had not considered. A thought, Mortimor knew Dracula would never consider. Was it possible that this bond that apparently existed between the vampire and the young woman wasn\u2019t one that Angelus manipulated despite his soul, but one that was made possible because of it.<\/p>\n
Could it be that the vampire could love? Mortimor had heard of vampires remaining companions for centuries and calling themselves \u2018in love\u2019, but it was rare and Mortimor hadn\u2019t believed it. Vampires were selfish, amoral creatures by nature. The emotion of selflessness required for true love was foreign to them. Property they could claim, love they could not. Mortimor shook the speculation away before it could take root in his mind.<\/p>\n
If it was possible for the ensouled Angelus to love and for the young woman to love him, Dracula must never find out. His reaction would not be pleasant. Many decades of torture had conditioned Mortimor not to feel the fierce pain in his heart at the atrocities that Dracula had subjected his sweet wife to or the horror of the destruction of his own soul as Mortimor afflicted the last horrible session of torture at the Count\u2019s bidding.<\/p>\n
But, while Mortimor no longer could feel the pain or the love for his dead wife, he could remember that both once existed. Mortimor still had enough of his heart left not to wish that pain on any soul, vampire or human.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you?” Dracula raised his brows again. \u201cWhat are you thinking, Mortimor?\u201d Dracula studied his servant.<\/p>\n
\u201cMerely, pondering how I can repay my mistake, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you thought of something? Nevermind, that was rhetorical. There are certain items that I need to modify the spell; you will get them for me. I must make the spell more powerful. I will overcome this small hindrance to my plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster, wouldn\u2019t just killing Angelus release any hold that he may have on her?\u201d Mortimor hoped that Dracula would follow the suggestion. A direct attack on Angelus may be best solution. The information that Mortimor had received regarding Angelus indicated that even with a soul, the vampire had retained a more than sufficient ruthlessness in dealing with his enemies.<\/p>\n
Angelus may no longer be the Scourge of Europe, but Angelus’ abilities were still feared by the vampire community of LA and he had quite effectively dispatched the majority of Dracula\u2019s inner circle. There may be a chance that Angelus would be the victor in a confrontation between he and the older vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cMortimor, I wish Angelus to know that she has been taken and then I will kill him. There is no beauty in killing him and then taking her, no challenge. Think, Mortimor, you must think,\u201d tapping along the side of the servant\u2019s head. \u201cThat\u2019s why you have a brain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, of course. It\u2019s just that my brain isn\u2019t what it once was.\u201d Mortimor sighed. There would be an eventual violent battle between the two vampires, but it may be to late to save the young woman.<\/p>\n
Mortimor could not guess at the outcome then. If Angelus did love woman, would her loss make him stronger or weaker? Mortimor knew that watching the slow hideous torture of his own love destroyed his will to fight and left him a willing victim to Dracula. Would a vampire with a soul have a different reaction than a human?<\/p>\n
Dracula narrowed his eyes. \u201cMortimor, you weren\u2019t thinking of how to make it up to me, you were thinking of that lovely wife of yours. Why now? Do you see a resemblance? I do not. Then again, I did not care for your dear Abby. Lovely, she may have been but she was a nuisance. Get over it, Mortimor. She\u2019s long dead, just as your love for her is dead. You know that I couldn\u2019t allow that useless emotion to interfere with your utter devotion to myself. It was for your own good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have my devotion, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes, I wonder. Mortimor, it saddens me how you forget how much you really need me. I think we shall postpone your errand, I find that it is more important at this moment to remind you.” Smoothly coming up behind the servant, strong elegant fingers moving under the high starched collar, stroking the large puckered scars hidden underneath.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary, Master.\u201d Mortimor stilled hating the anticipation coursing through his pounding veins.<\/p>\n
\u201cResistance, Mortimor? I do think you MUST be reminded.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t fret, so. I\u2019ll even let you choose. Which will it be, Mortimor, pain or pleasure first?\u201d Whispering close in the human\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that choice must be yours, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose you are right. Pain, then. I so do enjoy your whimpered pleas for my pleasing touch afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am your servant, Master.\u201d Mortimor bowed, his hope for the moment gone. All thoughts of love gone. The only thing that was left was an intense hatred and an aching need.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Mortimor, you are. Don\u2019t ever forget.\u201d Blood spurted from the old scars as Dracula bit.<\/p>\n
Chapter 35<\/b><\/p>\n
Spike was unwillingly drawn to the sounds of nonsensical babble and small gurgling spurts of breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Connor, please. Blurslurp for me, please. You do it for Cordy. Oh, okay. I bet you don\u2019t even do it for your daddy, it\u2019s just for your mama, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Fred looked guiltily around.<\/p>\n
\u201cShh, don\u2019t tell her, I said that. Cordy just realized that she loved your daddy. I love her, too, but she\u2019s a little slow sometimes. But, we know she\u2019s your Mama don\u2019t we, little one. Uhuh.\u201d Fred smiled winningly at the tiny baby.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Darla, was the squirt\u2019s \u2018mama\u2019. A sight I can\u2019t even pretend to imagine. She was as motherly as a barracuda, more likely to devour her babe rather than sing it lullabies, actually she\u2019d probably sing then snack, laughing all the while.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred ran up to the vampire shoving her hand over his mouth. \u201cShh. If you want to talk about D\u2026A\u2026R\u2026L\u2026A then you be nice. Angel hasn\u2019t told him that she was an e\u2026v\u2026i\u2026l vampire, only that she died to save him.\u201d Fred glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe squirt doesn\u2019t understand a word I\u2019m saying, he\u2019s a squirt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred narrowed her eyes. \u201cThe Book says that babies understand tones and meanings if not the actual words,\u201d grabbing a book and thrusting it at the vampire.<\/p>\n
Spike turned the worn book over in his hands, leafing through it. Every page was highlighted and dog-eared; he turned back to the cover. How to Care and Emotionally Connect With Your Newborn<\/i>. \u201cPeaches read this nonsense?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not nonsense, it was on the New York Times Best Sellers List. All the baby magazines cite it. Conny, waha,\u201d Fred turned to the baby, smiling and waving,\u201d had a very T\u2026R\u2026A\u2026U…M…A\u2026T…I\u2026C birth.\u201d She shot back to Spike. \u201cIf you keep being so rude, I\u2019m not going to invite you in. Have you had breakfast, yet?\u201d Fred pushed at her glasses. \u201cStupid question, the blood is downstairs, you came from upstairs. You haven\u2019t had time to go down stairs yet. Or have you? Angel\u2019s quick, he can go up and down the stairs a million of times, well not a million, or maybe a million, I haven\u2019t actually counted, but it could be a lot. He\u2019s a vampire quick and quiet. You\u2019re a vampire, so you could\u2019ve\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike reached out and thrusting his hand over her mouth. \u201cStop your yammering, please. I could\u2019ve taken out a troop full of humans at the pain your giving my head.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoops. Hey, what do you know about the chip? I could look it up on the computer, maybe\u2026Oh, the chip keeps you from hurting humans, so that wouldn\u2019t be a good idea for me\u2026scratch that thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPet, if you shut up, I\u2019ll considered it scratched.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred nodded. \u201cSo, do you want to come in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re inviting me? You do understand about the whole vampire can\u2019t enter without an invitation rule, don\u2019t you?\u201d Spike really did wonder. The little chit was bonkers.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d Fred waved Spike\u2019s question away. \u201cAngel explained that to me right off, well sort of right off, but I got it. This is my room, so even though it\u2019s his hotel, he can\u2019t come in unless I invited him. So I invited him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Peaches comes in here a lot.\u201d Spike raised his brows. This sounded more like Angelus, keeping a tasty bit on the side for entertainment value.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, there was the time he visited when he came back from the monastery after the B word died. Though I guess we can say Buffy now, since he loves Cordy, I think he loved her even then, Kyerumption, you know. He came up to tell me to leave my room every once in awhile. I didn’t come out much; it was living in that cave for all those years. And then he came up to explain why he yelled at me to stay in my room when I finally did leave it. It was that James vampire. He was in the hotel trying to kill Angel and Cordy. They went into the sewers. And then there was the time that my parents were here and I thought I wanted to leave with them and he carried my bag out, but I came back, because I figured out about the bugs. But, he came in with everyone else when they painted my room-I had written a fairytale on my wall. Angel knocked though. He always knocks. Angel is such a gentleman. Then, then well he was here last night and this morning to see Connor. So, yeah.\u201d Fred smiled quite pleased that she remembered every time Angel came to visit her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI meant.\u201d Spike stopped it wasn\u2019t worth it. Gentleman? The Order of Aurelius used to be so fuckin scary, now it was just a crazy black queen, a neutered fool in love and an even bigger souled fool in love. The world was going to end soon, it just had to, maybe this time it would take.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, are you coming in or not? Cordy said you could, but no naughty stories or smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd does Peaches know about the chit\u2019s permission?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred shrugged. \u201cI would think so, he was standing next to her when she said it. Really, since the Kyerumption brick hit them on the head they haven\u2019t been very far apart. Romantic, isn\u2019t it? Or it could be because of Dracula, probably both, don’t you think. So are you coming in, do you want to hold him? Cordy said that was okay too, as long as you hadn\u2019t had a cigarette at least two hours prior. Have you had one, cuz we don\u2019t like smoking in the hotel, you have to go outside, well except when it\u2019s daylight, of course. Cordelia said you could smoke in the basement. Angel wasn\u2019t real happy about that, but he nodded, so I assume it\u2019s okay.\u201d Fred smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll pass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, really, I think Angel was okay with you smoking in the basement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll pass on holding the squirt. I think all just get something to eat. Blood, cuz I\u2019m a bad ass vampire.\u201d Spike wasn\u2019t sure whom he was trying to remind.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d Fred smiled. \u201cYou\u2019re hungry, you just woke up, silly me. Do you want me to fix it? I know where everything is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike remembered Cordelia\u2019s warning and now he understood it. \u201cNo. The cheerleader gave me directions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, but if you have trouble let me know that microwave is tricky.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike nodded and slowly backed away from the smiling young woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, William.\u201d Fred came running back up to the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name is Spike.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe file says William.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe file whatever that is – is bloody wrong. It\u2019s Spike.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, but the file said\u2026\u201d Fred paused at the vampire\u2019s glare. \u201cSorry, Spike. Spike, you refused my first invitation, does that negate it, or is it on going? Oh, Spike, whatever. Spike, you \u2018re still invited. But, Spike, don\u2019t come in when I\u2019m asleep, Charles would get mad, we\u2019re sort of dating. Spike, have a good breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike backed away from the doorway. He was almost positive that the innocent looking twit was making fun of him. But, he couldn\u2019t be sure; she was bonkers and looked so damn innocent. Spike stumbled on the first step.<\/p>\n
The Cheerleader wasn\u2019t the only really strange female in this bizarre place. Spike caught his footing and headed downstairs, trying desperately to remember that he was a demon, therefore feared by somebody somewhere.<\/p>\n
Chapter 36<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cMortimor.\u201d Dracula stretched up in the big coffin. The flickering of the candlelight speckled off the paleness of his chiseled lean chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Master.\u201d Mortimor pulled on his shirt covering the fresh slash marks and bites on his chest, only wincing a little.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did not disappoint me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am here to please.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you do. Hurry, I want the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Dracula wandered around the showroom. So many to choose from, it was a difficult decision. Dracula pulled the bound mortician up from the belly of one of the several coffins, dragging him to the floor. \u201cYou have some excellent examples of craftsmanship here. I applaud your selection. I may even come to admire this country, everything so big, even in death you must have big. Wonderful. I need your assistance, though, I can\u2019t make this decision on my own and Mortimor has gone on a little errand. I\u2019m leaning toward this one.\u201d Brushing the gleaming mahogany of a large coffin. \u201cIt looks so roomy,\u201d Dracula easily tossed the squirming man into the casket. \u201cYes, it is.\u201d Dracula slipped inside, gripping the man\u2019s neck. \u201cNow, let\u2019s see about the blood, I can\u2019t have it clash with the cushions.\u201d Dracula\u2019s fangs ripped a large gash in the flesh, blood spurting on the silk fabric. \u201cI like it.\u201d Studying the pattern of crimson splashed on the shiny cushion. \u201cI do indeed. Thank you, you\u2019ve been very helpful.\u201d Dracula plunged draining the man of his remaining blood. Dracula would have Mortimor make the necessary arrangement for the shipment of his new coffin to Transylvania when it was time to leave.<\/p>\n
Now what to do? Dracula did hope Mortimor would return soon. He was getting bored. Both of the morticians were dead. He really should have saved one. Oh well. Dracula picked up Cordelia\u2019s negligee.<\/p>\n
He was disappointed, yet on the bright side it hadn\u2019t been a complete failure. Once Mortimor returned he could make the spell more powerful. Dracula sat in the plush armchair, twirling the silk. If that didn\u2019t work there was always direct approach.<\/p>\n
Dracula sighed he hoped it wouldn\u2019t come to that. Common kidnapping was tedious and without charm. But one way or another, he would have this Cordelia Chase and Angelus would die.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took you long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe apothecary was reluctant to open his shop at dawn, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not tell me you failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Master, it just took some persuasion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cViolence, Mortimor?\u201d Dracula raised his brows.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Master, money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, people in trade, predictable. \u201d The vampire nodded. \u201cIt is good that you returned, I was getting weary of talking to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mortimor looked over at the two bound very dead morticians, one that had been very alive before he left. \u201cUnderstandable, dead humans do not make good conversationalist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dracula shrugged. \u201cI know, I had planned to save one, but you were gone so long and I was bored. I did, however, find the perfect coffin. I wish it to be shipped home when we leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am pleased that your time was not an entire waste, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dracula laughed slapping Mortimor on the back. \u201cGood to see your sense humor returning, Mortimor, now give me the items. I must begin.\u201d<\/p>\n